The Illustrated Self-Instructor in Phrenology and Physiology Part 4

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 43. BACON.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 44. IDIOT.]

THE PHILOSOPHY OF PHRENOLOGY.

All truth bears upon its front unmistakable evidence of its divine origin, in its philosophical consistency, fitness, and beauty, whereas all untruth is grossly and palpably deformed. All truth, also, harmonizes with all other truth, and conflicts with all error, so that to ascertain what is true, and detect what is false, is perfectly easy. Apply this test, intellectual reader to one after another of the doctrines, as presented in this science. But enough on this point of proofs. Let us proceed to its ill.u.s.tration.

22.--PHRENOLOGICAL SIGNS OF CHARACTER.

The brain is not only the organ of the mind, the dome of thought, the palace of the soul, but is equally the organ of the _body_, over which it exerts an all-potent influence for good or ill, to weaken or stimulate, to kill or make alive. In short, the brain is the organ of the body in general, and of all its organs in particular. It sends forth those nerves which keep muscles, liver, bowels, and all the other bodily organs in a high or low state of action; and, more than all other causes, invites or repels disease, prolongs or shortens life, and treats the body as its galley-slave. Hence, healthy cerebral action is indispensable to bodily health. Hence, too, we walk or work so much more easily and efficiently when we take an _interest_ in what we do. Therefore those who would be happy or talented must first and mainly keep their BRAIN vigorous and healthy.

The brain is subdivided into two hemispheres, the right and left, by the falciform process of the dura mater, a membrane which dips down one to two inches into the brain, and runs from the root of the nose over to the nape of the neck. This arrangement renders all the phrenological organs DOUBLE.

Thus, as there are two eyes, ears, etc., that when one is diseased, the other can carry forward the functions, so there are two lobes to each phrenological organ, one on each side. The brain is divided thus: the feelings occupy that portion commonly covered by the hair, while the forehead is occupied by the intellectual organs. These greater divisions are subdivided into the animal brain, located between and around the ears; the aspiring faculties, which occupy the crown of the head; the moral and religious sentiments, which occupy the top; the physico-perceptives, located over the eyes; and the reflectives, in the upper portion of the forehead. The predominance of these respective groups produces both particular shapes, and corresponding traits of character. Thus, when the head projects far back behind the ears, hanging over and downward in the occipital region, it indicates very strong domestic ties and social affections, a love of home, its relations and endearments, and a corresponding high capacity of being happy in the family, and of making the family happy. Very wide and round heads, on the contrary, indicate strong animal and selfish propensities, while thin, narrow heads, indicate a corresponding want of selfishness and animality. A head projecting far up at the crown, indicates an aspiring, self-elevating disposition, proudness of character, and a desire to be and to do something great; while the flattened crown indicates a want of ambition, energy, and aspiration. A head high, long, and wide upon the top, but narrow between the ears, indicates Causality, moral virtue, much practical goodness, and a corresponding elevation of character; while a low or narrow top head indicates a corresponding deficiency of these humane and religious susceptibilities. A head wide at the upper part of the temples, indicates a corresponding desire for personal perfection, together with a love of the beautiful and refined, while narrowness in this region evinces a want of taste, with much coa.r.s.eness of feeling. Fullness over the eyes indicates excellent practical judgment of matters and things appertaining to property, science, and nature in general; while narrow, straight eyebrows, indicate poor practical judgment of matter, its quality, relations, and uses. Fullness from the root of the nose upward, indicates great practical talent, love of knowledge, desire to see, and ability to do to advantage, together with sprightliness of mind; while a hollow in the middle of the forehead indicates want of memory and inability to show off to advantage. A bold, high forehead, indicates strong reasoning capabilities, while a retiring forehead indicates less soundness, but more availability of talent.

23.--THE NATURAL LANGUAGE OF THE FACULTIES.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 40. WASHINGTON IRVING.]

Phrenology shows that every faculty, when active, throws head and body in the direction of that faculty. Thus, intellect, in the fore part of the head, throws it directly forward, and produces a forward hanging motion of the head. Hence intellectual men never carry their heads backward and upward, but always forward; and logical speakers move their heads in a straight line, usually forward, toward their audience; while vain speakers carry their heads backward. Perceptive intellect, when active, throws out the chin and lower portions of the face; while reflective intellect causes the upper portion of the forehead to hang forward, and draws in the chin, as in the engravings of Franklin, Webster, and other great thinkers.

