The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-01-09
THE ART OF BuccoMANcY.
Reading Character by the Mouth Has
Come Into Vogue Again.

ouCcohu..ty 10 uS"iii III ioSisiOA'
We know not the word, but our ia
theirs knew it. Buccomancy is the art
CO revealing the past, present and fu-
ture of person by an inspection of his
or her mouth.
William Rogers, who flourished about
$50, and who was prosperous dem
tist, discovered the art and expressed his
views thereon in a work, which may be
found at the Academy of Sciences.
'Show me mans mouth" said Rogers.
land will tell you what he has been,
what he is, and what he will be-" be
added that this new system of divina-
ton was based on the teaching of the
most celebrated physiognomists, and
principally upon the discovery OF a buc-
cal alphabetical is to say, upon the
characteristic and telltale signs of the
human mouth.
Certain scientists to-day are studying
this system of his, for which reason
the following rules will prove of inter
est:
Cheeks are first in order, for, accord.
ing to buccomancy, they form part OF
the mouth. AS rule, feshy cheeks in
dictate sensuality and general mois'
ture of temperament, whereas thin and
shrunlxen cheeks are token of melan-
choly and dryness. Chagrin produces
the hollowness, and severity and fierce
ness give birth to deep wrinkles. A
cheek which is naturally gracious, and
which toward the eyes is stirred by a
slight tremor, is an almost infallible
sign of a heart tender, generous and in
capable of any meanness.
The space between the nostril and the
extremity of the mouth is very signifi-
cant. If it is covered with any shading
or undulation, it is an infallible sign
of folly.
Chins tell many a story. A round
chin which has a dimple signifies kind
ness; small chin, timidity; a fat chin,
GOODNESS and dryness of temperament;
an angular chin, diplomacy, prudence,
firmness; pointed chin, craft and
finese, and long, large, heavy chin,
hardness, pride and violence.
Teeth too, are revealers of character.
White teeth, which are we'll arranged
and which show themselves as soon as
enc opens the mouth, but neither
project themselves beyond the lips, nor
reveal themselves entirely, are always
a token of kindness, loyalty and amia-
bility. On the other hand, whenever a
great part of the upper gum is seen
as soon as the mouth is opened, one
can generally predict that the owner is
cold and phlegmatic person. Jean
Jacques Rousseau says that mo worth
less woman ever has beautiful teeth
and Spanish proverb assures us that
"a good tooth is better than a dia-
mond."
of extraordinary force and frequently
of great penetration of character.
When they are small and turn inward,
they denote an innocent love for finesse,
but at the same time hard and re-
vengeful character. Long teeth are a
sure sign of weakness and timidity.
Those which are very prominent
and which seem to rest on the lower lip,
betoken lack of energy and spirit.
Everyone knows" says the learned
Herder, that the upper lip reveals the
tastes, the tendencies, the appetites,
the loves of a man, according to the ex-
tent to which pride and anger curve it,
1inesse sharpens it, kindness rounds it,
and debauchery enervates and furnishes
it,"
Rogers claims that mans character
Is of the same stamp as his lips-eithcr
firm, soft, or mobile, according as they
are firm, soft, or mobile.
Large and well-proportioned lips in
dictate kindness and frankness. Fleshy
lips show leaning toward sensuality
and Incidence. Thin lips betoken
avarice. An upper lip which is slightly
protruding is the mark of affectionate
kindness, whereas protruding lower
lip is the mark of cold nature.
A lower lip which is hollow in the
middle reveals character full of play
fulness and harmless wit. Lips closed
tightly, the division between which
runs in a straight line ard the edges OF
which are not seen, are a sign of cool
ness, assiduity, order, exactitude and
neatness. A mouth gently closed and
of harmonious proportions indicates a
firm, reflective and judicious character;
whereas a mouth always gaping is the
sign of fool. Moreover, a mouth which
is twice as long as the eye is the sign Of
an idiot.
Finally, Rogers tells us that we must
regard as sanctuary" that mouth
which is calm, which is closed easily
and without any tension, which has lips
well proportional, which has no rude
hollow, and which, as regards Inca.
ments, is fine and delicate, and, as re-
CARDS skin, is pure and mobile.
Men and women who are bold and
courageous are recognized by Their
slightly long eyebrows, by their noses
dropping down over their mouths
which are always very large, and by
their teeth, which are long, sharp and