The herald., 1896-04-26

Der of murders had increased more than
1000 per cent; that is, by regular degrees
the number of fslonious homicides had
grown from little over 1000 in 1885 to
10000 in 1895, in this country. Some
philosophers have studied this question
considerably, and it has been advanced
that the instinct of destruction 80 exem-
plified is due to climatic conditions, sort
of murderous malaria. heredity, ad nau-
seam. We do not pretend to know what it
all means, but we do believe that If the
possibility of escape from the retribution
COURTS of appeal the knowledge of the
change would soon become sufficiently
dffused through this class of malefactors
to cause a reversal of these startling fig
ures during the next decade.
Spring street, especially between Third
and First, ia thronged each day by COS
mopoitan multitude. Many people ex-
| tract genuine enjoyment from watching
faces as they fit by any point of obse"va-
| ton, and we all have the faculty developed
! in greater or less degree. In this short
space can be seen the different phases of
character illustrated in endless variety,
| and the facial characteristics of ev cry race
| pass by and on like the scenes in a pano-
rama.
We see the aristocratic and distinguished
| looking individ"ei who would attract at
tentlOn anyw ere. We don't know ex-
actly why it is SO. That person would cre-
ate the impulse for second glance and
extra momentary consideration on the part
OF Congo savage, no matter were he
dressed in the latest Picadilly fashions or
rigged up la Robinson Crusoe or Alexan-
der Selkirk. There may be no one partic.
! ular feature or external attribute to eX.
plain the feeling of respect, but 1t is there.
Perhaps that general effect which we de-
nominate ''character." as the easiest
means of eXtricatirQ ourselves from the
perplexities of the situation, is written in
such face.
Then comes shufiling along the possessor
of small, evenly outlined face, with III.
minutive, regular features and an untidy
looking suit of clothes. His disposition
generally is like the visible indications
weak, uncertain, the victim and perhaps
the child of circumstances; waited hther
and thther by the gusts which may blow
for or against him, aud unable to keep his
canoe steered for any definite beacon.
General principles in such case are con-
stantly traded off for exceptions and mo.
mentary allurements. Small imaginative
scope, no inventive genius. no inclination
or ability of reasoning out of beaten paths
everything calm and smooth sailing, be-
cause the desire to reach out beyond the
established lines OF an individual destiny
have not been born with this character.
Then sails along the rugged outlines of
heavy chin, large Roman nose of irregular
cut, deep set eyes and bushy brows may
be: that man has intellectual sire .,gth and
purpose of no small degree, and it is best
not to run too heavily up against him I'M
less you have an apology ready for instant
Use, for the impression he is apt to gain
from an unexplained affront is apt to re-
main quite a while.
just behind him is one whose nose Il
take the nose generally in sizing up a man, |
as means of deductiol) is Of the pro-
nouuced turn-up variety-so much SO that
it has half persuaded the upper lip to part
company with it's mate and follow the for |;
tunes of the said nasal appendage These
noses are a trifie insignificant sometimes, ,
but don't tread too airily on the toes of that |
kind of person. Sometimes that ambi-
tious nose indicates the direction an ex-
plosion would take if the aggression were
too flagrant. And the owner is sometimes
an uncomfortable factor in heated argu-
ment.
ready-made variety: this is the least at
tractive to the observer of human ma
ture." Thick lips, small, squeaky eyes,
broad cheek bones and small ears, like as
though cut from thick pie.crust, or care
lessly run out of yellow bowl into
mould built OH that plan, and put into the
oven for problematical results. Some
times, however, the owners of these un-
prepossessing sign-boards surprise their
derders. | saw one of them once one of
the most glaring types-hanging about the
patent office in Washington. He wac so
ugly that asked one of the clerks about
him, and was shocked to know that he had
gotten papers patent for an invention
which had brought him half million dol
lars.
The next physiognomy up for dissection
is one which sails along about four feet
ten from the pavement. Much adipose
tissue; clothing, plaids ON the checker
board style, but in apology to the inoffens-
i've gaming platform. different in color:
and the vest, tho distinguishing marks of
the Bengal tiger; shoes turned up like
Venetian gondola, and a necktie that con-
tains in composite effect the original hues
of nature, with several secondary tints
thrown into the whirlpool of color. and
backed up by shirt that brings up remii
niscences of Derby day. Gutenberg and
other equine tournaments. And the rest
of the raiment is of the kind that keeps UP
it's end of the table, vulgarly speaking.
This individual has dramatic talent, and
SO many thus endowed affect this style of
dress that it goes without saying ''
These are just few. There ere more.