Benevolence throws the head and body slightly forward, leaning toward the object which excites its sympathy; while Veneration causes a low bow, which, the world over, is a token of respect; yet, when Veneration is exercised toward the Deity, as in devout prayer, it throws the head UPWARD; and, as we use intellect at the same time, the head is generally directed forward. Ideality throws the head slightly forward, and to one side, as in Washington Irving, a man as gifted in taste and imagination as almost any living writer; and, in his portraits, his finger rests upon this faculty; while in Sterne, the finger rests upon Mirthfulness. Very firm men stand straight up and down, inclining not a hair's breadth forward or backward, or to the right or left; hence the expression, "He is an up-and-down man." And this organ is located exactly on a line with the body. Self-Esteem, located in the back and upper portion of the head, throws the head and body upward and backward. Large feeling, pompous persons, always walk in a very dignified, majestic posture, and always throw their heads in the direction of Self-Esteem; whilst approbative persons throw their heads backward, but to the one side or both. The difference between these two organs being comparatively slight, only the practical Phrenologist's eye can perfectly distinguish them.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 45. A CONCEITED SIMPLETON.]

There is, moreover, a natural language of money-loving, and that is a leaning forward and turning of the head to one side, as if in ardent pursuit of something, and ready to grasp it with outstretched arms; while Alimentiveness, situated lower down, hugs itself down to the dainty dish with the greediness of an epicure, better seen than described. The shake of the head is the natural language of Combativeness, and means no, or I resist you. Those who are combating earnestly upon politics, or any other subject, shake the head more or less violently, according to the power of the combative feeling, but always shake it slightly inclining _backwards_; while Destructiveness, inclining forward, causes a shaking of the head slightly forward, and turning to one side. When a person who threatens you shakes his head violently, and holds it partially backward, and to one side, never fear--he is only barking; but whenever he inclines his head to one side, and shakes it violently, that dog will bite, whether possessed of two legs or four. The social affections are located in the _back_ part of the head; and, accordingly, woman being more loving than man, when not under the influence of the other faculties, usually inclines her head backward toward the neck; and when she kisses children, and those whom she loves, always turns the head directly backward, and rolls it from side to side, on the back of the neck. Thus it is that all the various postures a.s.sumed by it individually, are expressive of the present or the permanent activity of their respective faculties.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 44. JONATHAN EDWARDS.]

24.--ORGANIC TONE OR QUALITY OF BRAIN.

This condition modifies character more than any other. It is, indeed, the summing up of all. It consists of two kinds, original and acquired. The former, inherited from parents, embraces the pristine vigor and power with which the life principle was started, and gives what we will call SNAP; while the latter embraces the _existing_ states of the organism as affected by health or debility, artificial habits--such as dyspeptic and other affections, caused by injurious qualities and quant.i.ties of food, by artificial stimulants, as tea, coffee, tobacco, or alcoholic drinks--the deranged or healthy states of the nervous system; too much or too little exercise, labor, sleep, breath, etc., etc.; and whatever other conditions are embraced in health and disease, or in any way affect them. Of course, the parental may be good, but acquired poor, or the reverse, according as the subject is strengthening or enfeebling, building up or breaking down his physical const.i.tution, by correct or erroneous physiological habit.

Yet, in most persons, the parental is many hundred per cent. better than the acquired.

PARENTAL GOOD, OR VERY GOOD, gives corresponding innate vigor and energy, or that heart and bottom which wears like iron, and bends, willow-like, without breaking, and performs more with a given size, than greater size, and less inherent "snap;" and gives thoroughness and edge to the mentality, just as good steel, well tempered, does to the tool.

PARENTAL FAIR gives a good share of the presiding qualities, yet nothing remarkable; with acquired good endures and accomplishes much; without it, soon breaks down.

PARENTAL POOR leaves its subject poorly organized, bodily and mentally, and proportionally low in the creative scale.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 45. EMERSON, AN IDIOT.]

ACQUIRED GOOD enables whatever of life power there is, to perform all of which it is capable; with parental good, furnishes a full supply of vital power, and that activity which works it all up in mental or physical labor. With parental very good, puts forth a most astonishing amount of effort, and endures wonders without injury; possesses remarkable clearness and wholeness of mind; thinks and feels directly to the purpose; gives point and cogency to every thing; and confers a superior amount of healthy intellectuality, morality, and mentality, in general.

ACQUIRED FAIR, with parental average, gives fair natural talents, and mental and physical vigor, yet nothing remarkable; will lead a commonplace life, and possess an every-day character, memory, etc.; will not set the world on fire, nor be insignificant, but, with cultivation, will do well.

ACQUIRED POOR will be unable to put forth its inherent power; is weak and inefficient, though desirous of doing something; with parental good, may take hold resolutely, but soon tires, and finds it impossible to sustain that powerful action with which it naturally commences.

25.--STATES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.

A good nervous condition enables its possessor to put forth sound and healthy mental and physical efforts; gives a calm, quiet, happy, contented frame of mind, and a strong tendency to enjoy every thing--even the bad; makes the most of life's joys, and the least of its sorrows; confers full possession of all its innate powers; and predisposes to a right exercise of all the faculties.

