CHAPTER II. (CONTINUED.) THE PRACTICAL DIVISION OF THE FACE. WE are now about to take up the consideration of the practical or mechanical group of faculties. These depend mainly upon the peculiarities of osseous and muscular development, assisted by their connection with the motory and central nerves. It must be borne in mind that the facial signs of the faculties found clustering about the eyes, those of Form, Size, Observation, Locality, and Weight are not fully developed until childhood is passed, as the bones and muscles of the entire body, as well as of those about the eyes, have not at this period assumed their normal size, form, and strength. Moreover, some of these signs are produced by development of muscular tissue, others by deposition of osseous material; hence we must connect them with the gradual and progressive development of those systems as well as with the exercise of these traits. In view of these facts, it is absurd to claim that the evolution of these faculties and powers is due to brain development alone. It is true that the brain enlarges pari passu with the general growth of the body up to a certain age or stage, but the projection caused by bone and muscular tissue in the lower part of the skull near the eyes is not due to this circumstance. It is not caused by brain matter, as I have shown elsewhere, but to the growth of other tissues. Deposition of brain-substance could not take place here at this point, for the frontal sinus and the muscles of the corrugator supercilii, the superciliary ridge, the os frontis and ethmoid bone prevent any such accumulation of the brain-matter here. The development of this portion of the head arises from the natural and general development and perfection of the muscular and osseous systems, and these are the systems most used in mechanical and scientific pursuits as well as in aiding all artistic efforts. This evidence is conclusive. Moreover, we have the following evidence from one of the early and most original writers on phrenology to emphasize what is here stated. It is taken from a work on Phreno-Phrenology, p. 78, published in 1851 by J. Stanley Grimes, who observes: The bones of the skull and of the face change by a regular law of development in all healthy persons alike, and nearly in the same degree in all. The bones of the forehead in childhood and in mature age are very different; the frontal sinus becomes developed; the superciliary ridge, the zygoma and the mastoid and corrugator muscles all develop and enlarge so as to en tirely change the appearance of the head and induce unskillful observers in suppose that the growth of the brain has produced all this difference in the external appearance. The brain itself undergoes changes by the regular and natural development of its parts, some parts being more developed at certain ages. Whether the cranial organs are exercised or not the head will tend to assume the form which was possessed by the ancestors at the same age. The evidence here given by this observer is a corroboration of my observations of a life-time and is most appropriate at this junc ture, just as we are about to examine minutely the facial signs of those faculties which have been erroneously named "mental or gans," and said to be caused by the development of "brain-substance" at these points. The signs of character in the lower part of the face about the mouth, chin, cheeks, and nose are self-revealing and cannot be called "organs of the brain," but, as we arrive at an examination of the signs about the forehead and eyes, “unskillful observers," as Mr. Grimes says, "might believe these signs due to the development of brain-matter." With these preliminary remarks and an invitation to closely inspect the parts now coming under investigation, I proceed to the description and analysis of the facial signs of the practical and mechanical faculties in man and animal. FORM. Definition. The capacity for remembering forms and shapes; ability for spelling, drawing, modeling and (in combination with Weight) for carving and sculpture, anatomy, portraiture, and physi ognomy; it assists science, especially in geometry, mineralogy, architecture, mechanism, dress-fitting, and pattern-making. Form is always large in naturalists, navigators, astronomers, actors, and poets. A square-built man will remember and reproduce square and angular shapes best, while the round-built person will deal best with the circle and curve. An excess of Form might result in useless mechanism, but, as the field for configuration is simply illimitable, a large degree of this most useful trait generally results in activity of a useful sort. Deficiency in Form incapacitates one for many mechanical and artistic pursuits. It causes poor spelling and creates defective judgment as to the form or outline of everything in existence. No one greatly deficient in Form should attempt the study of surgery, the making of machinery, dresses, or art-works. Facial and Bodily Signs.-Width of the bony structure between the eyes is the facial evidence of good judgment in con figuration and memory of the form or shape of things observed, and of ability to reproduce form in art, science, or mechanism. DESCRIPTION OF FORM.-The anatomical base of the faculty of Form is found in the bony framework of the body. This is so patent that one needs only to observe the differences of structure in one who exhibits a large degree of Form and one who is greatly deficient in this trait. The bony system, like all other systems, undoubtedly has its representative in the brain, but to say that the width which is caused by the peculiarities of the osseous formation is an "organ" caused by a deposition of brain-matter at this place is a most palpable absurdity. Width between the eyes is the result of a wide construction of the bones at this point. Breadth between the eyes is not only indicative of the mental power of memorizing and reproducing form and shape, but it is indicative, first and primarily, of the power of certain physical functions. Where there is breadth between the eyes the whole median line of the brain is wider than where the bony framework is contracted at this point. Not only is the brain wider through its middle portion, but the nose is wider and the lungs exhibit more of a sidewise growth ; the heart has more room within the ribs; the pelvis is broader; the legs set farther apart, and the whole outline of the individual is on a broader scale than where the eyes are set close to the nose and where the orbits are near together. The logical person can, from this description, readily infer what important