The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-02-09
chronological Journal
Facial Habits.

A face is nothing without expires
sion, and expression is worse thar
nothing unless it is good. Expression
is capable of control, and control i:
the function Of mind. Hence, minc
makes the face. Transfgura ion i:
from within. A noble soul fashions
a noble face. Thought and feeling
constitute every one an artist; the
face is the canvas, and every part OF
it may be made to brim with express
sion.
But there is one fact always tending
potentially to interfere with this ca
pacity Of changeful expression: it is
feity in the clements Of the facial
picture. The pigments of a canvas
portrait, once dried, are incapable Of
variation; even thus, facial habits may
become so established as to be un-
changeable. Like molten metal, the
features ultimately harden into unal-
terable forms and expressions.
What child has not been warned
against contortions of countenance
lest his face should freeze in that
shape? Habit is face-frost!
The cross eyes which the surgeon
straightens may be cross in another
sense, which no surgery but that OF
an amiable heart can regulate A
harelip may be corrected by an opera
ton and the process of healing; but
to how many evils the lips are heir
that only the long-continued opera
ton Of inward rightness can heal
The tonsorial art may wreathe the
forehead in tresses and ringlets; but
there is another art, more dainty and
delicate, by which the brow may be
clouded with the mark Of passion, OIL
garlanded with a halo Of almost divin-
ity.
Facial habits, whether hideons OF
heavenly, are contracted so gradually
that only the most sensitive souls are
aware of their growth until the knots
and gnarls are past remedy. Many z
fair face has been utterly ruined by
the unconscious outflow and incrusta,
ton of some baneful fount within
and not unfrequently an ill-formec
visage comes eventually to lovelnes;
SuFpdSSIHS ueScflpilon.
How apt the fable of the little
maiden who longed to be beautiful
and was told by fairy that if sht
would live year without an evi
thought or feeling, and then come ant
mirror her face in certain mountain
spring, she should have her wish
Earnestly she struggled, but at tht
end of the year had to confess to tn,
occurrence Of many an evil. There
fore her desire was not gained. An
other year was granted, but this alst
was marred by few mistakes B,
more earnest endeavor the third yea
was crowned with almost perfect sue
cess. The fairy and the maiden me
by the Elves mountain spring
"Ah!' said the fairy, thou last n
need of the magical mirror, thou has
made Hysef lovely; look and see!
She looked, and 10! these years Of pur
and gentle moods had fulfilled he
beautiful ideal and answered her long
ing.
The study Of facial habits give
mingled pain and amusement; pain a
the deformities, amusement at tn
drolleries. The mouth, to begin will
is wonderful organ. Much of tn
worlds history began between thes
jaws of fate, an invitation or threa
a persuasion or a command. Many
hero, inyincible Oh the battlefield, ha
surrendered to pair of lips Gate
that would not yield to the stern as
sault have opened to the winnin
smile
But in no respect is this featul
more notorious than in its habitui
grimaces and graces. Of how man
persons might be written what an al
thor says of Louis Napoleon: H
smile was fascinating, his frown ho
rible, and his face at rest insipid. =
Houri would be spoiled by pout, a
Adonis by a contortion.
, Gnmaces are not "respecters Of pc
sons; would that the same were tn
, Of the graces! An eminent America
speaker made such mouths at his al
=, diences that only his vigorous idei
: saved him from being disgusting; a!
other threw his head back after eyel
sentence, turned his face upward, al
I drew in MS breath with "a hissn
: sound, as if nhaling the next senten
+ from the heavens. Another, who b
y gan life as a tailor, had Il habit. wh'
2 using the shears of opening and shu
: ting bis moath at every dip as il che
: ing gum. And still another of d
/. served eminence, by trade a shoem