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HUMAN PHYSIOGNOMY; OR rHE ART OF DISCERNING THE MENTAL AND MORAL CHARACTER OF MAN, • BY THZ External Appearances and Attitudes of the Body. “ Where is the villain ?—let me see his face,— That when I meet another such as he, I may avoid him.” TO WHICH IS ADDED, THE SIBYL’S BOOK OF FATE, BY MEANS OF WHICH ANY PERSON MAY PROCURE CORRECT ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS TOUCHING FUTURE EVENTS. CONTAINING ALSO AN ALPHABETICAL EXPLANATION OF THE INTERPRETATION OF DREAMS; OF MOLES, OF SIGNS, OF PREDICTIONS, ETC. 1HE WHOLE COMPILED FR^M THE WORKS OF EMINENT ENGLISH AND FRENCH PHILOSOPHERS. BY SAMSON DAVIS. N E W - Y O R K : WILSON & CO., BROTHER JONATHAN PRESS. 1 847.
Entered according to an Act of Congress, in the year 1815, by WILSON AND COMPANY, In the Clerk’s Office of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New-York.
HUMAN PHYSIOGNOMY; OB, HOW TO DISCERN THE CHARACTER F A MAN BY EXTERNAL APPEARANCES. PART I. OF CORPOREAL PHYSIOGNOMY----LAVATER’s ANALYZA- TION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE HUMAN BODY---- OF THE DIFFERENT TEMPERAMENTS, AND THEIR APPLICATION TO PHYSIOGNOMY. “ Her pure and eloouent blood Spoke in her cheeks, and so distinctly wrought, Tuat one could almost say her body thought.” What numerous beauties in human nature lie unregarded merely for want of being observed, and how many more are hidden to us for want of an interpreter! We instinctively gain a familiar acquaintance with the superficial qualities of our nature while we are yet too young to reason upon them, and but too commonly we view them ever after in a vague manner as tkinfft of course. But, let us a moment reflect that nothing in creation is “ a thing of course,” that all has been devised by the same Omniscient Mind, and executed by the same Omnipotent Arm, and that beauty must be its model, and perfection its stamp. Physiognomy, or the language of looks, is known and felt by all; and we are persuaded that a short treatise on the subject, embracing the experience of one of the most eminent philosophers of the old world, will bo received with favor. We are all Physiognomists by nature ; for we aro iu- •uncuvely impressed with an idea of the mental and moral
4 HUMAN PHYSIOGNOMY. character by the cast of the countenance, and rarely do these impressions beguile us. We cannot attribute this wholly to experience, for even “ the lovely miniatures of life,” ere falsified hopes have taught them that men deceive, or the pleasures of friendly communion have proved to them that there are hearts which may be fearlessly trusted,—welcome with outstretched arms, or avert with nestling fear, the stranger to whom they are presented. We will not stop to theorize upon this “freemasonry of nature.” Neither is it our present purpose alone to unfold the science of a pouting lip, (we would not, ladies, for the universe, term it an art!)—or to translate the language of a speaking eye—or to record the poetry of a sentimental nose, which the great Slaukenbergius, in Sterne, has so pathetically achieved before us; but it is our object to afford a systematic exposition of Corporeal and Emotive Physiognomy, giving a correct distribution of its principles, and to trace their physical and moral foundations in the laws of our earthly fabric. “Physiognomy” is a compound Greek word, signifying “ the law of,” or “an index to, nature so that in its strict literal sense it means an indication of nature generally. But in its limited acceptation with us, it is applied to the indication of human nature. We may broadly define it, as the science which professes to tell the mental character from the external appearances of the body. It is a branch of knowledge which must have been recognised almost as early as human passions embellished and disfigured this beauteous world of ours. We find some shrewd and truthful allusions to it in the earliest writings of the Hebrew, Greek, and Roman poets and philosophers : but it is only within the last century or so, that it can be said to have been so fixed on a philosophical basis as to be entitled to the rank of a science. The very celebrated Swiss clergyman, Lavater, devoted a lifetime of no ordinary talent to its pursuit; and he has been the chief means of gaining it the attention of the moderns. He was a good man, an ornament to humanity, possessed of ’ subtle, observing and discriminating faculties, and of a wonderful eloquence ; which have afforded great notoriety to his voluminous writings, and more authority than they philosophically merit. For, being but slightly acquainted with the principles of physiology, he was unable, in many instances, to impute the facts which his acute penetration observed, to their natural causes ; he was consequently led into some whimsical vagaries, and his unbounded enthusiasm for the subject occasionally beclouded his reasonings. His exposition of Corporeal Physiognomy, however, is so true to nature, as has since been tested by the science of the art, that we shall here give a literal translation of it verbatim.
