It is only by closely analyzing every quality and condition of a tissue that we can arrive at a true basis of mind and mental action. Each mental trait has its own personal force and manner of expressing itself. Selfishness is more apt to be revealed by those in whom the vegetative system is dominant, for the reason that this system is one of negative self-indulgence and does not bring into action any of the animal powers, such as the use of the bones and muscles, except in a most limited degree, as in the use of the hands in reaching for food, etc.; while the love of motion which inheres in the muscular system expresses itself in art in some form or other. In the characters of all the great creative artists and actors Self-will is one of their most prominent traits; being endowed with a fine quality and quantity of muscle, they exhibit in their countenances all the signs of character which muscle creates, and if one make an examination of a score or more of the physiognomies or portraits of the greatest artists and actors, he will find the sign for Self-will most conspicuously developed, as well as all the other signs which are caused by the presence of muscle. Actors most especially need the reactive power of the muscles to enable them to sustain by a supreme effort of the will a character foreign to their own through the long plays of the great masters of the drama; and, when the long-sustained part is concluded, the actor must be able by the same muscular power to relieve the tension of one set of muscles by calling into action quite another set, and herein lies the secret of the actor's skill. If the brain and nervous system were called into play in acting to the extent that the muscles are, and the burden of the emotions expressed fell upon the brain and nerves (supposing the brain and nerves competent to express emotion), the actor would scarcely survive the representation of one grand drama like "Elizabeth," "Marie Stuart," "Richelieu," or "Julius Cæsar." The current idea that the brain is all-powerful in promoting artistic effort is wholly erroneous, for without a fine quality of the muscles no form of art could be manifested. It is true that a suitable brain for judging of art-work must be one attribute of an artist, but a love and appreciation of art merely may and often does exist with little capacity for executing art. Such people may make good art-critics, but cannot carry on art-works through absence of the necessary muscular mechanism. Now, although muscle gives to the character its power for exhibiting will, a suitable brain-and-bone system must be had, when consecution, imagination, completeness, and amplification are required; and this we observe in the physiognomies of those who have led the world in creative art, invention, and literature, in grand material enterprises, and in scientific discovery. I offer as proofs of this statement the faces and biographies of all such characters in ancient and modern times. Physiognomy is rich in proofs of its basic principles and theories. Self-will is so useful a faculty that I can but recommend its cultivation (when deficient) by the same methods which were used by the Greeks, viz., by gymnastic exercises. A thorough course of physical culture will transform a timid, weak-willed child into a character possessed of a fair degree of will, resolution, and decision, and give the necessary courage to say No! to vicious companions. Oratory and elocution were special studies with the Greeks, and are of infinite service in developing will. In a timid child or adult a great deal of self-assertion can be aroused by these studies; besides, they act as a stimulus to the brain, carrying a great deal of blood to the head by the practice of loud tones and the development of the lungs by the several processes of physical culture. The sign for Self-will is one of the most marked facial peculiarities of the Greek physiognomy. Appeals to the timid to "brace up" and "speak out" are of slight avail, but with the assistance of a well-trained muscular system the vacillating, irresolute child will exhibit quite an improvement on his original state. I think a great deal of wickedness is committed through weakness of will-more perhaps through weakness of some one faculty than by a positively vicious trait. A child or adult (whose will is so defective as to be overpowered by the will of a vicious companion) may not incline to sin or vice, but will often consent to it through the influence of a stronger will. The habitual abuse of Self-will, like all other abnormal manifestations, leaves its impress upon the physiognomy. A permanent scowl is one mark often seen in willful children and adults; glaring, disrespectful looks, another mark; drawing down the corners of the lower lip like a carnivorous animal is yet another sign of unbalanced and unbridled Self-will. Self-will may manifest itself as selfish will, or destructive, revengeful will (when revenge, vindictiveness, malice, and spite are inherited); these signs are found in the peculiar appearance of the outline of the nostril, causing it to turn upward, either rounding up as though a piece had been bitten out, and exposing the interior of the nostril as is the case in vicious animals, or else describing an acute angle or acute arch in the lower outline of the wing between the tip of the nose and the place of junction with the cheek. These several formations will be found figured in the chapter on "The Human Face," under "Criminal Noses." These peculiar nasal forms denote varying degrees of selfish will, force, and resistance, and prove their presence by acts of spite, malice, vindictiveness, or deep revenge. These acts will exhibit the more spontaneous and desperate phases where the color of eyes, hair, and complexion is deepest, but will partake more of the nature of spite and malice where the color is lightest. In the race of life a good share of Self-will is required, yet an excess is dangerous and will defeat all one's good intentions. In cases where there is too little the remedy has been pointed out. In order to check an excessive manifestation of will it is highly essential that parents should commence in early life, and endeavor by a suitable diet to neutralize selfishly-willful tendencies. Then, too, the other traits in combination must be leveled up to balance this excess. The affections must be cultivated, and, above all, the conscience stimulated and reason developed, and thus by bringing up other good faculties to a higher activity Self-will will sink into the background and become a useful instead of a dangerous force. Children who are allowed to indulge their will too much may become criminals of the deepest dye. In Nature's great pharmacopoeia there is a sovereign remedy for nearly all the ills that flesh is heir to. Air, water, diet, rest, exercise, and self-control are the physicians that can heal the world. Add to these the knowledge of the scientific propagation of the race, and we should soon have a world so delightful to live in that we would prefer to remain here rather than risk the chances of existence elsewhere. CREDENCIVENESS. 