Disordered nerves produce an irritated, craving, dissatisfied state of mind, and a tendency to depravity in some of its forms, with a half paralyzed, lax, inefficient state of mind and body.

26.--SIZE OF HEAD AS INFLUENCING CHARACTER.

SIZE of head and organs, other things being equal, is the great phrenological condition. Though tape measurements, taken around the head, from Individuality to Philoprogenitiveness, give some idea of the size of brain, the fact that some heads are round, others long, some low, and others high, so modifies these measurements that they do not convey any very correct idea of the actual quant.i.ty of brain. Yet these measurements range somewhat as follows. Least size of adults compatible with fair talents, 20-1/4; 20-3/4 to 21-1/4, moderate; 21-1/4 to 22, average; 22 to 22-3/4, full; 22-3/4 to 23-3/4, large; above 23-3/4, very large. Female heads, 1/2 to 3/4 below these averages.

LARGE.--One having a large sized brain, with activity _average_, will _possess_ considerable energy of intellect and feeling, yet seldom manifest it, unless it is brought out by some powerful stimulus, and will be rather too indolent to exert, especially his _intellect_: with activity _full_, will be endowed with an uncommon amount of the mental power, and be capable of doing a good deal, yet require considerable to awaken him to that vigorous effort of mind of which he is capable; if his powers are not called out by circ.u.mstances, and his organs of practical intellect are only average or full, he may pa.s.s through life without attracting notice, or manifesting more than an ordinary share of talent: but if the perceptive faculties are strong, or very strong, and his natural powers put in vigorous requisition, he will manifest a vigor and energy of intellect and feeling quite above mediocrity; be adequate to undertakings which demand originality of mind and force of character, yet, after all, be rather indolent: with activity _great, or very great_, will combine great _power_ of mind with great activity; exercise a commanding influence over those minds with which he comes in contact; when he enjoys, will enjoy intensely, and when he suffers, suffer equally so; be susceptible of strong excitement, and, with the organs of the propelling powers, and of practical intellect, large or very large, will possess all the mental capabilities for conducting a large business; for rising to eminence, if not to pre-eminence; and discover great force of character and power of intellect and feeling: with activity _moderate_, when powerfully excited, will evince considerable energy of intellect and feeling, yet be too indolent and too sluggish to do much; lack clearness and force of idea, and intenseness of feeling; unless literally driven to it, will not be likely to be much or to do much, and yet actually _possess_ more vigor of mind, and energy of feeling, than he will manifest; with activity small, or very small, will border upon idiocy.

VERY LARGE.--One having a very large head, with activity _average_ or _full_, on great occasions, or when his powers are thoroughly roused, will be truly great; but upon ordinary occasions, will seldom manifest any remarkable amount of mind or feeling, and perhaps pa.s.s through life with the credit of being a person of good natural abilities and judgment, yet nothing more; with _great_ activity and strength, and large intellectual organs, will be a natural genius, endowed with very superior powers of mind and vigor of intellect; and, even though deprived of the advantages of education, his natural talents will surmount all obstacles, and make him truly talented; with activity _very great_, and the organs of practical intellect and of the propelling powers large, or very large, will possess the first order of natural abilities; manifest a clearness and force of intellect which will astonish the world, and a power of feeling which will carry all before him; and, with proper cultivation, enable him to become a bright star in the firmament of intellectual greatness, upon which coming ages may gaze with delight and astonishment.

His mental enjoyment will be most exquisite, and his sufferings equally keen.

FULL.--One having a full-sized brain, with activity _great, or very great_, and the organs of practical intellect and of the propelling powers large, or very large, although he will not possess _greatness_ of intellect, nor a deep, strong mind, will be very clever; have considerable talent, and that so distributed that it will show to be _more_ than it really is; is capable of being a good scholar, doing a fine business, and, with advantages and application, of distinguishing himself somewhat; yet he is inadequate to a great undertaking; cannot sway an extensive influence, nor be really great; with activity _full, or average_, will do only tolerably well, and manifest only a common share of talent; with activity _moderate, or small_, will neither be nor do much worthy of notice.

AVERAGE, with activity great, manifests a quick, clear, sprightly mind and off-hand talents; and is capable of doing a fair business, especially if the stamina is good; with activity _very great_, and the organs of the propelling powers and of practical intellect large, or very large, is capable of doing a good business, and may pa.s.s for a man of fair talent, yet will not be original or profound; will be quick of perception; have a good practical understanding; will do well _in his sphere_, yet never manifest greatness, and out of his sphere, be common-place; with activity only _average_, will discover only an ordinary amount of intellect; be inadequate to any important undertaking; yet, in a small sphere, or one that requires only a mechanical routine of business, may do well; with _moderate or small_ activity, will hardly have common sense.

