Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-23

as an elemental substance, uranium
"a rare thing upon the earth, by
the way. and never much noticed |
until these strange happenings be-
gan.
OF it's own accord, an atom of
uranium "loses' three atoms of ali
other element helium. and thereby
is converted into a third element
called radium. The radium, thus
brought into existence. or at least
ont into the light of scientific recog-
milton, proves to be very lively
child. far more active than it's
mother" and it quickly loses one
atom of helium-for there seems to
be aplenty of that strange substance
lurking in some form behind all
these changes-and as result of
this loss the radium is converted in
to the, so-called "emanation." This
is still a livelier child. but of ex-
tremely brief vital span, for it al
most imm ediately loses four more
atoms of heliun, and thereby is con-
verted into lead.
So. beginning with uranium we
have n series of automatic expul-
sions of atoms of helium. three the
first time, one the second and four
the last time: and each time, what
we may speak of as the original sub
stance changes face or is converted
into another substance, the final
product being lead. The thing lost
every time is shellum: the thing that
finally remains. when all the helium
is out is lead: so that there seem
to be two descendants, If we mayl
so call them, of the atom of ura-
mum, viz: lead and helium. They
remain, strange brothers, but their
mother atom has sacrificed itself
and vanished in bringing them into
existence. This looks like spontane-
Gus generation in the mineral world
There are not many kinds of
knowledge that people would more
willingly acquire than that of the
art of reading human faces. Some
are born with this ability, more or
less completely developed, just as
some possess from birth extraordi-
nary gifts for the comprehension of
| mathematics, artistic form and har-
mony, or mechanical forces and
combinations.
Twice in my life have been as
sured by phrenologists, that my
bump of human nature" {supposed
to indicate that kind of divining
power) was we'll developed, but my
observations on myself have led me
to think that the influence of the
pump" doesn't go much beyond
awaking curiosity about the inner
nature of my fellow beings. Still,
there is no doubt that by intelligent
use of curiosity one can learn much
on this subject, but it is a kind of
knowledge, or skill, difficult to teach
TO others. A good way to acquire
some skill in reading human
nature is, 1t seems to me, to begin
QrnIninU -.
der certain striking types.
Sitting in a subway train recentIv
was greatly interested by noticing
that of eleven persons on the long
seat opposite to me no less than five
We're strongly typical of as MANY
dlferent phases of character. Three
or them sat side by side, and for
the time being, owing to the con-
centration of my attention on their
contrasts, they almost impressed me
as representing three different
species of mankind.
had many times in the past seen
tne same moinations of peculiar
mead forms, facial traits, hair coIn
and quality. eye color and exnras
sion, and bodily bearing: So that
these types were perfectly clear in
my nina. and l had my opinion fair
~ Settled as to what each of tbap,
STOOD Tor morally, mentally and
physically. 'iio
If I could have EXCHANGED = feu,
words with them. one after another
would have been able to incIuda
another. very important element in
the analysis of character, viz. the
quallty of their voices. But ever
Mithout the test of hearing them
speak | had little doubt that tbnir
voices accorded with their rosnoa .e.f
tive types as those types were mai
Gated by the visible signs.
THE voice." said Ernas.
gouve' rs a revealer." Yes. that is
So and sometimes the voice revaois
more than do the features or ar
shape of the head. TIC
But to estimate and classify ,,-
and women by these external sirns
is like Identifying different kinds
OF rocks and minerals by means os
thelr general appearance. After =
great deal of practice it can be done
with high probability, but not WITH
complete and unerring certainty In
eacn type there are MANY varieties
TO recognize the type is easv: TO
distinguish the variations is difficuIt
But this is the fine part of tbe art
| and to succeed in it n natural gift
Is probably needed. 1t seems tn he
more matter of intuition than of
Inference based on conscious obser-
vation. When the mineralogjst is in
! doubt about specimen he takes his
blowpipe. or his chemical reagents,
and makes an acid test. Something
equivalent tn this must he done in
| forming final. absolute judgments of
| ind'"'dual human chara cter.
When. by practicn you have settled
upon the principal types of char
acter. as they manifest themselves
/ to your observation, you win find