HUMAN PHYSIOGNOMY. 5 A Brief Description, by Lavater, of the Members of the Human Body, with their Signification. Of the Head.—The head short and round, denotes one to be forgetful and foolish ; the head long, in fashion to the hammer, to be prudent and wary, and in the fore part of the head a hollowness, to be wily and ireful; the head big, doth denote a dull person, and applied to the ass; the head little, to be foolish, and applied to the dog ; the head of middling bigness doth argue a good wit naturally; the head pineable shape, to be unshamefaced and a boaster. Of the Forehead.—The forehead smooth, to be a flatterer, applied to the fawning dog; the forehead big and wrinkled, to be bold, applied to the bull and lion; a low forehead to be sad, applied to passion ; a low forehead, to be a flatterer, applied to the dog; a high forehead, to be liberal, applied to the lion ; an over-wrinkled forehead, to be unshamefaced, and puffed up in the temples, to be high-minded, ireful, and of a rude wit; the forehead small, to be unapt to learn, inconstant, and applied to the sow; the forehead very big, to be slow, and applied to the ox; the forehead round, to be of a dull perseverance, ireful, and applied to the ass; and being somewhat a plain forehead, to be circumspect and applied to the dog; a square formed forehead, to be bold, applied to the lion. Of the Eyes.—The eyes small and quivering, to be shamefaced and yet a lover ; how much the bigger the eyes, so much the less miice, yet the more foolishness ; the eye thwart writhing, to be deceitful, a niggard and ireful; the eyes big out, to be foolish, fearful, faint-hearted, and unshamefaced ; the eyes disorderly moving, as one while running, another while staying, to be rash, disquiet, and troubled in mind, wicked and a briber; the eyelids quivering, to be fearful; the eye swift moving, with a sharp look, to be fraudulent, unfaithful, and a thief; the eyes steadfastly looking, to be troubled in mind and a deceiver ; the eyes situated as into a length, to be a deceiver and envious ; little bags or bladders swelling out from the eyes, to be great wine drinkers; little bladders swelling out before the eyes, to be great sleepers ; the eyes small, to be faint-hearted, applied to the ass; the eyes big, to be slow and tractable, applied to the ox ; the eyes hollow standing, to be envious and wicked, applied to the ape ; the eyes somewhat hollow, to be stout of courage, applied to the lion; the eyes somewhat big, and a little imminent, to be gentle, applied to the ox; the eyes very wide open, to be impudent; the corner of the eyes fleshy, unto the nose joining, to be malicious; the eyes of length, to bo
® HUMAN PHYSIOGNOMY. crafty, and a deceiver; the eyes big and trembling, to be desirous of women. Of the Nose.—The nose round, with a sharpness at the end, to be wavering of mind, applied to the bird ; the nose wholly crooked, from the forehead downward, to be unshamefaced and unstable, applied to the raven; the nose crooked like the eagle’s bill, to be bold, applied to the eagle ; the nose flat, to be lecherous, and hasty in wrath ; the nostrils large, to be ireful, applied to be honest and bold ; the end of the nose big, to be desirous of what he seeth, applied to the ox; the end of the nose big, and turning up, applied to the sow ; the end of the nose sharp, to be of a fierce ire, applied to the dog; the nose round, being blunt, to be stout, applied to the lion. Of the Ears.—The ears long and narrow, to be envious; the ears standing very near the head, to be dull and sluggish ; the ears hairy, to be a long liver, and quick of hearing; the ears small, to be a scoffer, applied to the ape ; the ears big, to be dull, applied to the ass; the ears hanging, to be a fool, applied to the ass ; the ears of a middling bigness, to be faithful and honest-conditioned ; the ears over round, to be unapt to learn. Of the Face.—The face long, to be unshamefaced; the face small, causes sweating, to be crafty, lecherous, and a great feeder ; the face very little and round, to be foolish; the face long and lean, to be bold, very crooked, long and lean, to be malicious ; longer from the forehead to the jaws, to be a liar ; narrower from the jaws unto the chin, to be envious and contentious ; the face fleshy, to be slow, applied to the ox; the face lean, to be careful and circumspect; the face very fleshy, to be careful, applied to the ass and hart; the face big, to be slow, applied to the ox and ass; a narrow face, to be a niggard ; a countenance looking downward, to be a hypocrite and wicked ; the face to be hollow, without any bearing out, to be contentious ; like to a drunken countenance, to be lightly drunk ; like to an ireful countenance, to be ireful, and applied to the appearances ; like to the shamefaced countenance, to be shamefaced ; the face deformed and awry, to be evil-conditioned. Of the Lips.—The lips big, that the upper hangeth down over the nether, to be foolish, applied to the ass ; the upper lip bearing out that the gum may be seen, to be a wrangler and spiteful, applied to the dog ; the lips thin, hanging the one over the other, to be bold and hardy, applied to the lion; the Ups thin and hard, to be ireful and unapt to learn, applied to the sow; the Ups thin and soft, to be stout, applied to the lion.
HUMAN PHYSIOGNOMY. T Of the Chin.—The chin round, to be effeminate, applied to the woman ; the under chin hanging low down, to be lecherous ; the chin havinga pit at the end. to be a wily person and B- bidiuous ; the chin sharp, to be faithful, applied to the dog: the chin small and sharp, to be envious and cruel, applied to the serpent; the chin in a manner square, to be honest-conditioned; tlie chin long and downward sharp, to be a crafty fellow. Of the Beard.—The beard seemly formed, to be of a good nature, of a natural cause ; the beard unseemly fashioned, to bo of an evil nature, of the contrary ; the woman’s beard, to bo lecherous; the woman having no beard at all, to be honest-conditioned ; the man’s beard over hairy, to be melancholic, of a natural cause. Of the Color of the Eyes.—A dark yellow, to be honest- conditioned, applied to the lion; a fiery color, to be unshamefaced yet full of mirth ; variable of color, to be cheerful, applied to the passion, and shining bright, to be luxurious, applied to the cock and raven; the color red about, to be ireful, applied to the passion ; very black, to be fearful, which the property of the color giveth; black and yellow of color, to be honest-conditioned, applied to the comelinesss thereof; grey or white, to be cheerful, which the property of the color giveth. Of the Teeth.