MODERATE.--One with a head of only moderate size, combined with _great_ or _very great activity_, and the organs of the propelling powers and of practical intellect large, will possess a tolerable share of intellect, yet be more showy than sound; with others to plan for and direct him, will execute to advantage, yet be unable to do much alone; will have a very active mind, and be quick of perception, yet, after all, have a contracted intellect; possess only a small mental calibre, and lack momentum, both of mind and character; with activity only _average, or fair_, will have but a moderate _amount_ of intellect, and even this scanty allowance will be too sluggish for action, so that he will neither suffer nor enjoy much; with activity _moderate or small_, will be idiotic.

SMALL OR VERY SMALL.--One with a small or very small head, no matter what may be the activity of his mind, will be incapable of much intellectual effort; of comprehending even easy subjects; or of experiencing much pain or pleasure; in short, will be mentally imbecile.

27.--SIZE OF BRAIN AS AFFECTING MENTALITY.

Most great men have great heads. Webster's head measures over 24 inches, and Clay's considerably above 23; and this is about Van Buren's size; Chief Justice Gibson's, the greatest jurist in Pennsylvania, 24-1/4; Napoleon's reached nearly or quite to 24, his hat pa.s.sing easily over the head of one of his officers, which measured 23-1/2; and Hamilton's hat pa.s.sed over the head of a man whose head measured 23-1/2. Burke's head was immense, so was Jefferson's; while Franklin's hat pa.s.sed over the ears of a 24-inch head. Small and average sized heads often astonish us by their brilliancy and learning, and, perhaps, eloquence, yet they fail in that commanding greatness which impresses and sways mind. The phrenological law is that size, other things being equal, is a measure of power; yet these other conditions, such as activity, power of motive, wealth, physiological habits, etc., increase or diminish the mentality, even more than size.

SECTION III.

a.n.a.lYSIS AND COMBINATIONS OF THE FACULTIES

1. AMATIVENESS.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 45. LARGE.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 46. SMALL.]

Conjugal love; attachment to the opposite s.e.x; desire to love, be loved, and marry; adapted to perpetuate the race. It causes those mutual attractions which exist between the s.e.xes; creates love; induces marriage; eventuates in offspring; renders woman winning, persuasive, urbane, affectionate, loving, and lovely; and develops all the feminine charms and graces; and makes man n.o.ble in feeling and bearing; elevated in aspiration; tender and bland in manner; affectionate toward woman; pure in feeling; highly susceptible to female charms; and clothes him with that dignity, power, and persuasiveness, which accompanies the masculine.

Perverted, it occasions a grossness and vulgarity in expression and action; licentiousness in all its forms; a feverish state of mind; and depraves all the other propensities; treats the other s.e.x merely as a minister to pa.s.sion; now caressing, and now abusing them; and renders the love-feeling every way gross, animal, and depraved.

LARGE.--Is strongly attracted toward the opposite s.e.x; admires and loves their beauty and excellencies; easily wins their affectionate regards, or kindles their love; has many warm friends, if not admirers, among them; loves young and powerfully, and wields a potent influence for good or evil over the destinies of its subject, according as it is well or ill placed; with Adhesiveness and Union for Life large, will mingle pure friendship with devoted love; cannot flourish alone, but must have its matrimonial mate, with whom it will be capable of becoming perfectly identified, and whom it will invest with almost superhuman perfections, by magnifying their charms and overlooking their defects; in the sunshine of whose love it will be perfectly happy, but proportionally miserable without it; with Ideality and the mental temperament large, will experience a fervor and intensity of first love, amounting almost to ecstacy or romance; can marry those only who combine refinement of manners with correspondingly strong attachments; with Philoprogenitiveness and Benevolence also large, will be eminently qualified to enjoy the domestic relations; to be happy in home, and render home happy; with Inhabitiveness also large, will set a high value on house and place, long to return home when absent, and consider family and children as the greatest treasures of its being; with large Conscientiousness, will keep the marriage relations inviolate, and regard unfaithfulness as the greatest of sins; with Combativeness large, will defend the objects of its love with great spirit, and resent powerfully any indignity offered to them; with Alimentiveness large, will enjoy eating with the family dearly; with Approbativeness large, cannot endure to be blamed by those it loves; with Cautiousness and Secretiveness large, will express love guardedly, and much less than it experiences; but with Secretiveness small, will show, in every look and action, the full, unveiled feeling of the mind; with Firmness and Self-Esteem large, will sustain interrupted love with fort.i.tude, yet suffer much damage of mind and health therefrom; but with Self-Esteem moderate, will feel crushed and broken down by disappointment; with the moral faculties predominant, can love those only whose moral tone is pure and elevated; with predominant Ideality, and only average intellectual faculties, will prefer those who are showy and gay, to those who are sensible yet less beautiful; but with Ideality less than the intellectual and moral organs, will prefer those who are substantial and valuable more than showy; with Mirthfulness, Time, and Tune, will love dancing, lively society, etc.: p. 57.