results would flow from a wide conformation of the human body through its middle portion. The visceral organs would be relatively stronger through having more room for sidewise expansion, and, as in the carnivora (notably in the lion), a strong visceral structure creates vigor of mind as well as of body, so a broad human head on a broad body denotes visceral vigor, primarily, and, secondarily, breadth of intellect. The nose and nostrils of the lion are broader than the nose of any other beast, and men whose noses are broad between the eyes, as well as high, possess strong will and great breadth of mentality as compared to those whose noses are narrow between the eyes. I have known many brilliant writers and speakers who were narrow between the eyes, but were incapable of breadth and profundity on any subject; they were poor spellers, too, although highly educated. As all things in existence possess form or shape. of some sort, the one most gifted in this direction is, therefore, more capable of becoming universally intelligent. It is impossible for the human mind to conceive of anything without form or shape. Even those who claim that they see divine or celestial beings and scenes the frontal sinus becomes developed; the superciliary ridge, the zygoma and the mastoid and corrugator muscles all develop and enlarge so as to entirely change the appearance of the head and induce unskillful observers to suppose that the growth of the brain has produced all this difference in the external appearance. The brain itself undergoes changes by the regular and natural development of its parts, some parts being more developed at certain ages. Whether the cranial organs are exercised or not the head will tend to assume the form which was possessed by the ancestors at the same age. The evidence here given by this observer is a corroboration of my observations of a life-time and is most appropriate at this juncture, just as we are about to examine minutely the facial signs of those faculties which have been erroneously named "mental organs," and said to be caused by the development of "brain-substance" at these points. The signs of character in the lower part of the face about the mouth, chin, cheeks, and nose are self-revealing and cannot be called "organs of the brain," but, as we arrive at an examination of the signs about the forehead and eyes, "unskillful observers," as Mr. Grimes says, "might believe these signs due to the development of brain-matter." With these preliminary remarks and an invitation to closely inspect the parts now coming under investigation, I proceed to the description and analysis of the facial signs of the practical and mechanical faculties in man and animal. FORM. Definition. The capacity for remembering forms and shapes; ability for spelling, drawing, modeling and (in combination with Weight) for carving and sculpture, anatomy, portraiture, and physi ognomy; it assists science, especially in geometry, mineralogy, architecture, mechanism, dress-fitting, and pattern-making. Form is always large in naturalists, navigators, astronomers, actors, and poets. A square-built man will remember and reproduce square and angular shapes best, while the round-built person will deal best with the circle and curve. An excess of Form might result in useless mechanism, but, as the field for configuration is simply illimitable, a large degree of this most useful trait generally results in activity of a useful sort. Deficiency in Form incapacitates one for many mechanical and artistic pursuits. It causes poor spelling and creates defective judgment as to the form or outline of everything in existence. No one greatly deficient in Form should attempt the study of surgery, the making of machinery, dresses, or art-works. Facial and Bodily Signs.-Width of the bony structure between the eyes is the facial evidence of good judgment in con figuration and memory of the form or shape of things observed, and of ability to reproduce form in art, science, or mechanism. DESCRIPTION OF FORM.-The anatomical base of the faculty of Form is found in the bony framework of the body. This is so patent that one needs only to observe the differences of structure in one who exhibits a large degree of Form and one who is greatly deficient in this trait. The bony system, like all other systems, undoubtedly has its representative in the brain, but to say that the width which is caused by the peculiarities of the osseous formation is an "organ" caused by a deposition of brain-matter at this place is a most palpable absurdity. Width between the eyes is the result of a wide construction of the bones at this point. Breadth between the eyes is not only indicative of the mental power of memorizing and reproducing form and shape, but it is indicative, first and primarily, of the power of certain physical functions. Where there is breadth between the eyes the whole median line of the brain is wider than where the bony framework is contracted at this point. Not only is the brain wider through its middle portion, but the nose is wider and the lungs exhibit more of a sidewise growth; the heart has more room within the ribs; the pelvis is broader ; the legs set farther apart, and the whole outline of the individual is on a broader scale than where the eyes are set close to the nose and where the orbits are near together. The logical person can, from this description, readily infer what important results would flow from a wide conformation of the human body through its middle portion. The visceral organs would be relatively stronger through having more room for sidewise expansion, and, as in the carnivora (notably in the lion), a strong visceral structure creates vigor of mind as well as of body, so a broad human head on a broad body denotes visceral vigor, primarily, and, secondarily, breadth of intellect. The nose and nostrils of the lion are broader than the nose of any other beast, and men whose noses are broad between the eyes, as well as high, possess strong will and great breadth of mentality as compared to those whose noses are narrow between the eyes. I have known many brilliant writers and speakers who were narrow between the eyes, but were incapable of breadth and profundity on any subject; they were poor spellers, too, although highly educated. As all things in existence possess form or shape. of some sort, the one most gifted in this direction is, therefore, more capable of becoming universally intelligent. It is impossible for the human mind to conceive of anything without form or shape. Even those who claim that they see divine or celestial beings and scenes |