A comparison of the faces of Dante and Whittier by the student of physiognomy will disclose the sources of the different kinds of talent exhibited by each. The physiognomy of Thomas Carlyle contrasted with that of John William Draper is a study, and corroborates the wildness and originality of Carlyle's curious intellect, as well as the truthloving disposition of Draper. It quite justifies Mr. Ruskin's criticism of Carlyle that he was "born in the clouds and struck by lightning." A normal or balanced amount of Credenciveness enables one to receive and discuss new ideas and methods, hence is allied to progress. Adventurers, navigators, and investigators of new and untried principles are assisted greatly by the receptivity of their natures. Announcement of the discovery of vast quantities of gold in California led thousands of wonder-loving and adventurous spirits to that country. The result is a community in which the love of the marvelous and sentimental is one very noticeable trait, for fortunetellers, mediums, patent-medicine venders, and astrologers abound, and all sorts of mystic philosophies are entertained, their chief claim to consideration being that they are novel and mysterious. Many, too, having tired of the mysteries of orthodox faiths, search about constantly for some new and novel mystery. Mr. J. Stanley Grimes says: We frequently see a spiritualist who does not believe in Christ, but believes in A. J. Davis; he does not believe in the Virgin Mary, but he believes in Kate Fox; he does not believe in the Apostles, but he believes in the Davenport boys; he does not believe that the omnipotent God could assume the human form to make communications to man, but he believes that Katie King, John King, and any number of dead savages can become incarnate, and exhibit themselves to believers !* In cases of this sort, the man who changes from any superstitious religion to another one still more so only proves that the strongest faculties gain strength with age, and exhibit themselves accordingly. As receptivity is one of the supreme conditions of childhood, so is it one of the elements of Credenciveness; hence, adapted to the reception and belief of what is heard or taught in the home, school, or church. The ancient Greeks were a wonderfully receptive people, and their mythology is replete with wonders, miracles, and impossible and mystic narrations. They were also a muscular and an artistic people. Sculpture and oratory reached their acme in that era. They were a They were a philosophic people, and philosophy is the childhood of science. It precedes scientific discovery, * Mysteries of the Head and Heart, J. Stanley Grimes, p. 120. Chicago. CREDENCIVENESS. and when it is based upon an accurate knowledge of the laws of Nature it is of great use in illustrating and expounding principles; but, like the infant, it cannot stand alone, for philosophy without a basis of truth may be the merest nonsense: yet Greek philosophy was the forerunner of modern science; astrology of astronomy; alchemy of chemistry. These infantile developments had their use to humanity, and while their devotees were looking for signs and wonders-for the "philosopher's stone" and the "elixir of youth "—they stumbled upon many a truth which the scientific spirit of this age has wrought into a practical result. Certain animals possess and exhibit a sense of the marvelous, and are superstitious in their own fashion. Dr. Lindsay remarks on this point that Such animals as the dog unquestionably possess superstition. It exhibits practically a belief in the supernatural or preternatural. It expresses alarm at apparitions, spectres, ghosts; thus, it has been described as regarding an owl as a ghost, and the same kind of ghosts that are made use of in practical joking or for more serious ends--for the intimidation of man, and that frighten him-produce the same effect sometimes, at least, on the dog. A fertile imagination frequently leads the horse as well as the dog to be terrified at the first sight of perfectly harmless objects, animate or inanimate, especially when seen in a state of motion and in comparative darkness, objects, that is, which are simply for the moment new, not familiar, not understood, and which, therefore, being associated with supposed danger, inspire timidity or terror as well as possibly a sense of the mysterious or supernatural. Bartlett speaks of a sense of mystery or of mysterious dread in certain animal inmates of the London Zoological Gardens. In many animals under certain circumstances awe or dread of the unseen, unknown, untried, unheard really gives birth not only to a feeling of mystery, but, as is pointed out in another chapter, to genuine delusion.* The position of the facial sign for Credenciveness is most significant. In its appearance it is precisely the opposite of Observation,—a most practical faculty; the former drawing up the muscles away from the eye in awe and wonder, and the latter bringing the brow down close to the eye in order that it may focus readily upon the object under inspection and thus assist accuracy of vision. A wide-open eye will undoubtedly take in a wider expanse, but will not take as accurate and precise a view as the small eye with the eyebrow drawn down to shade it. Where the eyes are extremely large and protruding, the character exhibits natural exaggeration in describing scenes, conversations, etc. Hence, those thus characterized are not the most reliable witnesses. They are given to gush and emotional "sentimentality" in which there is little reality, and this gushing emotion ought to warn us not to give too much credence to these wonder-eyed believers in mystery. * Mind in the Lower Animals, J. L. Lindsay, M.D., vol. i, p. 223. The following beautiful comparison between superstition and science is quite apropos to our present subject. I append it, hoping it may give my readers as much pleasure as I have received from it : Superstition is the vague dream of a mighty mind half awakened from its midnight slumbers. Science is the perception of that same mind awake to all the realities of noonday. Superstition is a giant, naked and ignorant, struggling in a darkened cavern amid enemies and friends, whose forms are but imperfectly seen and whose powers and designs are dreaded but not understood. Science is the same giant, clothed in modern refinement, amid the full blaze of knowledge, with the press, the steam-engine, and the telegraph at his command, and clearly perceiving that God is his father and all mankind his brethren.