Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1892-09-24
STUDY OF THE FACE.
Traits OF Character Indicated by
the Features.
PecuIiarities OF Human Nature Easily Dis
ocrned by Systematic Observation
Different Types Denoted by
Facial Indications.

son any longer believes that it is posi-
bic to determine anybody's character or
mental faculties by bumps on the head.
But the study of the features of the face
is progressing so far that before long it
will be regarded as science. Certain
traits, moral and intellectual, arc plain
ly reflected in the countcnancc. Thus
we arc very commonly able to distin-
guish an ill-tcmpcred individual. Nee
Cssarily, the emotional nature is OK
pressed most clearly by the mouth,
which is altered by the operation of the
muscles with every change of feeling.
In the eye, on the other hand, is found
the expression of thought. The boxer
or fenccr looks not at the weapon of
his adversary, but at his opponents
eye, in order to sec how the blow or
thrust is coming. One easily distin-
guishes the crafty from the benevolent
eye.
There arc only crude distinctions,
such as everyone perccivcs instructive
ly and without having made any study
Of the subject But it is possible to go
very far beyond this by systematic OBJ
servation. There are certain pcculiari-
tics of physiognomy viii II stamp the
person who is not trustworthy, and these
you find exaggerated in the faces of
criminals. Often they arc accompanied
by marked abnormaliticS- 1t has al
ready been asccrtaincd that criminals
usually have peculiarly shaped heads,
but that is Il subject too complex to go
into briefly. Look over the photographs
in 'rcgucs gallery and you viii dis
cover that, without any experience in
such matters, you are able to pick ont
with accuracy the burglars and the
sncalithicves or pi:l:Po l1cts, dis
tinguishing one class from the other.
They represent palpably different crimi-
nal types.
"Thc police detectives in city have
no difficulty on feStal day, when tho
streets are thronged, in going through
the crowds and picking out for arrest
crooks whom they have never seen be-
fore and who are present for predatory
purposes. The types ! speak of are I'M
mistalsablc. They arc difficult to
onalyze, but certain brute lines arc
characteristic of each. In the thief
there is n suggestion of the fox, in tho
burglar something of the wolf, and SO
on. Composite photographs of crirni-
nails show these traits in the most pro-
nounced way. Strange to say, however,
such portraits-each taken from twenty
or thirty robbers or rnurdcrcrS--oblitcr-
ntc the evil that is stamped npon tho in
diyidual face, and present simply types
of persons whose physiognorly indi-
Gates predisposition to commit crime.
"Arc individuals born with prcdis-
position for crime? Undoubtedly tho
instinct exists in the infant unborn and
is transmitted by Incredibly from genera
ton to generation. An instance is re-
ferrcd to by the celebrated DIR. MauGS-
ley, of England, where there were five
generations of criminals in one family.
The question naturally suggests itscE:
How far arc such individuals RESPONSE
bic for their actions? No satisfactory
answer will ever be given, hat for it's
own protection society is compelled to
wage perpetual war against them. OBJ
Viously the most humane method of re-
straining them is to keep them in prison,
where they can do no harm, and so
there is only one crime at present which
we punish more overwhelmingly, de-
liberate homicide. Only century ago
there were more than hundred differ
| ent kinds of offenses which were pun
| bSiiSAt Ill bhbllbu Win NSStllp iIllNl tIttl-
| Viluals convicted of no moro serious
crimes than petty thieving were sen
fenced to mutilation by cutting OF their
hands or otherwise. In this respect we
have certainly grown more civilized,
and the time Is pretty sure to arise be-
fore long when no more serious punish
ment than life imprisonment will be inn
| posed upon murderers
Character being lcgiblc in the fca-
lures of the face there can hardly be n
| more useful Us well as interesting study
chan that of tho Human physiognomy.
How desirable it would be If we could
1hoosc our friends for the qualities We
most admire, by the moral graces which
| heir countenanccs express, viewed from
reasonably exact scientific standpoint.
There ore plenty of people even in the
higher walks Of life who have criminal
impulses which they do not act upon
Il.