The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-01-03
"Look to Your NOse."


This is very common expression, but
there is no more in it than at first meets
the eye. Noseology is neglected sci
ence. Phrenology has had its day and
generation. The science of the Uranium
is now as tale THAI was told, although
its votaries thirty years ago were quite as
numerous and enthusiastically indiscrimi-
nate as the frequenters of skating Kinks
and spelling-bees were couple OF years
ago. Phrenology, or the theory thereof,
has many salient points about 1t, but 1t
lacks the determinate quality. There are
so many bumps upon the head-they are
defined to hairs breadth, according to
the stucco casts that invaded nearly every
house quarter of century ago
that really one might be self-conceited or
firm, venerative or pugilistic, accordingly
as a slight accident might have befallen
the subject INN edstely before the time
that it happened to come under the hands
of the manipulation. Noseology is by no
means so empirical. 1t goes directly to
the point There is at least sim plication
in this neglected rough -and-ready method
of discerning character, and certainly
quite as much accuracy as any of our
clever craniologists ever exhibited. DR..
Watts wrote, "the minds the standard of
the man." noseologists have a different
idea. Their great apostle, Mr.. Sloane,
thought that the nose is the true needle
to point to the loadstone of the heart and
mind alike 1t is the most prominent
outcome of the inner nature. 1t attaches
to itself all the superiority of the human
cosmogony. The varieties of noses are
legion; the shades of differences are null
hilarious even in noses, with like gen.
eral outline.
The contour of the face affects noses
greatly, and like pattern of nose on a
fair man presents difference of appear
ance upon.a dark, and on fair or dark
alike the weather, worry, or sickness
makes wonderful alteration.
The pug-nose, pur ct simple, 1t Will
readily he admitted by all-except, per-
haps, its possessor-is by no means an at
tractive feature in the face, especially if
the upward curve starts about third of
the distance from which the organ is
eliminated from the forehead. There are
pug noses, especially in Irishmen, if not
too much elevated skyward, which are
not without humor if they happen to be
set off with twinkling blue or light gray
ewes; but if the diamonds" at each side
are not expressive, the pug-nose is almost
next to repulsive. The owner of the com
mon pug Is seldom brilliant individual ;
but if he happens to possess talents, it
may always be accepted as an axiom that
he is overbesring.
The common Roman nose is held in
little repute by those who are attempting
to revive this unhsppily neglected sci
ence of noseology. From the bridge it is
rounded off to the tip. If not strongly
marked after the fashion of the late Iron
Duke, the mind is not of the highest or
der; it barely rises above the mediOcrity
(tbe man owner of the nose, it should be
understood), and bedizens itself on breast
and fingers with gaudy jewels. The
uncommon Roman nose is altogether of a
different caliber. There is something
about it which must assert itself, if cul-
mre has been added to the proboscis. 1t
is a kind of nose which overcomes all OPP
position, which has enabled men to con-
quer mortal achievements, "to mould the
world to their will" Notably, to use
Sloane's own words, in our own century,
Napoleon and Wellington were In the
possession of such noses. Napoleon knew
the secrets of noseology; he knew what
advantages there were In good Roman
nose. He selected his generals and put
them into places of trust and confidence
by length and height of their noses. The
Duke Of Wellington, one Of the most IL
lustrious of warriors in times ancient OF
modern, had a strikingly remarkable Ro.
man nose By this nose he conquered
Napoleon, and in that nose saved Brit
ain from becoming province of France
The Grecisn nose. strsighter than the
Roman, lacks the fiery energy. 1t is
more characteristic of aniability and re-
finement. 1t indicates passion, too; but
its real passion means not the sword nor
the spear, but the lutte Of Apollo and the
brush of Apelles. Byron fought and
died for that nose.
But it il . comfort to think that there