Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-03-07
Character in Ears.
THE SMALL AND THIN ONES, AND THOSE
LARGE AND THICK.

THE SMALL AND THIN ONES, AND THOSE
LARGE AND THICK.
Little notice is commonly taken of the
outward form Of our organ Of hearing, and
even artists do not give it much considera-
ton as a rule, yet the formation and shape
of theear, says writer, ''will amply re-
pay those who give it close attention. Our
modern painters seldom go into minute de-
tail over it. The sculptors are more par
ticular, especially among the antique; one
seldom sees good piece Of statuary with
out noticing that great care has been taken
to correctly model the ear, and it was re-
garded as worthy of study
EARS vary greatly in form and size, and
the peculiaritieS of shape they assume some
times gives an index to the character of the
individual. Women have much better
shaped ears than men. They are usually
much smaller and lie closer to the head.
Some people possess a singular muscular
power over the ears, and can move the up
per part at will, but it is rarely met with.
The ear is worth studying from an anatom-
ical point of view. Beginning with the
OUTER fold OF ridge, called the helix, which
forms the outline, the ear is composed of
thin cartilage and integument. The next
prominent ridge is the anti-heliX, which
some people have very largely developed,
but in welcomed ear projects very lit
tie beyond the helix. The little knob that
projects from the foot of the anti-heliX is
called the antitragus, and the correspond
ing knob on the other side the tragus. The
deep we'll in the centre of the ear is the
concha and, last of ALL the fleshy part be-
low is called the lobe OF lobule. The con-
cha, so termed from the Shell-like form,
l1aI-c nrto nj ~
the vibrations into the inner ear; in fact
all these projections and depressions are OF
Importance to our hearing, and play their
own parts in conveying the undulations of
sound to the drum of the ear
lowing to the immense variety of size
and form in ears, it is somewhat difficult to
definitely classify them, but they may be
roughly divided into two divisions, which
are easily Standardization /, with
curved hanging lobe; division ., with
| straight lobe.
"Besides the peculiarities of shape, the
ear may be large OF small, protruding or
fat, and straight OF sloping. Some ears
have pointed tops, while others have
straight. Small and thin ears usually de-
note delicacy and refinement, and abnor-
mally large, thick ears are associated with
| a sensual and coarse nature.
Ears of the first division are by far the
most common, while not more than ore per-
| san in fifty possesses the Stralght-lObed ear
of the second division. This peculiar-shaped
ear is often hereditary and can be traced
back in some families for generations.
People with musical tastes generally have
large and prominent ears, while the thin,
angular ear is said to donate bad temper
and cruelty. The ears of great philoso-
pliers and statemen have been noticed to be
large and sloping. MI. Gladstone ear has
a curved, hanging lobe, lies close to the
head and has sloping position.
'sThe Marquis of Salisburys ear is mas
sive and we'll proportioned, and has also a
sloping position. The ear of the great Ma
poleon was rather small. we'll formed,
with curved lobe AS age increases the ear
becomes more angular and marked. From
our youth upward the ear does not receive
much consideration. 1t is pinched to signify
pleasure, it is sometimes boxed to denote
anger, and even pierced OF bored for pur-
pose Of vain ornamentation. The very an
cient but barbarous custom OF piercing the
ears, which now, we are glad to observe,
is considered questionable, has spoiled
and disfgured the shape Of thousands OF
ears through the perforation OF the LOBE for
the purpose of wearing earrings, 1t may
we'll be hoped this fashion will never be
| revived "-PNL[- Mall Gazette,