BF 
 
 871 
 Ml 
 
w "W "W 
 
 
 
 .# * .# 
 
 <£ ^ 
 ;? ^ 
 
 
 
 <£ ^ 
 
 %. G " r 
 
 
 ^.<* 
 
 
 ■>* 
 
 ' * K 
 
 <^°^ 
 
 
 "V ^ 
 
 £ °- 
 
 0* K o 
 
 ,# <fe. # 
 
 * 4 9*. 
 
 %^ 
 
 " <> , 'U 
 
 •s ^ 
 
 *V.#^ : /^% 
 
 
 
 <?^ 
 
 \<?' : = '^^ 
 
 lS ^ 
 
 s * JS 
 
 
 ?*%-- <*>*^ ^. »,<*>■ 
 
 r '<P C ,.* 
 
 \ +■*•$ ■ ^<$ : '%.$ 
 
 A o. 
 
 
 ; J" * 
 
 a < 
 
 \ v 
 
 
 Of- ^ 
 
 
 
 *"$?„ ofr 
 
 <?. .ofr ^., 
 
 %„ _^ 
 
 
 * 
 
 ^ <a* 
 
 v* _«>' 
 
 
 
 !Sf\* ^> 
 
 V 
 
 !'.\ 
 
 "W '%,* 
 
 
 V 
 
 v 
 
 
 iS) ^ 
 
 * .^ 
 
 
 ■&%. 
 
 # "^ 
 
 -V" V c 
 
 ^ % 
 
 
 
 5 oJ 
 
 v %> 
 
 
 ' ^ ^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 > - 
 
 
 F 
 
 \V 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 ^ 
 ^ 
 
^^m 
 
 
 
 6 V 
 
 
 
 
 <- 
 
 V * ^ * ° /• ^ 
 
 
 ,4 
 
 ^V ^VT^# o V^>#' v*^>* 
 
 
 
 ^ <*> 
 
 
 /%,# •Wa,'-.^.>«* -W^^.^ 
 
 
 %# 
 
 .# % 
 
 
HOW TO 
 
 STUDY CHARACTER; 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE TRUE BASIS 
 
 FOR 
 
 THE SCIENCE OF MIND 
 
 INCLUDING A REVIEW OF 
 
 ALEXANDER BAIN'S CRITICISM OF THE PHRENOLOGICAL 
 
 SYSTEM. 
 
 . BY i/ 
 
 THOMAS A. HYDE. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 FOWLER & WELLS CO., 
 
 753 BROADWAY. 
 1884. 
 
•HI 
 
 copyright, 1884, by 
 The Fowler & Wells Company. 
 
 COWARD O. JENKINS. 
 
 Printer and StereotyPer y 
 
 BO NORTH WILLIAM ST., N. V. 
 
'3Y 
 
 V 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Introduction — Origin of the Essay; Its scope and 
 
 aim, 7 
 
 Importance of the Subject — Study of types of 
 
 Character ; History a record of them, . . .11 
 
 Metaphysics, Discursive and Speculative — The 
 field of metaphysical inquiry for the most part not 
 an exhibition of vague generalities ; The results of 
 two thousand years, 13 
 
 "Consciousness" as a Fundamental Principle— 
 
 The succession of theories ; Why they failed, . . 14 
 
 Necessity of Considering Man Objectively — Es- 
 sentials to a science of mind ; The process of facul- 
 tative analysis ; Memory, 17 
 
 The Incompetence of Metaphysics in Analysis— 
 Individuality of talent ; Mental disturbance ; Phys- 
 ical function, 20 
 
 The Early Work of the Phrenologists — Opposition ■ 
 to their discoveries ; The evidences of anatomy and 
 physiology, 24 
 
 The Phrenological Method Inductive — Bain dis- 
 inclined to adopt a similar procedure; How Gall 
 made his observations, 27 
 
 Difference between the Phrenologists and Ex- 
 perimentalists — The school of Ferrier, Goltz, and 
 others ; Variations in cranial manifestation explained 
 only by natural means 31 
 
 The Brain Examined — Phrenology more than a science 
 of the cranium ; The correspondence of the brain's 
 
 development, 35 
 
 (3) 
 
a CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Are the Methods of the Experimentalists Bet- 
 ter ? — The inconvenience of vivisection ; Compara- 
 tive results more easily obtained by the observation 
 of normal phenomena, 3^ 
 
 Some of the Important Truths of Phrenology— 
 Mistakes and illusions of the educated ; A general 
 division of mental science, 4 1 
 