—The teeth hidden and broad, to be heavy, of a dull capacity, and lascivious, applied to the ox and ass ; the teeth sharp, if they be long and fast, bearing outward, to be a great feeder, ireful and wicked, applied to the dog and bear. Of the Voice.—The voice small, soft and broken, to bo fearful, applied to the woman ; big and high, to be ireful, appli ed to the mastiff' dog; a soft voice, without reaching, to be gen tie, applied to the sheep ; the voice small and loud, to be ireful, applied to the goat; the voice loud and big, to be injurious, up plied to the ass ; beginning big and ending small, to be ireful applied to such which cry out, and to the crying of an ox. Of the Neck.—The neck short, to be witty, applied to the wolf and cat; such as are sufficiently strong about the knot or joint of the neck, are witty and of good capacity ; such as are weak, to be dullards. The neck big, to be strong, applied to the man; the neck slender, applied to the woman ; big and fleshy', to be ireful, applied to the lion ; long and small, to be fearful, applied to the hart. Of the Breast.—The breast without hair, to be unshame- faced or fearful, applied to the woman; very fleshy, to bo uua|rt to learn ; the space from the throat bone to the bottom of the
• HUMAN PHYSIOGNOMY. breast, longer than from the bottom of the breast to the navel of the belly, to be witty and of good capacity; the paps fat and hanging down in men, to be weak and effeminate ; a big piece of flesh bearing out the left side of the breast, in the form of a leek’s head or sinew sprung up, and that there be one or many hairs grown on it, is then an argument of honor and riches. Ptolomy writ- eth, the breast big and well fashioned, to be strong, applied to the man ; the breast large and well compact, to be strong, applied to the lion ; hairy on the breast, to be inconstant and bold, applied to the birds. Of the Shoulders.—The shoulders sharp, to be deceitful; the shoulders broad, to be strong, of a good capacity, but narrow, to be dull; the shoulders evil-fashioned, to be weak ; well compounded, to be liberal; well compounded, and bearing up thin, to be a niggard. Of the Stomach.—The belly small, to be of a good capacity; much hairy from the navel downward, to be full of words, applied to the birds; much fat about the stomach, to be strong, otherwise weak; the belly bearing out big, to be a great feeder. Of the Back.—The back crooked, to be a niggard, ill-conditioned, and equally formed, to be of a good nature ; the back narrow, weak; the back big, to be strong; the back large, to be strong and high-minded. Of the Arms.—The arms hairy, to be inconstant and lecherous, applied to the birds; the arms very long, to be strong, bold, honest and gentle; the arms short, to be a promoter of discord and lecherous. Of the Hands.—The hands small, to be inconstant and wily; the palms of the hands unto the wrist broad, and narrow upward, to be a rioter in his first age : the hands short and very big, to be rude and dull; the hands fat, with the fingers, like to be a thief. Of the Nails of the Fingers.—The nails very short, to be wicked : the nails small and crooked, to be a greedy catcher, applied to the hawk ; the nails very little, to be a crafty beguiler ; the white specks on the nails, to be wealthy, and to have many friends ; the black specks on the nails, to be hated ; the nails long, smooth, thin, white, reddish, and clear withal, to be witty, and of a good capacity ; the nails narrow and long, to be cruel and fierce; the nails rough and round, prone to the venereal act. . Of the Nails of the Toes.—The nails thin and well colored, to be honest-conditioned and witty ; the toes joining close
HUMAN PHYSIOGNOMY. 9 togeUter, to be fearful, applied to the quail; the tees and nails crooked, to be unshamefaced, applied to the birds. Ok the Navel.—The stomach, from the navel to the breast fleshy, to be wicked, after Ptolomy; the same spruce, soft, and well compact, to be stout and high-minded ; the same sharp, large from the bottom of the breast to the navel, to be dull of capacity, and a great feeder; the space equal, to be witty and honest-conditioned. Of the Ribs.—The ribs filled out, as if they were blown up, to be of words, and foolish, applied to the ox and frog; the person well ribbed, to be strong, applied to the male kind; the ribs narrow, and weak compounded, to be weak, applied to the female kind. Of the Haunchbs and Hips.—The hips well sinewed, to be strong, applied to the male kind ; the hips fleshy, to be weak, applied to the woman; the bones of the haunches bearing outward, to be strong, applied to the male kind ; the bones of the haunches tender, to be fearful and weak, applied to the woman. Of the Legs.—The legs slender, to be dull of capacity, (yet this faileth often in learned students;) the calves very big, bearing out, to be sluggish and rude-mannered; the calves meanly big formed, to be witty and honest-conditioned; the legs big sinewed and brawned, to be strong, applied to the male kind; small sinewed, to be libidinous, applied to the birds ; the legs ill-fashioned, to be unshamefaced ; the calves of the legs big, to be an ill-mannered person ; the calves soft, to be effeminate. Of the Knees.—The knees bending forward, to be effeminate, applied to the woman ; the knees fat, to be fearful, yet liberal; the knees lean, to. be strong and hardy ; the knees big, to be an effeminate person ; the knees slender, to be fearful. Of the Ancles.—The ancles broad, to be strong, the parts about the ancles over fleshy, to be foolish ; the ancles slender or thin, to be fearful; the ancles strong sinewed and brawned, to be strong, applied to the male kind ; the ancles much fleshy, to be weak, applied to the woman. Or the Feet.—The feet thick and short, to be weak; tho feet slender and short, to be wicked ; the feet fleshy and hard, to be a blackhead; the feet small and fair formed, to be a fornicator; the feet much hairy, to be lecherous and bold ; the feet naked of hair, to be weak of strength and courage ; the feet w< uk, sinewed and brawned, to be strong, and applied to tho
