The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-03-01
ODDITIES ABOUT EYES
CURIOUS STATISTICS bEvELoPEo
BY A CLOSE OBSERVER

Every Known Color in the Human Eye
Blue Eyes Most Common--N0 ExprcS-
sion in tho Organ ItselE-Fascinatidfi
of Green Eyes-The white Eye.
'Tt is strange how few persons mo-
tice eyes," said the man Of an observ-
ing turn of mind, refectively. II have
often asked people to describe some
one to me, and have been surprised to
find that the majority of them really
did not know the color Of their best
friends eyes. Most people remember
faces by the nose, mouth, sometimes
the ears, more often by the general ex-
preston. Now, the eye itself has no
expression, although It Is called the
most expressive Of all the features. II
you have ever seen an eye that has
been removed from its socket you
know that the fact is as have said.
A glass eye in a showcase illustrates
the same fact. The expression that is
attributed to the eye really resides in
the lids, the eyebrows and the mus
Giles of the adjacent part Of the face.
1t is to this expression that the atten-
ton Of most people Is directed. They
see a light coming from the eye and
vitalizing the expression Of lids and
muscles. but the real character Of the
eye itself they fail to notice.
'Now. 1 have formed the habit Of
noting the color Of eyes, and I find 1t
very interesting. 1 could tell you the
color of the eyes Of any person l had
ever met, I believe-not merely wheth-
er they are light or dark, blue. gray or
brown. according to the conventional
classification, but the shades and mix
lures, the appreciation Of which is the
real fascination in the study of eyes.
I firmly believe that there Is no color
recognized that cannot be found in the
eyes of some human being. There are
red eyes, green eyes. silver eyes. golden
eyes, violet eyes. sapphire. baby blue,
black, white, yellow eyes, and eyes.
besides, in which these tints are mixed.
Some kinds are very rare, and If you
are a connoisseur in the subject the
Sudden discovery Of a rare species
for a moment on the street, perhaps
gives you thrill of pleasure.
"Blue eyes, suppose, are most COM
mon, and there are many varieties.
The most common kind is that which
Is really a mixture Of dark blue and
grayish white. With this kind of an
eye sometimes the blue and white are
mixed irregularly, in which case the
eye lacks brilliance. though 1t may be
lustrous. Sometimes the body of the
iris is grayish white, with blue radii
extending from the pupil. This mark
ing gives a peculiarly hard expression
to the eye. In still another sub-va-
riety the central part Of the iris is
light blush gray, with rim of dark
blue Such an eye is often mistaken
for black. The dark rim around the
Iris is not so noticeable In blue eyes
as in some other kinds, notably. white
and golden eyes, in which 1t produces
a strange, startling and fascinating eff
feet.
"The limpid blue eye is comparative
" rare. 1t is of a uniform coloration
and appears to be almost liquid. Fine
specimens have a certain beauty. but
the eye. as a rule. lacks character.
Near akin to 1t Is the china blue or rob-
ms egg blue eye. also Of uniform col.
grafton, but lacking liquidity. 1t. also,
Is lacking somewhat in character.
"Of brown eyes the varieties are
numberless. The deepest shade usu.
ally passes for black. Some eyes Of
this shade suggest a velvety texture,
and the whites by contrast have Pc
culiarly pearly lustre. There is always
something sinister and unpleasant
about eyes Of this sort. Then there
are the soft brown eyes that are usu-
ally called pleasant, and the sharp
brown eyes that are called snappy.
You may occasionally find brown eyes
Of such light tint as to be called prop
erly orange or yellow. The golden
eye is a variety Of the brown eye. but
a wonderful variety. 1t Is not vel
low eye; it is infinitely more strange,
more beautiful than the yellow eye. 1
recently saw a woman on tie street
who had a pair of these eyes. The eff
feet Of them was enhanced by a black
rim around the iris. They were not
exactly like the gold dust that floats
and shimmers on a stream. Golden
eyes are not ferocious; they suggest
the wild creature that has been tanned
to gentleness.
"When l speak Of red eyes I do not
mean those of the Albino, which are
merely painful freaks Of nature.
am thinking of what is really a va
riety Of the brown eye. 1t Is about the
shade of a cinnamon bears furry coat.
In shadow 1t appears brown, but In
bright sunlight it flashes crimson.
There is something strangely sinister
about these eyes; they fash spite and
fury even when they are found in the
most smiling face.
"Green eyes are often the most fas-
cinating of all eyes. The shade is
rarely found unmixed, but have seen
eyes Of a uniform tint resembling that
elusive green that may De observed
for a moment in a summer sunset.
Usually the green tint is mixed with
gray or brown, or both. The combina-
alton with brown or brown and gray
| is known Familiarity as the brown-ha-
eel or green-hazel eye, which, popular
wisdom has 1t. is always to be trusted
Green in the eye is thought to Indicate
| treachery. l believe more usually II
indicates power Of fascination. Thack-
cray. with great felicity. gave Becky
Sharp green eyes. and Becky was both
treacherous and fascinating. Bui
Becky's eyes. understand, were pure
unmixed green. Brown neutralizes the
bad effects of green in the eye, while
detracting not at all from its fascina
ton.
"The white eye may be very beau