 Specialization of Function— The gradation of nerv- 
 ous organization in animals; The argument from 
 analogy ; The array of data offered in support of 
 localized faculty, . . . . . . 44 
 
 Reading Character as an Objection— A Harvard 
 
 professor's objection ; The simplicity of test, . . 48 
 
 The Injustice of Prejudice — Candid examination re- 
 sults in belief ; A competent method of investigation 
 denned, 5 1 
 
 A Basis laid down for the Study of Character — 
 Self-examination must be associated with compara- 
 tive observation ; The old and new schools of meta- 
 physics ; Advantages of the physical side, , . 53 
 
 The Physiognomical Relation— The language of ex- 
 pression ; The chief divisions of the phrenological 
 system, 57 
 
 Analysis the Basis of Progressive Science — Types 
 of character denned and illustrated ; A science of 
 character must be founded on genetic principles, . 60 
 
 Applications and Illustrations— The Social and 
 Selfish groups and their respective relations; The 
 moral sentiments — selfish and religious aspects ; The 
 semi-intellectual group ; The intellectual group, . 62 
 
 The Oratorical Type of Character, an Analysis — 
 The qualities of an orator in their elementary com- 
 position ; The psychological condition — special en- 
 dowments ; Branches or styles of oratory ; Important 
 organic requisites ; Demosthenes; Chatham; Chal- 
 mers ; Power of language ; Parabolic illustration ; The 
 
CONTENTS. 5 
 
 physiological side ; The vital-mental temperament ; PAGK 
 The vocal powers ; Characteristics of good delivery ; 
 Mistakes of elocutionists ; The physiognomical side ; 
 Phillips Brooks ; Henry Ward Beecher; Balance of 
 Constitution, 67 
 
 Relations of Phrenology to Modern Philosophy 
 — The era of Gall and Spurzheim ; Lack of frankness 
 among the benefited ; Bain, Spencer, and Darwin as 
 doctrinaires in mind, 100 
 
 Influence of Modern Thought — The science of 
 ethnology — how advanced ; The study of the " in- 
 nate " powers ; Faculties and their action, . . 103 
 
 Natural Language of the Faculties — Combined 
 
 feelings of an opposite kind, 107 
 
 Prof. Bain Discussed — His work "On the Study of 
 Character"; Promises an analysis according to 
 Phrenology, but does not carry out the intention ; 
 His method that of the school of introspection ; A 
 seeming injustice ; Bain's objections not new, and 
 some of his methods already anticipated, . .109 
 
 Illustrations of Bain's Method — He would ac- 
 count for the manifestations of organs by metaphys- 
 ical analyses ; Philoprogenitiveness — the well-known 
 expression of this organ in animals and man ; Bain 
 objects, however, to the employment of observation, 
 and would address a series of questions to the con- 
 sciousness of mothers ; Positive and negative proof 
 not regarded, 113 
 
 Combativeness — Almost persuaded of its proper locali- 
 zation; Criticises Combe's definition; Differences 
 of expression in different men, . . . .121 
 
 Secretiveness — Bain does not believe it an original ele- 
 ment ; Habit and experience ; Confesses that some 
 have the disposition to conceal more than others, . 124 
 
 Acquisitiveness — No motives to be assigned in many 
 cases for a greedy or avaricious nature ; Kleptoma- 
 
6 CONTENTS. 
 
 PACK 
 
 nia— can not be a habit generated by surrounding 
 influences, 126 
 
 The Omissions of Phrenology — The critic's points 
 may mislead ; The muscular feelings ; Erroneous 
 assignal of special functions ; Locality, Size, etc. ; 
 The vocal powers ; An organ of sympathy? . . 13 l 
 
 Bain's Organs of Elocution and Plot-Interest— 
 Testimony of elocutionists ; Effect of special organs 
 on the voice ; " Plot-Interest " but the result of fac- 
 ulties in combined action ; Principles not to be de- 
 nied because of imperfections ; Combe's exposition 
 of Conscientiousness ; Impartiality of observation in- 
 dispensable to truth; The Fine-Art feelings — rela- 
 tion of Ideality and Sublimity ; Bain does not clearly 
 define his view of the question ; Power of retentive- 
 ness; Effects of training ; A reasonable demand, . 136 
 
 Bain's Own System — His emotional temperament; 
 "Spontaneous energy"; Nature of temperament; 
 Special emotions ; " Tender emotion," vagueness of 
 the term ; Irascibility, 153, 
 