* PRESCIENCE. "Who taught the nations of the field and wood, Prescient, the tides or tempests to withstand?"-POPE. Definition-Knowledge of events prior to their occurrence; capacity for foreseeing, foreknowing, and "sensing" events, phenomena, and transactions; the spirit of prophecy, forejudging and anticipating the future. It gives a taste for discussing a future life and divests one of the fear of leaving this world. An excess of this trait in an uncultivated person might lead to a superstitious belief in occult or supernatural powers, fortunetelling, etc. In this case it should be repressed. It is, however, a rare gift, and usually found only with great intellects or pureminded and elevated characters; hence, it is seldom misapplied. Many claim these powers who do not possess them, and practice fraud and trickery for gain. A deficiency is not to be regretted, for it requires great Conscientiousness and rare judgment to make the highest use of prevision. Facial and Bodily Signs.-The region about the eye is the locality where signs for seeing, foreseeing, insight, intuition, wonder, credenciveness, and all that class of traits which have physical sight as their basis are to be found. Where Prescience is large the eye at its inner corner sets very far back under its bony encasement, and the subject seems to be looking far forward at something in the distance, while the expression of the eye is dreamy and contemplative, together with a wistful, mild, and amiable expression. The faculty of Prescience is more frequently observed in those whose bodies are spare, skin fine and clear, limbs thin and relatively long, their hands and fingers thin and sometimes delicately pointed. It is also found in varying degrees in other formations, yet wherever it exists the sign near the eye will declare its presence. * Threno-Geology, J. S. Grimes, p. 183. 1851. DESCRIPTION OF PRESCIENCE.-Prescience is not Spirituality, Credenciveness, nor Intuition, although partaking somewhat of the nature of each. It is an elevated and refined trait, never seen in the coarse and brutal. It is one of the rare faculties and not a common endowment, for some possess scarcely a germ of it, while in very rare instances a genius in this direction is observed,-scarcely one in a century, however. It is pre-eminently a poetic trait. (See the portraits of Dante and Longfellow.) The action of this faculty is the least understood of any, but sufficient is known to teach us that it is evolved from a peculiarly fine organization of brain and nerves. It is not always accom panied by large reasoning and observing powers, yet when it is we have a first-class scientific mind, such as Charles Darwin and Alexander Humboldt, or an artistic one, such as Milton, Dante, Mrs.. Browning, or Raphael. I have observed its action in many individuals in private life not noted specially for any talent, yet always refined and of pure and noble traits, unspoiled and untainted by the world. I have also found it co-existent with ordinary minds in every nationality, yet more frequently among the Scotch or their descendants in other lands; also among the Scandinavians. There are, doubtless, many grades of power and development of the foreknowing faculty, and, like all the other traits, it is influenced by those associated with it. The shape of the ethmoid bone and superciliary ridge gives it its peculiar appearance, which is quite different from the appearance caused by a predominance of the signs for Locality and Observation. Prescience is thus shown to be exhibited by form and governed by quality in its manifestations in divers persons. Its principal facial sign is a little difficult to find by a mere written description or by a picture, yet after once seeing its location and appearance in the living subject it can be always readily discerned. The action of Prescience is best observed in the aged subject, for long-continued use of a faculty makes a decided impression upon the face and imparts judgment in comprehending it and in using its powers; to the aged this faculty is particularly satisfying, as it relates them to a future state of existence as well as affords them glimpses of the coming of events before they occur. It is thus a species of mental meteorology which can foresee and predict the future occurrence and recurrence of affairs and events without having to rely upon the observation of signs, as does the meteorologist. The direction which Prescience will take depends upon the force or development of the other traits in combination. If the domestic traits are dominant or decided in one who possesses this " power, he will be warned by presentiment of changes in his domestic affairs and occurrences, and will be able to prognosticate the death, sickness, mental disturbances, or suffering of members of the family at a distance. If Friendship is active he will foreknow what is going to transpire among friends. Where the scientific traits are supreme Prescience will lead to the discovery of principles, and enable one to predict with certainty the appearance of scientific discoveries and occurrences. With large intellectual powers and large patriotism combined, it will lead FIG. 89.-ALICE CARY. (REFORMER, POETESS.) shown by ver- Conspicuous facial sign, Prescience, to precognition and almost to omniscience in forecasting great national events. With a large and culti vated intellect, large Credenciveness, and large Language, the individual will write and prophesy in spiritual subjects, and forecast the future state of mind and spirit, as did Swedenborg, Ann Lee, and other seers. If the poetical nature is exhibited, Prescience will show in poetic numbers, as in the following from Longfellow: Almost every person is acquainted with some dear old lady who foresees and predicts domestic events, such as change of weather, sickness, death, or disturbances among family or friends, just at or before the time of their occurrence, and later finds that those events transpired just as she had stated. It is remarked that the gift of Prescience is more common to woman than to man. This is owing probably to her higher quality; yet there have been men of commanding intellect, combined with large Prescience, who have excelled in predicting and forecasting the future, and in anticipating great events; such a one was Alexander Humboldt, |