10 HUMAN PHYSIOGNOMY. male-kind ; the feet weak, sinewed and small, to be effeminate, applied to the woman; the inner part of the soles of the feet not hollow, but so filled with flesh, that they make no hollow ness at all in the step on the ground, is denoted to be crafty ' the feet big and fleshy, to be foolish. Of the Hairiness of the Parts.—The back very hairy, to be cruel, applied to the beasts ; the neck behind hairy, to be liberal and stout, applied to the lion; the hair of the eye brows growing downwards towards the nose, and spreading up wards unto the temples, to be foolish, applied to the sow; the hair of the eyebrows joined together, to be a sad person; the hair of the head standing straight up, to be fearful; the hair ol the head very crisped at the end, to be strong and bold, applied to the lion; the hair of the head plain, to be simple; much hair on the head, and thick, to be evil-conditioned ; the legs hairy, to be venerous, applied to the goat; the breast and belly very hairy, to be inconstant, applied to the birds; the shoulders very hairy, to be the like inconstant. Of the Going and Moving.—The person going with his feet and knees turning in, to be weak, applied to the woman; the skulking, wreathing, or shrinking the body hither and thither, to be a flatterer like the fawning dog ; leaning on the right side in the going, to be a cynic ; the eyes quick moving, to be greedy and quick catchers, applied to the hawk ; the eyes quick and often moving, with a steadiness of the body, to be witty, and of a ready understanding; the pace slow and long, to be witty, yet weak; the pace long and quick, to be strong, yet foolish; the pace short and quick to be foolish and weak oi strength ; the shoulders bending forwards in going, to be high minded. Of the Personage and Stature.—Such as are tall of personage, and of a hot and dry quality, to be witty and ready to conceive ; big of personage, and of a cold and moist quality, to be dull of capacity, of the contrary cause ; the personage? evil-fashioned and tall of stature, to be dull of capacity, and evil-conditioned, applied to the form ; the person of a comely personage, and mean of stature, to be witty and honest conditioned, applied to the natural canse ; such as are of small per sonage, to be quick-witted, and prompt in attaining any matter, of the natural cause; such as are very big of personage, of dull capacity, and therefore hard of conceiving, of the contrary cause, after Aristotle; small of personage, and of a hot and dry quality^ choleric, to be apt, ready to conceive, and to judge or discern any matter rightly ; small of personage
HUMAN PHYSIOGNOMY. 11 and of a cold and moist quality, to be apt to conceive, and ready to discern, of the contrary cause. The science of Physiognomy, since the time of Lavater, has been advantageously cultivated by several eminent persons. But the grandest and most important discovery that ever can be made was that of Gall in presenting us with what is now called Phrenology,—a gift more valuable to the species than would be the fabled philosopher’s stone. Corporeal Physiognomy is based on the influence which the body has over the mind, on account of the mind acting through a corporeal organ—the Brain —which is largely influenced by the rest of the body, and subject to the same physiological laws of action. To comprehend aright all the principles of Physiognomy, we must be Well acquainted with the human mind, and with the structure and offices of the several members of the human frame ; for the very essence of Corporeal Physiognomy depends upon the relative developement of the component parts of the body as existing in different individuals. The most comprehensive and lucid division of the organs and functions of the human fabric, is into the three classes—locomotive, vital, and mental. The first, or locomotive class, includes the bones, which are the mechanical instruments of motion ; the muscles, which are the agents of motion; and the tendons and ligaments, which unite the two. The second class, or vital, consists of tubes or vessels of different kinds, such as the absorbing, the secreting, and the circulating blood-vessels,—in short, of those organs which immediately nutrify and support the body. The third class, or mental, comprises the organs of the external senses, the cluster of mental organs which compose the bruin,—and the nerves, which connect these, and perform all the functions of sensibility. Now, the fundamental principle of Corporeal Physiognomy, founded on physiology, is, that as one or the other of the above three classes of organs predominates in the system, so will a tendency to its peculiar functions be manifested. And as far as this influences the action of the mental organs, from these organs being part of the same frame, so far can we judge, from this predominance, respecting the character or quality of the mental manifestations;—but not as some suppose of the quantity or the peculiar faculties of the mind. The prevalence of either of these classes of organs is generally known by the term temperament, which is the key to Corporeal Physiognomy. There are of course various species of temperaments, and these were observed and admirably described, though erroneously explained, by some of the most •ncieut physicians and philosophers. They arc now so univer
12 HUMAN PHYSIOGNOMY. sally understood, that I need but mention them ; and in doing so, I shall follow my arrangement of the organs. A person in whom the locomotive organs predominate, is of what is called the Muscular temperament; and if this class of organs prevails largely over the others, the individual will have long, powerful, and brawny limbs, and be correspondingly more disposed to exercises of the body than of the mind. This temperament forms what is called “ a fine man” by the ladies, and constitutes beauty of the locomotive system. The statues of Hercules, and of the gladiators, and our grenadier guards, belong to this class. The vital organs comprise two species of temperament, according as the blood-vessels or lymphatic vessels are in excess, ' the first constitutes the Sanguine, the other the Phlegmatic, temperament, and in these, but most strikingly in the latter, the limbs are shorter, and the trunk fuller, than in the preceding temperament, with a less or greater tendency to corpulency. The Sanguine temperament, as the conventional use of the term implies, gives the disposition quickness and versatility, to passionate but mutable vehemence of mind. While in the Phlegmatic temperament there is just an opposite disposition, with a sturdy propensity to the indulgence of the “good old” functions of eating, and drinking, and sleeping. In the last of the three classes the mental organs and nerves predominate ;—this is the natural Nervous temperament, denoted by the expanded brain, the well-developed organs of the senses, and usually the rigid, diminutive body. This is the temperament of genius ; in this the soul has been finely said, “ To o’er-inform its tenement of clay.” All those truly great men who have moved the world by dint of pure intellect alone, (for they are commonly puny in bodily powers,) will be found to have belonged to this species of temperament. There are acquired conditions of the body called the Bilious, and Melancholic, which have been improperly considered by some as primary temperaments; they are but mixtures of the other temperaments. Indeed one temperament is rarely found so notably predominant as to merit the epithet “ unmixed and when this is the case it is obviously unnatural, and may be almost considered in the light of a disease. And occasionally the three classes of organs are so equally compounded as to render the temperament indeterminate; but most commonly one system sufficiently predominates to stamp it. In strongly marked cases the temperament is no doubt an in evitable condition, and “ grows with our growth, and strengthens with our strengthbut, in the majority, it is in some