'Let us have truth for authority, not authority for truth." Definition.-Belief in hearsay evidence, history, tradition, receptivity, biography, and in the laws of Nature; love of novelty, and a desire to hear the "news." An excess of Credenciveness creates childish credulity, gross superstition, belief in the impossible, unreal, and imaginary, and gives a taste for fables and works of imagination; begets belief in dreams, ghosts, witches, fairies, demons, sprites, omens, charms, spells, fortune-telling, and incantations. It makes one a prey to frauds and impostors, and gives rise to belief in the supernatural power of priest, pope, and prophet, which in the Indian is shown by his confidence in the "medicine-man," and in undeveloped races is manifested by their childish and unreasonable beliefs in the sanctity and power of certain objects, animals, and images. A deficiency causes skepticism and unbelief, and makes one doubt or reject all evidence, even of the most unimpeachable sort; it destroys confidence among friends and associates, and causes one to be non-progressive. Facial and Bodily Signs.-A conspicuous facial record of Credenciveness is found in the height of the eyebrow above the eye at its inner terminus, also by a high arching of the brow at this point. In the Mongolian race, and in other superstitious races, the eyebrow at its inner terminus stands so far away from the eye as to leave a wide space between it and the eye, and seems to divide the forehead in half. Another sign is the wide-open eye, wideopen hands, and ears stretching forward. The mouth in children, undeveloped persons, rustics, and uncultivated people opens in astonishment and wonder at anything new or strange. Wonder, amazement, and astonishment relax the muscles, as evidenced by opening of the eyes, etc. DESCRIPTION OF CREDENCIVENESS.-This trait has been named "Wonder," "Spirituality," "Marvelousness," and "Faith," none of which express its real office and normal action. Its real use, unperverted, is to give confidence in what is written and spoken, as, for example, in history, tradition, teaching, oratory, preaching, and current news. It is found most largely developed in Oriental races, such as the Chinese, Turks, Persians, Arabs, and Hindoos, as well as among other uncivilized tribes. It is a muscular trait and is found dominant in the muscular races of people, as above mentioned. The arching of the eyebrow, as is seen in poets, painters, prophets, seers, and dreamers, is added proof of its muscular origin. The wide-open eye is another sign, for where the muscular system dominates, or is one of the controlling systems of the body, arching of the brow and fullness of the eye is observable. Its action and appearance are just the opposite to that of Observation. This faculty draws down the inner corner of the eyebrow, and instead of relying upon hearsay evidence observes for itself, and thus substitutes a practical demonstration for recorded or verbal description. The development of the eye-bones causes the eyebrows to assume a horizontal appearance, and this is the form most commonly observed in practical characters, such as mechanics and scientists, who are so constituted as to demand proof before belief, or who insist upon having reasonable evidence of everything. Where Credenciveness is uncommonly developed, or where it overbalances the reason and practical traits, it begets a love of the wonderful and superstitious, and those in whom it is large will place implicit reliance in all wonderful and improbable narrations, such as relate to ghosts, spirits, and "great-snake" stories. Many persons of good judgment in all the affairs of every-day life will accept as a religious belief statements founded upon the impossible, and which truth and reason show to be such. This faculty is universal, and is found in degrees ranging all the way from its legitimate action, viz., a belief in history and wellauthenticated facts, to childish credulity and belief in the impossi ble, in fairies, ghosts, genii, and dragons. Those who possess a very large degree of this trait rely upon the power of charms. FIG. 87.-JOANNA SOUTHCOTT. (FOUNDER OF A Born in England, 1750. Principal facial sign, Credenciveness, shown by height of the inner end of the eyebrow from the eye. The law of the curve governs this face. The domestic faculties are well defined. Love of Home, Benevolence, and Patriotism are marked; Love of Young very large: Amativeness normal; Conscientiousness hardly average. There is too much soft tissue and too little bone in this organism to create great integrity. Friendship, Self-esteem, Hospitality, and Approbativeness are large. In the nose the signs for Human Nature, Ideality, Analysis, Mental Imitation, Veneration, and Self-will are well defined. The region about the eyes is very peculiar. Form and Size are wonderfully developed. Credenciveness is very apparent. It was these traits which enabled her to see visions, which she palmed off upon her followers as coming from God. The curve of the upper eyelid is abnormal and shows agreeable deceit. Her Memory of Events and Language omens, incantations, and lucky and unlucky numbers and days; or believe in the sanctity of certain birds, beasts, and insects. "Plain sense will influence half a score of people at most, while mystery will lead millions by the nose," said Lord Bolingbroke. The facial signs for this faculty are conspicuous in the physiognomies of Joan of Arc, Bajazet, Ignatius Loyola, and Schamyl, a prophet and military leader of the Circassians; also Pope Alexander, Swedenborg, Mohammed, and other great "believers" and superstitious leaders. In the faces of scientists the sign for Credenciveness is so small as not to be percep tible. Why should we believe anything without rensonable evidence when the proof is so easily obtained? The world is full of truths and is founded on truth. Were not the laws of Nature regulated by mathematical precision the world could not remain in its orbit one minute. If one make the pursuit of truths-of demonstrable facts-his great aim, he will gather an immense amount of the most interesting knowledge; but if, on the contrary, he pursues myths, fictions, falsities, and fables, his mind will resemble a dust-heap,-nothing of any value will be found in it. Truth is good enough for anybody and needs no spicing, but to those with were large All this added to a very magnetic presence made her the successful leader of a mystic religion. |