Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1905-05-19

I 1 most certain, however, that
RoNr they have been developed
i'll the life above the fishes. Among
the fishes the head is not yet distinctly
separated from the rest Of the body;
there is no neck, and in the very high
est forms the creature must move the
whole body in order to obtain new
field of vision. The head OF the fish is
imperfect i'm other ways: To it are at
tached the breathing organs In the
shape of gills, which require a compll-
Gated system of machinery to aid their
functions; the instruments of sight and
smell are generally pretty well elabor-
ated, but the hearing is in the keeping
of very rude machinery which does
its work inadequately. The voice,
which hereafter is a part of the head
machinery, is indistinct and quite in
articulate.
The next step in advance is gained
when the fishes pass into the reptiles;
here we find something like neck and
q head; the ennobled part of the body
is more distinctly separated from that
which serves the lower functions. In
the reptiles the head is fairly finished.
Every essential feature, except perhaps
the outer ear, that exists in the higher
mammalia is at least suggested. and
there is nothing to be eliminated in the
further advance. Nevertheless, man
sees in the reptile the Lowest creature
of the series that contains the same
bodily clements with himself, the type
of all possible degradation. and views
it with instructive adherence.
From the reptiles, advance to the
higher forms is made on two distinct
lines; on the one we are led to the
birds, Gil the other to the mammals.
Though closely akin in structure. there
is wide spiritual gap separating the
reptiles and birds. We pass from dull
and senseless things to creatures which
are the embodiment of emotional ac-
tivity. The mental activity of birds
finds expression net only in their mar
velous voices, but for the first time the
face becomes the instrument of con-
siderable range OF expression. AL
though the reptiles may convey some
idea of rage by their menacing jaws
and by their movements, the face is
so rigid that there is little to choose
between the expression of the animal
when alive and when dead, whereas in
the bird the change is SO great that
it may be pathetic.
The first clear premonition Of the
human face is found among the mon
keys. We see here this part beginning
to adjust itself, as it we're, for higher
destiny. Tie jaws become shorter, the
mouth diminisheS in size, the nose,
which hitherto has been fat, in some
species begins to assume distinct
human outline; the eyes are closer to-
gether and the eyebrows are somewhat
better defined; the hair, although still
arate it more sharply from the head;
but above all there comes larger de-
velopment of the facial muscles and a
play of countenance greater than that
of the lower animals. 1t may indeed
be asserted that the faces of monkeys
are more expressive than those of the
lower races of men, for the reason that,
having no articulate speech, they are
compelled to signify by grimace much
that human beings convey by Language.
the vocabulgfly of the in
ferior races maybe small, it is never
theless SUFFICIENT for the expression of
the limited range of their ideas and
emotions, and no longer requires
grimace as an aid. According to this
theory, the first result of speech would
therefore be to limit the mobility of the
face, but with the higher races the
scope of ideas and emotions is such
that the voice, most important organ
If expression, cannot meet the demands |
IF the mind, and in consequence the
ACE becomes obedient to the soul.
The lifting of the forehead and the |
Of the chin have perhaps |
more than any other modification given
o the human face its erect and COM
handing appearance. The distance
rom the eyes to the ears has also
teadily increased, and the height of
he cOuntenance compared with the
7idth become greater; this particular
notification appears in all races in the
scending grade of culture. The most
emarkable transformation observed in
assing from the anthropoids to man
! found in the hairy covering of the
ace; the localization of this hair, al
hough characteristic feature of man,
J indicated in the lower forms; with
he monkeys, for instance, the lower
art of the face of the male is in GER
ain species covered by beard. The
hange in the hairy covering of man
) not so much matter of diminution
s, Ut distribution. If the nine inches
f growth which is said to take place
ach year in the hair of the head and
card were spread over the entire body,
re should find it covered about as
hickly as that of a monkey. With the
)ss of the hair there has come about
bat peculiar sensitiveness of the skin
yhich is manifested in blushing. This
henOmenOn, together with the senti-
rents which give rise to it, Is confined
} man.