HUMAN PHYSIOGNOMY. 13 measure acquired or modified from external circumstances, and the mode of life. Hence its general uniformity in nations and those pursuing similar avocations. Hence the nervous Italian, the phlegmatic Dutchman, the spare muscular soldier, the lymphatic gibbosity of “ mine host,” and the rubicund country squire, “ With wine and good fat capon lined.” We have next to consider the mode in which temperament influences mental action; and here a knowledge of physiology greatly avails us. No doubt exists as to the brain being the organ of mind. Whether the collection of phenomena we call “ mind,” is merely the proper function of the brain, or whether there is a spiritual essence inhabiting our earthly structure, which acts through the brain, are speculations equally useless and impossible of demonstration with those concerning the nature of light or the being of electricity. But, whichever hypothesis be the correct one, it is quite certain that the kind and degree of mental manifestations depend on the size and quality, and the consequent activity of the brain. There does not appear to be any further connection between temperament and the size of the brain than the general rule that it is comparatively small in the muscular and large in the nervous temperament. But the quality and activity of the brain are very much modified by the temperament. For the brain is an organ, possessing a similar texture, and subject to the same general laws, as the rest of the body ; hence like the muscles and other parts, its fibres are denser and more rigid, and consequently possess most intensity of action, in the Ner- ous temperament;—they are less so, aud it is supplied with more abundant and larger blood-vessels, in the Sanguine tern perament; whence, as we shall presently explain, its excitability ;—while in the Phlegmatic temperament, there is a greater quantity of watery lymph in its interstices, it partakes of the general flaccidity of the system, and is thereby rendered dull, inert, aud difficultly roused to feeble action. Numerous phenomena prove that the blood is the chief stimulus to the brain ; aud that in proportion to the rapidity with which it circulates through that organ, is mental action accelerated. Thus, when the brain ceases to receive its due supply .of blood, fainting, with a partial or entire abolition of mental power, supervenes; and the total insensibility and stupor of apoplexy results from a stagnation of the blood in the brain. Whereas the intense mental action in fever, frequently amounting to delirium, is chiefly due to the increased rapidity with which the blood circulates through the bruin; and the excitement of mind produced by wino owns a similar cause.
14 HUMAN PHYSIOGNOMY. Now, in the Sanguine temperament, the heart and blood vessels are particularly developed, and easily excited to power ful action, and we therein perceive the cause of the superficial brilliancy of intellect, and the unstable vehemence of feeling which characterize this temperament. In persons of the Phlegmatic temperament, the glands and lymphatics, which are the chief organs for nourishing the system, preponderate; and their life is almost entirely vegetative ; all their feeble energies are expended in increasing their bulky frame; and the little mental action they exhibit is feeble, meagre and heavy. Peter Pindar humorously expresses the effect of this temperament: he says, “ FiT-holds ideas by the legs and wings.” And Shakspeare, whom nothing pertaining to human nature has escaped, recognises this, and also the opposite tendency <tf the Nervous temperament, in Ctesar’s lines, “ Let me have men about me that are fat, Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o’ nights: Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much,—such men are dangerous. ------Would he were fatter.” PART II. OF EMOTIVE PHYSIOGNOMY, OR NATURAL LANGUAGE---- LOOKS, GESTURES AND POSTURES OF DIFFERENT DISPOSITIONS----NATURAL LANGUAGE DEFINED. “ When I sit and tell The warlike feats I’ve done—he puts himself In posture that acts my words.” Having thus given a brief sketch of Corporeal Physiog nomy, which enables us, by proper study, to judge of the general quality, as the energy or inertness of the human mind, we shall proceed now to relate our experience as regards Emotive Physiognomy, which is founded on the influence that the mind exerts over the body, in portraying its feelings; the traces of which becoming gradually permanent, we are enabled, from them, to judge of the characteristic feelings of the mind which has produced them. Gesture is the involuntary muscular movement occasioned
HUMAN PHYSIOGNOMY. IS in the body by the passions of the mind. It is interesting, as it explains natural language. Man walks the earth—a mystery and mostly so to those who study him. To the ignorant and the superficial there is little mysterious about him ; but to the phi losophic, the most minute circumstance pertaining to him is an exhaustless fountain of wonder ! In walking the streets, the man who thinks of the future looks upward, the man who thinks of the past looks downward. If he look straight before him, he is occupied with the present: if he look right and left, he thinks, good man, of nothing. If he cast frequent looks behind him, lay it down as an infallible axiom that he is thinking then of his creditors. The man who walks leisurely is reflecting, meditating, calculating ; the man who projects, moves rapidly; while he who runs is full of some anticipated success in money, love, am bition. A simple style of dress, somewhat negligent, yet neat on the whole—a walk neither very rapid, nor very slow, a a turn of countenance neither soft nor hard, announce the serious, reasonable man, of good disposition. The man who takes short and mincing steps, contracts his eyes, thrusts forward his face, and moves the shoulders con sequentially, is boastful, captious, punctilious, and probably a cheat. If he rolls his body and jerks his arms, he is a