The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-07-26
Col. Parker TELLS Something Of
Physiological Psychology.
GESTURE A MODE OF EXPRESSION
Emotion and Its Expression in
Gesture-Saturd Lecture
on the Ideal School.

Col. Parker will lecture in Progress
Hall tonight at o'clock on Artist or
Artisan; Which?" The public is in
vited.
Col. Parker talked something of
physiological psychology yesterday
morning. He explained the close rela-
tions existing between the brain and
the body and attributed the actions of
| the former to physical actions of the
latter. The body, he said, is the instru-
ment of the manifestation of thought
| All that comes into the brain of man
and nature is spiritual. We know that
| the elements of the mind begin with
external energy. All sensations grow
in proportion to the reaction of the
idea. The manifestation of the soul is
for the benefit of others. If man lives
apart from other men and holds no
communication with them the soul
cannot manifest itself The more one
gives the stronger is the growth. The
body is the instrument of the soul, the
mind is the means by which the in
strument is manifested. This mani
festatiOn begins instinctively.
Col. Parker said that the evolution
of man is marked by the quality of his
expression. Gesture, the interpreta-
tion of expression, should be graceful,
it is an injection of the body If made
to order it is a bad thing. 1t should
be prompted by the emotions. Voice
comes next to gesture. The movement
of consciousness in emotion is regist-
cred by the voice. Emphasis comes
spontaneously. The childs emphasis
comes just as he receives it. Voice is
unmeasured rhythm music is meas
ured rhythm. Then comes speech,
which is the penetration of articula-
ton through voice.
The fundamental art is construction,
making permanent images. One way
in which we trace the evolution of man
is by the tools he uses. The evolution
Of his whole being is through making,
construction. Archaeological record is
the best kind of history. After CON
structiOn comes modelling Modelling
with the hand is the development of
the giant of sense, touch Touch is
the fun jImCntal sense in eyOlutl on
The other senses grew out OF it.
Sight and bearing are localized by
touch. Color emphasizes and enhances
form. Painting is not a thing in it.
self. Drawing without observation be-
fore it destroys the spontaneity HUI
man personal evolution is self activ-
ity.
Mrs. Parker spoke of emotion and
its expression through gesture Words
should mean something she said, so
should gesture. Excessive gesture is
Of
gestures that grow out of a natural
state of consciousness are significant.
They tell of the personality Emotion
IS the result Of a train of thought. If
the thought is continued it insists up
on being expressed through gesture |
1t is the same in physical action as in |
thought. 1t is most dangerous to per-
NIT bad train of thought as the emo
tions if permitted produce a habit.
Mrs. Parker illustrated by gestures
and facial expression various emo
tiOns and habits of thought, pride and
humility. for instance These emotions
are the gift Of the Creator to man, but
in the excess they overbaIance the
mind. Their habitual expression de-
notes the habitual train of thought. She
spoke Of the different attitudes Of the
body and face, the speculative, the re
Elective All are necessary to make
a proper balance of the mind. People
resent certain attitudes without being
able to analyZe the dislike All the
carriage of the body is indicative of
some emotion or train of thought. The
carriage also produces a reflex action
on. the mind.
Mrs. Parker said that many hondi-
tiOns of the mind are due to a physical
condition. Habitual impatience. frri-
taCiOn are due largely to indigestion.
The great danger of emotion is that it
IS allowed to generate and then it
gains so much control that nothing re-
mains but to give it expression.