The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-05
EVOLUTION or THE FACE.

RufRs MdHR in he International Quarterly.
The origin Of all the elements Of the
human head cannot be traced; II IL almost
certain, however, that they have been devel-
oped In the life above the fishes Among the
fishes the head Is not yet distinctly separated
from the rest Of the body; there IL no neck,
and In the very highest forms the creature
must move the whole body in order 10 OBJ
tain a new field Of vision. The head Of the
FISH IL imperfect in other ways: to IL are
attached the breathing organs In the shape
OF gills, which require a complicated system
OF machinery to aid their functions; the
instruments Of sight and smell are generally
pretty well elaborated, but the hearing Is In
the keeping Of a very rude machinery which
does It's work inadequately. The voice,
which hereafter is a part Of the head ma
ohinery, Is indistinct and quite inarticulate.
The next step in advance is gained when
the fishes pass into the reptiles here we find
something like a neck and a head; the en-
nobled 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 il 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 ele-
nents with himself. the type Of all possible
degradation, and views il with instructive
Adherence.
From the reptiles, advance 10 the higher
forms il made on two distinct lines on the
one we are led 70 the birds, on the other
TO the mammals. Though closely akin in
structure, there IL a wide spiritual gap
separating the reptiles and birds. We pass
from dull and senseless things TO creatures
which are the embodiment Of emotional
activity. The mental activity Of birds finds
expression not only in their marvellous
voices, but for the first time the face be-
comes the instrument of a oonsiderab BILE
range Of expression. Although 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 ami
NAL when alive and when dead, whereas in
the bird the change is so great that II may
be pathetic.
The first clear premonition Of the human
face is found among the monkeys. We
see here this part beginning to adjust
itself az it were. for a higher destiny
The jaws become shorter, the mouth dimin-
ishes in size the nose. which hitherto has
been fiat, in some species begins to assume
a distinct human outline; the eyes are closer
together and the eyebrows are somewhat
better defined the hair, although still cover
ing the face, grows so as to separate Il more
sharply from the head; but above all there
i. n Al = II. Il
muscles and play Of countenanoe greater
than that Of the lower animals. It may 10
deed 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 10 SIG
Nifty by grimace much that human beings
convey by language, Although the vocabu-
larry Of the inferior races may be small, IL is
nevertheless sufficient for the expression Of
the limited range of their ideas and emotions,
and no longer requires grimace as an aid.
According 10 this theory, the first result
Of speech would therefore be 10 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
Of expression, cannot meet the demands Of
the mind, and In consequence the face be
comes obedient to the SOUL
The lifting Of the forehead and the accent
ustion Of the chin have perhaps moro than
any other modification given TO the human
face its erect and commanding appearance.
The distance from the eyes to the ears has
also steadily increased. and the height OF
the countenanoe compared with the width
become greater; this particular modifca-
ton appears in all races in the ascending
grade Of culture. The most remarkable
transformation observed in passing from
the anthropoids to man is found in the hairy
covering Of the face; the localization Of this
hair. although a Characteristic feature Of
man, is indicated in the lower forms with
the monkeys, for instance, the lower part OF
the face Of the male il in certain species
covered by a beard. The change in the
hairy covering Of man is not so much a
matter Of diminudon as OF distribution. II
the nine inches Of growth which Ia said 70
take place each year in the hair Of the head
and beard were spread over the entire body,
we should find il covered about as thickly
as that Of a monkey. With the loss Of the
hair there has come about that peculiar SEN
sitiveness Of the skin which Is manifested in
bmshing. This phenomenon, together with
the sentiments which give rise to It, is con-
anad 10 man