The last sentence of Lavater explains a great deal. If as much observation were put into the study of the human face as is given to a score of useless, fashionable accomplishments, it would be no longer the profound mystery that it is, and rogues and villains would stand unmasked before the gaze of all, and in order to associate with honest citizens would be obliged to amend their lives or be shunned as are vicious beasts and venomous serpents, whose physiognomy is understood and consequently serves as a warning to people to "stand off" or be bitten. Children even are governed by the appearance of the physiognomy in their dealings with animals. As proof I offer the following: A little girl living in the Santa Cruz Mountains once told me that when she saw a snake with a head pointed like an earth-worm she was not afraid of it, but when she met one with a broad, flat head she took a stick and killed it, for that sort were poisonous. If people were as much on their guard against the low, broad, flat-headed human serpents whom they meet, they would not be so often stung by them, for form here, as elsewhere in Nature, carries the same meaning that it does in the snake, viz., secretiveness, destructiveness, revenge, low instincts, bad temper, and very little, if any, Conscientiousness. Where Conscientiousness is large it will influence all the other faculties, and will assist in producing thoroughness in all that one undertakes. It gives a great deal of force and courage in moral movements, and to the unskilled reader of character seems often to be combativeness or egotism, so earnest and forcible are its manifestations. Many delicate women, without a particle of true combative force, will push forward a great moral movement, such, for example, as the temperance cause or labor reform, with a vigor and boldness which resembles combativeness, but which is the effect of large Conscientiousness. When associated with Credenciveness and Veneration it will lead the infirm even to deeds which endanger life. Each faculty, when largely developed, exhibits great power, and Self-will, when very large, throws out a force which is as palpable and tangible to the sensitive as is the presence of any material object. Large Conscientiousness makes itself felt in every company and community, and villains stand rebuked in the presence of those who are endowed with a large share of moral force and courage. Integrity, rectitude, and moral sense are exhibited in varying degrees in many of the higher animals. The horse and dog are notable examples of its action. Indeed, some of these creatures have exhibited a higher grade of morality than many savage tribes, and would put to blush many human beings who have had the advantage of church and school education. Monuments have been erected in various cities in memory of the fidelity to a trust or faithful attachment of dogs to their masters. The most honor and honesty among animals is exhibited by those whose bony systems predominate, and among these classes the square-boned ones are the most honorable. Compare, for example, a squareboned mastiff with the round-boned fox, and you will have a fair understanding of the relative degree of honesty revealed by these two diverse forms and structures. THE FACULTY OF FIRMNESS. "Come one, come all, this rock shall fly Definition.-Stability, perseverance, resolution, pertinacity, fixed methods; steady, persistent action; decision, endurance, courage, fortitude. Excess of Firmness results in stubbornness and unreasoning dogmatism, and produces a hard, obdurate, unlovely character. Deficiency of Firmness creates a vacillating, shifting, changeable disposition, without perseverance or capacity to carry plans and works to a finality. It makes one seem cowardly, and the lack of a developed chin has always something in it suggestive of inferiority, for no animal has a chin, and when the human being is greatly lacking in this respect he possesses the unstable character of an inferior animal. Facial and Bodily Signs.-The most decisive facial sign of Firmness is the length downward and forward of the chin. Other facial signs are projecting check-bones and a square, bony forehead. A predominance of the bony system affords the best illustration of this faculty, and the bodily signs are shown by large bones and joints, long and square-boned hands and fingers, prominent knuckles, and flat, bony feet. The sign in the chin is the most reliable facial evidence of perseverance and steadfastness. A receding chin shows a decided lack of this faculty. DESCRIPTION OF FIRMNESS.-As this faculty is caused by a fine development of the bony system, we shall find its principal sign in the length downward and forward of the lower jaw-bone. Where the bones of the lower jaw are long and broad, we may be sure that the osseous system is one of the chief systems of the body; hence, the capacity for firm, unyielding, persistent action will be present. The force evolved from the action of this trait represents a certain kind of will-power or determination, yet is not pure Self-will. This faculty is derived from the muscular system, and will be described hereafter. Firmness must not be confounded with the former, for its methods of action, as well as its origin, are quite different, and after analyzing the two one would never confound them. Firmness is a quiet, persistent force which carries, measures, and pursues plans in a calm, patient, and continuous manner, without noisy demonstration. It gives to the character the power to follow a purpose or plan with fidelity until it is accomplished, and those possessing it largely will keep the mind fixed upon a plan for years, and carry it out successfully to the end; even if great and innumerable obstacles intervene in the meantime, they will again and again return to the plan or purpose, and are never satisfied until the object is achieved. The faces of all persons who have made their mark in the world in any great enterprise disclose this sign in the face. The bull-dog among animals is an excellent illustration of this trait, and exhibits in his physiognomy and bony build the unfailing signs for persistency. The ass and mule are examples of the perversion of this faculty. In these creatures we find an excessive development of bone, hence an excess or perversion of firmness, which results in obstinacy, contrariness, mulishness, perversity, dogged obstinacy, and unreasonableness. In