member of the Legislature, or Congress, or a political orator. The man “ad unguem factus,” who appears to have just stepped forth from a bandbox—who smooths his hat with his hand, dusts his trousers with a cambric handkerchief, and rubs down the skirts of his frock coat with his sleeve, is petty-minded, susceptible, irascible. He who wears chains of gold very visible to the naked eye, cameos, rings, brooches, is a rich fellow just come from the country, a genteel pick-pocket, a Jew, a quack-doctori or an Italian count. The man who walks with perfect ease and grace is one man in ten thousand. A military carriage is perhaps the nearest approach to peripatetic perfection, but that it is almost uniformly marred by a military swagger. The tailor, like Iris, is known by his bow, and always appearing in misfits ; the drygoods man’s clerk, by his fidgety habit of drawing out his cane betwixt linger and thumb to the exact length of a yard. The ambitious bar-tender is also readily detected by his imitation of the newest fashions, in the most sordid materials; yet still more by the bla< k and stunted two-penny cigar, stinking and burnt (like the carriage of the smoker) all on one side. The stariugly dresl man, with u flaunting necktie, and an extravagant vest, is an actor in luck. The same, seedy, with a hole in his boot or trousers, is an actor out of luck. Coats buttoned high, and skin tight, w/'lh invisible eolian
16 HUMAN PHYSIOGNOMY. dingy at the cuffs and dubious under the arms, trousers defining the spindle shanks from hip to ancle, and pinched at the instep like the wearer’s stomach, combined with greasy hats and patched boots, very sharp at the points, betoken the foreigner in New York—most probably a fiddler, or musician of some kind. If he sport a copper-headed cane, and no shirt, be sure that he is a Frenchman. The big-footed man, with stalwart shoulders and beer-barrel chest, pretentiously attired, but with somewhat poor materials, with a wild or a rollicking eye, and a nose rather out of joint, staring every woman he meets, and finding frequent favor in their eyes by dint of blarney, and good humored effrontery, is an Irish jontleman, come over in search of a place. The splay-footed man, with calculating eye and shrewd aspect, remarkable prominence of cheek-bone and general irregularity of feature, divergent legs and bony back, shabbily or showily drest, is a Scotch adventurer. The true gentleman, Irish, Scotch, or English, is not distinguishable from those of our own country. The true gentleman from the continent of Europe is only distinguishable by his foreign air. The latter flourish in our streets like the aloe, only once in a century. As in every man’s mind, according to the learned in medical jurisprudence, there is a screw more or less loose, so also of their outer forms. Walking it is which discovers the weak point. In one it is the elbows which manifest a deplorable stiffness, making the man seem manacled ; in another the knees, which never bend; in a third the knees, which are ever bent. This lounger’s “ pregnant binges” are so purely philanthropic that they are perpetually kissing each other; that other man’s have a mutual coolness ever since earliest infancy, and still keep a civil distance. Then the hands, and the arms—oh, monstrosities of awkwardness. The man who is always laughing is an idiot; the man who never laughs is a jackass. The false-toothed man is never done grinning approbation of his dentist; the false man seldom gets beyond a sneer ; the hearty laugher is indubitably honest; the horse-laugher is a vulgar bore; the quiet laugher is usually cute and intelligent; simperers invariably think themselves pretty; the man who laughs convulsedly has a touch of madness ; he who in laughing buries his eyes in fat and puckers his face into a sheaf of wrinkles, is always a merry fellow; Sardo nic laughter, like, the wreath of Harmodius, is a dagger hid beneath flowers ; .but a benevolent smile is the fleeting remem brance of man before the fell. The busy man looks without seeing—the lazy man sees with; out looking; the lounger—a meditative man—both looks auu
HUMAN PH1SI0GN0MT. I? eees. He either is no lounger, or knows not how to lounge, who walks rapidly, who gapes in the street, who passes by the side of a pretty woman without looking at her, or in front of a splendid shop or puppet-show without stopping. A mere fool walks, but never lounges. He meets you ten times within the hour, and salutes you each time. The stupid man sometimes lounges—the man of nous frequently. The loiterer is he who says: “ I am off: I am off directly,” yet still holds you fast as in a vice. The loiterer babbles much aud thinks little—the lounger thinks much and speaks little. The loiterer is a mere caricature of the true spirit of lounging; he is like the last bottle at a feast in the Temple—empty, empty, empty ! The puppy holds his head Rung backward, in common with the zany, or much thrown forward, like the short-sighted man Though his sight should be of the keenest, he is constantly eyeing you through his glass, or winking at you while he addresses you. The puppy of the first water affects not to hear you, and consequently does not answer you. The false-hearted man hesitates, weighs, half-utters and returns his words in petto, before he can think of risking them, and never by any chance looks you straight in the face. The d-- d good-natured fellow, who always comes to dip in your purse, accosts you with a laughing countenance, open arms, and prominent abdomen. The surly bear, the cross-grained man, the grumbler, listen to you with the head lowered and inclined- to one side, the brows contracted, the lips compressed, the mouth puckered at the corners, without lifting the eyes, or even turning their countenance towards you, and confer a favor with the clumsy, uncivil air which seems to announce a refusal. The man wlio thinks himself “ somebody”—a Character, a personage—places one hand within his bosom, and the other on his loins. The coxcomb adjusts his cravat by frequent little movements of his chin, caresses his whiskers, pushes out his chest, squares his shoulders and arches his back, or seizes his waist by the two hands. The silly-pated puppy passes a small comb through his moustache, if he wears one ; if not, through his whiskers. The man of fine figure is fond of thrusting his thumbs into the arm-holes of his waistcoat The ill-bred man fumbles with both his hands in his pantaloon pockets ; the lounger thrusts them in the skirt pockets of his coat. The blue-nosed man, with a cold and uncomfortable look, a sour and crabbed face, an unquiet and discontented eye, is a teetotaller—who will probably return to drunkenness. The grog-nosed man, with a whey face, a pallid lip, and a palsied aspect, is a teetotaller—who will certainly return to drunkenness. u
