The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1880-04-18
OLIO NO. 13.
Features and Cancellation.
BY MRS. M. s.. WHITAKER, AUTHOR or "AL-
BERT HASTINGS"
FEATURES.


Features, as employed In facial expression,
certainly do produce wonderful effect, either
In concillatiDg regard or In awaklng prejudice.
Without at all adopting Lavater's specious
theory In reference to physiognomy, we yet
believe that every man has conception Of
his own, and those features most accordant
with this conception become to his eye Its
tangible development. Thus, without being
aware OF the fact, his taste masters judgment,
and he believes the representation of that
taste something perfect; his ideal lives before
him; he is both gratlfied and enthralled. Ii
single, he becomes a lover; II already bound
lin the silken ties OF matrimony, friend.
Such is the waywardness Of human opinion
and feeling that it Is quite idle to combat
latent predictions, thus made tangible. We're
1t otherwise, every eye, to use q homely
adage would make Its own beauty-rivalry
would necessarily ensue. and society be
thrown Into confusion. We hear one class of
physiognomists declare that broad and open
brow indicates intellect and nobility OF char
acter; another class. with equal pertinaolty.
declares that forehead. low and heavy
browed, is the mark OF well ell-developed charac-
ter, and most consonant with high style of
commanding beauty. Some aver that thin
and compressed lips indicates tirmness and
sincerity OF purpose; while their opponents
say that such forming a mouth betray avarice
and penurious disposition.
The aquiline nose. It's admirers tell US, re-
veals aspiring aims, q soaring ambition and
detestation OF littleness In thought or prac-
tiee, per contra, its defamers are certain that
this prominent facial member, when thus
formed, gives warning OF vulture-like cruelty
and unsparing rapaeity. The eyes OF Pallas
taat fftt
beside her Rgs, Is always celebrated for
those same heavenhued eyes. But the rat
tlesnake, most deadly and subtle of animated
creation, is proverbially known by his blue
noble feature Of the human countenance,
after all, amounts to but little, though cat
like cunning is for the most part ascribed to
the poeeessors of yellowish eyes, but the
visual orbs OF that kingly beast, the lion, are
yellow, as spirit OF defiance looks out from
beneath his shaggy brows. A bold chin and
heavy underjaw are said to mark the reent-
less and indomitable man or woman, while
sharpness OF that first named facial founda-
tion is supposed to shadow forth weakness of
resolve and low cunning. For our own part,
tbe, combined whole makes Its impression
without especial regard to any OF Its COM
posing lineaments.
Harmony is decidedly main characteristic
OF human beauty; where features SO accord
In their general expression rs to leave pleas
ant effect on the beholder, we are apt to con-
clude that the souls loveliness Is written on
Its map-the couDtenance. That it Is bitterly
uniust to Judge III of people because their as
pect may not chance to agree with our pre-
conceived notions, experience daily informs
u.s.. One OF the best lessons ever placed before
our childish consideration long ago was that
furnished by Miss Edgeworth In her history of
s'Mrs. Plnchbonnet." Still more ridiculous
is the habit of gauglng people by their dress,
which SO largely obtains amongst snobs, par
venues and other upstarts, whose emptiness
within can best appreciate outside ornament.