The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-11
A FALSE NOTION.
Does Looking One squarely in the Face
Indicate Anything.


Indicate Anything.
There are few subjects which n
greater amount of nonsensical rubbish
has been written than upon the idea
that honesty and frankness look one
squareiy in the face. and the dropping
of the eyes or the shifting of the glance
indicates sentiments quite the reverse
of these.
AS matter of fact. brazen impu-
dence or the lack of common sense aad
delicacy is quite as likely to meet ones
gaze squarely as honest sincerity. The
careful observer of the peculiarities of
mankind can but admit that such a
test is by no means a satisfactory one.
The perfectly honorable, frank. ingen-
nous person, one with only credita BILE
sentiments in his soul, is much more
likely to be little timid aud shy and
to feel slightly abashed in the presence
of strangers or those he may fancy to be
his superiors. Under these circum-
stances there is natural tendency To
modest demeanor and that respectful
attention that real merit almost always
EXPERIENCES when conversation of any
Importance is in progress.
so much has been said of this
straightforward looking in the face
business that the assured and steady
stare has become one of the ac-
quired accomplishments of large
class of persons. and this. too, q class
that has neither stability nor other
good qualities to recommend it. The
practice stands, in their minds for CON
tidence and easy assurance, and is an
excellent means, in their opinion. of
inspiring respect for their straightfor-
wardness and honesty. The value of
such tests rests solely upon the natural
ness of the individual To whom they
are applied.
Another within that has been exploit
ed not a little is the sO-called test of
persons guilty of crimes and misde-
meanors of various sorts. Some pre-
ternaturally wise individual once made
the assertion that when suspected
person was cross-questioned too sharp
" and desired to appear extremely in
different, he cultivated "A habit Of
and that, as natural conse-
quence, yawning under cross-exam-
nation was an indication of en-
barrassment and guilt As
matter of fact, there are many
so susceptible that no
tests of this sort are of any value what
ever. Indeed the timid and innocent
are the ones to be entirely upset by any
circumstance. while the clear
headed criminal win stand almost all
Ordeals without the fiutter of a nerve.
1t is one of the rcmarka BILE facts Of
legal history, and one that seems 10
have attracted no special attention,
that tricks and traps set to catch the
unsuspecting have resulted in securing
a certain amount Of evidence, but by !
no means in fixing the guilt where IL |
belonged Because man looks one |
in the face: because ne bears |
the most critical and scathing cross
examining without fIinching: because /
The medical expert can detect no I'M /
Tue beating of the heart under |
excitement; because he has the nerve /
% walk steadily into the death cham /
Der and put his hands on the face of l
he dead and can turn away without |
apparent agitation; because he can face
III manner Of tests and walk over all |
'orts of traps without falling into them,
s not the slightest sign that he is inno-
,ent. Indeed. if il proves anything at
III it proves him TO be an adept in con-
'ealment and a criminal Of the worst
lass at heart, Il not in fact.
The innocent man might quail before
my Of these situations. nd take on all
# the symptoms Of guilt while the
droit villain could stand smiling and
aim, congrstulatiug himself the whiie
n his superior nerve, and getting
'oints for future emergencies of the
anne sort
There have been many foolish things
n the history Of this world. bat moth
ng more silly. unjust and cruel than
he idea that because a man cannot
tsrc one almost out II counteuznce
here must Of necessity be something |
Trong in his moral nature ". \.
.edzer.