18 HUMAN PHYSIOGNOMY. The teetotaller is one who proclaims himself an ass, that cannot graze with impunity—unless tethered. He is a “ water- dog,” with none of the fine qualities of the nobler animal. Dive into the street-lounger’s eye, if you wish to detect the coward, the debauchee, the drunkard of the previous night. Take soundings there, too, for meanness, treachery, and malice. The habitually clear-eyed man is the man of intellect, who scorns vulgar excesses, and may have strong, but elevated— vehement, but never grovelling, passions. From the exposition here given of Emotive Physiognomy, or the Language of Gesture, it will be ackowledged that the subject is very interesting, and with these examples, the reader will be much better able to comprehend the philosophy of it, which is briefly as follows. All animated beings, at least all the higher orders, are endowed with various mental faculties, or mental modes of action, differing in their nature, and in their relation to external objects, which require expression. And each of these faculties, when active, instinctively makes itself known, in a uniform manner, by bodily actions, or gestures, peculiar to itself; and this is its Natural Language. So that there are as many dialects of Natural Language as there are different faculties or affections of the mind. And so closely related are the Passions with their specific gestures, that, as we cannot be under the influence of any passion without expressing it in the features, so we cannot even imitate the expression of any of them without exciting within ourselves in a minor degree the corresponding mental feeling. Put on the wrinkled brow of Anger—shoot out the curling lip of Scorn —or assume the dimpled cheek of Joy,—and you will experience, though it may be faintly, the appropriate feeling; and endeavor how you may, you cannot entertain another kind of sentiment at the same time, without betraying it in the gestures of some othei- part of the features. To conclude :—the natural physiognomy of man, in common with every thing human, has seriously suffered, and still suffers, from his innumerable errors and irregularities. Buffbn correctly says, and demonstrates by examples, “ that all those people who live miserably, are ugly and ill made.” And this is very eloquently expressed and deplored by that versatile genius, Dickens, in his “ Oliver Twist,” where he says,—Alas ! how few of Nature's faces there are to gladden us with their beauty. The cares and^orrowings and hungerings of the world, change them as they change hearts;—and it is only when those passions sleep, or have lost their hold forever, that the troubled alouds pass off, and leave heaven’s surface clear!”
BOOK SECOND. THE ANALYZATION AND INTERPRETATION OF DREAM S. The generality of mankind do not give much credit to Dreams ; yet considering that many strange accidents have been foretold by them, many mischiefs prevented, and many wickednesses detected, it may not be amiss to set down here what experience has observed concerning them. A dream is a motion or fiction of the soul, signifying either good or evil to come, and it dependeth on the character or class, as to whether it may signify its true meaning, or direct the contrary. We shall give, in this department, the experience of great philoso phers and astrologers during two centuries. Acquaintances. To dream that you fight with them signifies destruction; but especially if the person so dreaming be sick. Adversary. To dream that you receive obstructions from him, shows that you shall despatch your business speedily. Adultery. For a person to dream they have committed it, shows that they shall meet with great contentions and debates. But to dream that you resisted the temptation, shows victory over your enemies, and that you shall escape great danger. If a woman dream that her skin has become black, like a negro’s, it purports that she will be caught in the act of adultery. For a woman to dream that she is in bed with a black man, or a deformed person, foretells sickness. Air. To dream that you see it clear and serene, shows that you will be loved and esteemed ; and those who are your enemies, and envy you shall be reconciled to you. But to dream that the air is cloudy, dark, and troubled, is the reverse. Almonds. To dream one sees or eats almond^,aiguilles difficulty and trouble.
20 interpretation of dreams. Alms. Tc dream that they are begged of you, and you deny to give them, shows want and misery; but to dream that you give them freely, is a sign of great joy, and long life to the dreamer. Anger. To dream that you have been provoked to anger, shows that you have many enemies. Angling. To dream that you are angling, betokens much affliction and trouble, in seeking for something you desire to get. Ants. To dream of them betokens an earthly covetous mind ; and as they live under the earth, to dream often of them shows the dreamer not to be long lived. To see ants with wings, shows a dangerous voyage, or other ill accidents. To dream you see common ants, which are diligent and industrious in providing their food, is good for ploughmen and farmers, because they signify fertility. Apes. To dream of apes is not good. Apples. To dream you see apple trees, and eat sweet and ripe apples, denotes joy and pleasure, and recreation, especially to virgins. Sour apples signify contention and sedition. Arms. He that dreams his arms are grown bigger and stronger than ordinary, it is a sign he will have joy and profit, by his brothers’ sons’ means, and that he will become rich. If a married woman dreams it, then her husband will increase in estates and authority. If any one dreams his arms are hairy, it denotes an increase of riches. To dream your right arm is cut off. signifies the death of father, son or brother; if the left, of mother, daughter or sister. Armed Men. To see them in a dream is a good sign and denotes one void of fears. To dream you see armed men fly, is a sign of victory. To see men come in arms against you, signifies sadness. Adder. A person that dreams of the asp and adder, -is thereby betokened to have stores of money and rich wives. Attorneys. To dream you are speaking with them, shows hindrance in business, and that a man shall have but little success in his affairs. Authority. It is always good for a man to dream that he is in authority. Back. To dream a man’s back is broken, hurt or scabby, shows his enamies will get the better of him, and that he will be scoffed at. To dream of the back-bone, signifies health aud much joy.