contrast to these animals, both in character and formation, we find the several deer tribes, as, for example, the red deer, the fallow deer, the wapiti, and the roebuck. These animals have relatively less muscle than bone, and present in the contour of their jaws a most decided difference from that of the ass and bull-dog, the fox, and sheep. These animals are possessed of little firmness or persistency, and present entirely different characteristics and bodily formation from the first-mentioned animals. Those persons whose lower jaws exhibit an excess of bone are like the mule and bull-dog in character, and, like these creatures, always show a desire to hold back and dissent from views and plans which would benefit them, if adopted, but which are opposed spontaneously and without cause by those who possess this excess of bone and obstinacy. When questioned as to the reason for this opposition, they reply, "Oh, I just felt that way." They have no reason to offer, and this answer reveals the natural and instinctive action of the perversion of this most useful and moral faculty. Firmness assists all other traits, whether of the intellect or moral nature; so, also, does it assist the rogue in his wickedness, but, as the osseous system is not conducive to immorality, we shall The capacity for truthfulness is revealed by the shape of the mouth, as well as by the form of the eye, for the straightness of the muscular system is the basis of one essential department of integrity. Straightness of the mouth is a better indication of the truthtelling capacity than if it be oblique, distorted, or crooked; that is to say, if the crookedness be congenital. Many mouths have become changed in form by disease or accident. This should be known before passing judgment. Some crooked mouths pervert or distort the truth; others are open liars, either silly or malicious, FIG. 16.-GEORGE WASHINGTON. Principal facial sign of Conscientiousness, width of the bony structure of the chin. Born in Virginia, 1732. The law of the square, straight line, and angle governs this face and body. The mathematical outlay of the countenance is rectangular. George Washington stood erect, over six feet in height, and exhibited a perfectly balanced character. The size of the nose discloses great mental ability, being long, wide, and bony its entire length. The signs of Conscientiousness, Firmness, Reason, Veneration, Executiveness, Self-will, Form and Size, Patriotism, Love of Home, Self-esteem, Love of Young are all large in this sublime countenance. He was successful as farmer, surveyor, statesman, general, and president. No public character has ever exhibited greater rectitude than he. according to the other traits in combination and influenced by color. The color of the eyes, hair, and complexion is an indication of the general integrity or soundness of the tissues, hence of the capacity of the individual to recognize truths, to act vigorously in the defense of truth, morality, - reform, and to perform heroic acts. Very light-colored eyes, even with square bones, would not be so capable of exhibiting moral heroism as one with darker eyes, yet might be noted for simple honesty and honorable conduct. Color Friendship, Benevolence, Economy, Amativeness, and gives vigor, and deep color, along with a good, square, bony form, often leads to very great daring in moral movements and in acts of personal heroism and courage. The influence of color upon traits is fully explained elsewhere. The bodily signs of Conscientiousness are straightness of all the bones and muscles, square shoulders, squareness and straightness of all the bones of the legs, arms and fingers, large joints, hard bones. Secondary or subordinate signs are seen in good color of the eyes, hair, and complexion. Albinos are characterized by very defective sense of sight, sound, and scent; hence, perfect integrity of these functions and their related faculties is lacking. DESCRIPTION OF CONSCIENTIOUSNESS.-The several sources from which the general integrity is derived are fully explained in Part I, Chapter V, and it is only necessary here to say that the sign for Conscientiousness in the chin denotes the kind of integrity which is exhibited by honesty, honor, gratitude, and moral courage, while the truth-telling department of integrity is exhibited in the mouth and eyes, in the muscular system. Indeed, any eye off the straight line varies in truthful significance, according to the amount of its deflection from a straight line, running all the way from amiability through the various degrees of plausibility, duplicity, deception, secretiveness, craft, cunning, lying, and cruelty, all of which are shown by the shape of the eye which deviates from a straight line, either above or below the line. Where the outer corners of the eye turn upward, the indications are like those of the same shape in the lion, tiger, and fox, and like traits will be exhibited, cruelty and craft, deceit and cunning; but where the outer corner curves dowmcard slightly, agreeability of speech is always found. Still farther turned downward, they are plausible and persuasive, and make good salesmen and politicians. Still farther downward, they indicate untruthful propensities in a great degree. Benjamin F. Butler's eyes are more marked in this respect than the eyes of any celebrated man that has come under my observation. With a coarse quality of structure this form denotes untruthfulness. FIG. 17.-CHARLOTTE CUSHMAN. The law of the square and straight line is the governing principle of this face and character. This celebrated American actress was noted for her honorable and upright character as well as for the fidelity of her impersonations. Large Conscientiousness gave thoroughness to all she undertook. She excelled in tragedy. In her face the dramatic jaw is well developed. Ideality, Human Nature, Sublimity, Constructiveness, Analysis, Veneration, Selfwill, Memory of Events, Form and Size, Language, Approbativeness, Mirthfulness, Friendship, and Firmness are all large and her Quality of a high grade. As Conscientiousness gives moral courage, it is the base of many heroic acts, and will often lead even delicate women to deeds of daring for principle's sake, and to protect the helpless. Joan of Arc and Charlotte Corday are examples of this sort of courage. Conscientiousness in excess leads to severity and exaction in moral conduct and life; it also tends to moral courage. The |