Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1916-12-09

| i'''uI'I, II, We may say, Specle'
of mental geography. as it were; which
by the study of the Skull-leadS alsC
To Il study of the brain within. even as
geology naturally follows the initial
contemplation of the earth'S surface
The brain, thurfur. or intellectual re-
tort, as We may say, natively eXerts
a mOlding influence on the skull con
tour; thurfur is the expert in phrenOl-
ogy most readily enabled to accurate
ly locate the multitudinOuS intellectual
forces, and most exactingly estimate,
as well, the sequcnt character of each
subject submitted To his SCRUTINY. As,
in the example before us-a young
man, doubtless well known in your
midst, though, | may say, an entire
stranger TO myself venture to dis
close some characteristic trends and
tendencies, as indicated by this phreno-
logical depression and development Of
the skull proper, as later we will show.
through the mesmeric condition, the ac-
curacy of our mental diagnosis"
Throughout the latter parr of this
speech my friend nudged me SpaSmod-
ically, whispering something which
was joStlcd out of intelligent utterance
| by some inward spasm Of laughter.
In this head" said the professor.
SlraddIing his mallenble fingers across
the young mans bumpy brow-'In this
head We find ideaIity large-abnor-
mally large, in fact; thurby indicat-
! ing-taken in conjunction with like
: development of the perceptive qualities
! language following, as well. i'm the
| prominent eye-thurby indicating, |
, say, our subject as especially endowed
with love for the beautiful-the sub
| lime-the elevating refined and
delicate-the lofty and superb-in ma
ture, and in all the sublimated attri-
buteS Of the human heart and beatific
soul. In fact, we find this young man
possessed of such natural gifts as
would betit him for the exalted career
of the sculptor, the actor, the artist,
or the poet-any ideal calling; in fact,
any calling but Il practical, matter-of-
fact vocation; though in poetry he
would seem 10 best succeed" We'll"
said my friend seriously. hes feeling
for the boy Then laughingly: "HeG- |
rick has written some rhymes for the |
country papers, and Sweeney once in |
troduced him at an Old Settlers meet |
ing as the best poet in Center Town |
ship and never cracked a smilel AL |
ways after each other that way, but |
the best of friends in the world. Swee- |
neyS strong suit is elOcutiOn. He
has a native ability that way by
no means ordinary, but even that gift
he abuses and distOrts simply to pro-
duce grOteSque, and Oftentimes. ridicu-
lOuS effects. For instance. nothing
more delights him than to BEAUTIFULLY |
consent to answer a request at the |
Mite society, some evening. for AN ap-
propriate selection, and then, with
an elaborate introduction of the same,
and an exalted tribute to the refined |
genius of the author, proceed with a
most gruesOme rendition of 'AlOnzO |
the Brave and the Fair Imogene,' in a |
way to cOagulate the blood and curl |
the hair of his fair listeners with alb |
iect terror. Pale as a corpse, you |
know. and with that cadaverous face. |
lit with those malignant-loOking eyes. |
his slender figure, and his long. thin |
legs and arms and hands. and his |
Whole diabOlical talent and adroitness |
brought into play-why, want to say |
to you, it's enough to scare 'em to |
death. Never smile from him, |
though, till he and Hedrick are safe |
out into the night again-then. of |
course, they hug each other and howl |
over it like Modocs. But pardon;
I'm interrupting the lecture. Listen"
"A lack of continuity, however" con-
tinued the professor, land an undue |
love of appreciation, would measurably,
at least, tend to retard the young
mans progress toward the cOnsumma-
ton of any loftier ambition. | fear:
yet as we have minated, if the sub
ject were appropriately educated to
the needs demand. he could doubtless |
produce a high order of both prose and |
the latter-though |
he could very lily bear being laughed
at for his palms."
Hes dead wrong there" said my
friend: "Hedrick enjoys being laughed
at; he's used to it-gets fat on it,"
as fond of his friends" continued
the professor, land the heartier they
are the better; might even be conviv-
tally inclined-if so tempted-but pru-
dent-in degree" loiteringly con-
cluded the speaker, as though unable
to find the exact bump with which to
bolster up the last named attribute.
The subject blushed vividly-my
friends right eyelid dropped and there
was ii noticeable, though elusive SEN
sation throughout the audience.
But" said the professor explo-
sively, selecting direct opposite sub
iect, in conjunction with the study of
the one before us turning to the
group ut the rear of the stage and
beckOning). we may find a newer in
terest in the practical comparison of
these subjects side by side" And
the professor pushed very pale young
man into position.
Sweeney" whispered my friend de-
lightedly; now look outr'
I'm this subject" said the professor.
1--WE find the practical business head.
small-a trifle light
at the base, in fact; but well balanced
at the important points at least:
thOuOhtful pvpS yvidaouaLo o-oe. |