INTERPRETATION OF DREAMS. 21 Ball. To dream that you see persons dance at a ball, or that you are engaged in a ball yourself, signifies much joy and pleasure. Banquets. To dream of banquets denotes poverty and want Barking of Dogs. To dream of their barking, signifies in suiting enemies and detractors, that will exult over and bark at those that miss their way in this world, towards the attain ment of wealth. Barn. To dream that you see a barn stored with corn shows that you shall marry’ a rich wife, overthrow your adversary at law, inherit land, and grow rich by trading. Basin. To dream of a basin, signifies a good maid ; and to dream that you eat or drink therein shows you will have a love for her. Black Face. To dream you see a black face, denotes long life to the dreamer. Bat. To dream of bats is very inauspicious. Bath. To dream one sees a bath, portends affliction or grief. If a person dreams he goes into or sees himself in a bath, and that he finds it too hot, or too cold, he will be troubled and afflicted by those that belong to his family. If he dreams he has only pulled off his clothes, without going into the bath, he will liave some trouble, but of no long continuance. Bay-Tree. To dream of the bay-tree, signifies a rich and fair wife. Beach and myrtle-trees, signify wanton women. Beans. To dream you are eating beans, always signifies trouble and dissensions. Bear. To dream y’ou have seen abear.it signifies you have a rich, puissant, and inexpert, but cruel and audacious enemy. Bees. To dream of bees is good, if they sting not, but bad if they sting the party dreaming. To dream that bees fly about your ears, shows your being beset with many enemies, but if you beat them off without being stung by them, it is a sign of victory, and of your overcoming them. To take bees signifies profit and gain, by reason of their honey and wax. Beets. To dream of eating beets signifies freedom from trouble, and expedition of business. Beggars. To dream of poor folks or beggars entering a house and carrying away any thing, whether it be given them, or they steal it, denotes very great adversity. Bells. To dream that one hears ringing of bells, if of a sanguine complexion, brings him good news ; but to others it hows alarm, murmurings, disgrace and trouble.
22 INTERPRETATION OF DREAMS. Beard. To dream you have a very little beard, signifies suits at law—for a lawyer to dream he has a long thick beard, is a good dream—for a young maiden to dream she has a beard, it is a sign she will soon marry a kind husband—for a married woman, that she will lose her husband—for a person to dream of his beard falling out, he will lose some dear relative, or he come to disgrace. Belly. To dream one’s belly is bigger and fuller than ordinary, shows his family and estate will increase. If one dreams his belly is grown lean and shrunk up, he will be joyfully delivered of some bad accident. If any one dreams that his belly is swelled, and yet notwithstanding be empty, he will become poor, though he be rich in the esteem of many people in the world. Belly-Ache. If any one dreams his belly aches, he will be afflicted in his family, and have many cares upon him. Birds. To dream you see many birds, signifies assemblies and suits at law. To dream of catching birds by lime twigs, or with nets, shows the entrapping or ensnaring of enemies by deceitful means. To dream of great birds is better for the rich than the poor. To dream of little birds, the contrary. To dream that you hear birds chirp is a good sign. To see birds fighting, signifies adversity. To see birds fly over your head, signifies prejudice by enemies. To see black birds, signifies trouble. To hear birds sing is joy and delight. Birds’ Nests. To dream that you find one is a good sign. To dream that you find one without either eggs or birds, shows you will meet with great disappointment. Birding. To dream you catch birds signifies profit and pleasure. Bleeding. To dream of bleeding at the nose signifies loss of goods, and decay of riches, to those that are plegmatic and melancholy ; but to the choleric and sanguine, it signifies health and joy. Blind. To dream of being blind shows a man shall be admonished to foresee his errors and avoid them, especially in love affairs. This dream also threatens the dreamer with want of money, when a man at noonday cannot see a penny in his purse, which is a common kind of blindness. Blood. To dream you vomit blood of a good colour, is good for him that is poor, for he shall get store of money. It is also very good for him that has no children, and whose kindred are in a strange country ; the first shall see a child of his own ; the other his kindred returning home. To dream you vomit cor rupt blood is sickness to all.
INTERPRETATION OF DREAMS. 23 Blossoming of Trees. To dream you see all sorts of trees blossoming, is a sign of joy, comfort aud recreation. Blowing the Fire. To dream of blowing the fire signifies to the rich, servitude ; to the poor, profit. To dream of stirring up and blowing fire, denotes also the stirring up of wrath, and that old quarrels, which have long laid dormant, shall be revived. Boar. To dream of a wild boar signifies rain and tempest to those that travel; and to bachelors a scolding wife ; to ploughmen fertility, and to him who marrieth, a rude and angry wife. In land journeys, the way uneasy, or hard to find. Boat. To dream you are in a boat, upon a river, lake or pond of clear water, is very good, and denotes joy, prosperity, and good success in affairs. For a man to dream that he is recreating liimself in a boat without fear, he will have comfort and success in his affairs ; but if the water be rough and tempestuous, it falleth out contrary. Bows. To dream of shooting with a bow, signifies honor. Bread. To dream of eating such bread as the person is accustomed to, is good ; but to dream of eating an unusual kind of bread, is bad. Brows. For a woman to dream she has a graceful and hairy brow is good—but if the brow be naked, it signifies poverty. Brewing and Baking. A married woman in the day time, to dream of brewing and baking is a sign of an ill housewife— if at night, the contrary. Briers. To dream of being pricked with briers shows that the person dreaming has an ardent desire to something; aud shows that young folks dreaming thus are in love, who prick themselves in striving to gather the rose. Bridge. For one to dream that he goes over a broken bridge, signifies fear; and to dream you fall upon a bridge, signifies obstruction in business. Broth. To dream of eating broth is a good sign and signifies profit aud gain. Brothers. To dream that you see your deceased brothers and sisters, signifies long life; to dream that you discourse with your brother signifies vexations; and to dream of the death of a brother signifies not only the loss of our enemies, but also deliverance from some loss or hurt whereof we stood in fear. Bull. To dream that you have been gored or received some hurt by a bull, shows you shall come to some harm. But if you dream you receive any good by a bull, it is the reverse.
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