 Concessions of Bain— Their statement ; Mr. Samuel 
 Bailey as quoted ; The protest of the phrenologists ; 
 Self-conscious investigation not ignored by them ; 
 Advantages to be derived from psychology, physi- 
 ology, and experimental philosophy admitted ; Lib- 
 erality of the phrenologists ; His most important 
 admission ; Its significance, 16a 
 
 Conclusion— Province of this essay ; The work and ef- 
 fects of Phrenological research in modern thought ; 
 The room for further investigation ; Phrenology the 
 only science of character 169 
 
 Illustrations— Daniel Webster, Demosthenes, Chry- 
 sostom, Cicero, Chatham, Mirabeau, Whitfield, Henry 
 Ward Beecher. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 THIS essay, which appeared in a condensed form 
 in the Phrenological Journal, had its origin while 
 the author was a member of the senior class of Harvard 
 University in 1881. The Professor of Psychology fur- 
 nished a list of topics to the class, requesting the mem- 
 bers to select one or more as a subject for a philo- 
 sophical thesis. Among the topics enumerated in 
 the schedule were : Phrenology and Analysis of Types 
 of Character. The author chose these two subjects 
 and combined them into one, under the title, "The 
 True Basis for the Science of Mind and Study of 
 Character." He was influenced in his choice partly 
 by the circumstance that many statements regarding 
 Phrenology were continually being made, not only in 
 class-room, but also outside, by students and profes- 
 sors, which he knew, from his acquaintance with 
 Phrenology, to be unjust, unreasonable, unwarrant- 
 able, and untrue. The essay, as now published, is 
 the same as the original, in design, style, and matter, 
 with some additions. These additions are mainly to 
 be found in the part devoted to Professor Bain. All 
 of the section devoted to the " Analysis of Types of 
 
 (7) 
 
g INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Character" is not to be found in the "True Basis," 
 but only the general outline ; and one type discussed 
 somewhat in detail, "The Oratorical Type," as an 
 example of the utility of studying character according 
 to the principles advocated in this essay. The re- 
 marks on a True System of Elocution and Oratory,, 
 which occur in several parts of the essay, together 
 with other philosophical principles, will be found fully 
 elaborated in a System of Elocution and Oratory, 
 based upon the Analysis of the Human Constitution, 
 which the author is writing. The essay, when read 
 before the Professor of Psychology, was favorably 
 commented upon by him, and he declared that he 
 believed there was much truth in Phrenology. 
 
 The scope and aim of the essay is wide and inde- 
 pendent. The author has no especial partiality for 
 Phrenology. His interest in it has been purely one 
 of truth — the desire to obtain the best information 
 possible upon a science which he considers next in 
 importance to a knowledge of God, the science of 
 Mind and Character. Having studied, nevertheless, 
 the three great departments of the science of Anthro- 
 pology, the Psychological, Phrenological, and Experi- 
 mental schools of philosophy, it has been his aim to 
 weigh carefully the philosophical principles under- 
 lying each, and their importance in founding a science 
 of Mind and Character; and whatever his decisions 
 have been, they are the result of an impartial spirit. 
 
 The essay is not designed, however, to embrace 
 the details of any of these sciences ; but rather seizes 
 upon the philosophical principles which, after all, are 
 
INTRODUCTION. g 
 
 the real basis for any science. It assumes, therefore, 
 a knowledge of science and philosophy on the part 
 of the reader which may be rather exacting, but 
 wholly unavoidable. Any obscurity of matter or 
 thought in the essay is due to the necessity for con- 
 densation. In such an essay illustrations and quota- 
 tions must necessarily be few; the whole spirit of the 
 essay is, therefore, that of original reflections and 
 suggestions. A criticism upon Professor Bain has 
 never been given to the public, as far as the author is 
 aware, and he is therefore entirely responsible for the 
 whole mode, method, and spirit of the discussion of 
 Bain's book on the Study of Character. The same 
 might be said of the remarks upon the experimental 
 school, and other comments found in the essay. 
 That the essay may be read with profit, and increase 
 a spirit of earnest longing to know as much as pos- 
 sible of the nature and constitution of Man, is the 
 
 author's sincere wish.* 
 
 Thomas A. Hyde. 
 
 Cambridge, Mass., Oct. 18, 1883. 
 
 * An acknowledgment on the part of the author is due to Mr. 
 H. S. Drayton, editor of The Phrenological Journal and Science of 
 Health, for his kindness in examining the proof-sheets and other- 
 wise assisting in the publication of the essay. 
 
HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE TRUE BASIS FOR THE SCIENCE OF MIND. 
 
 THE study of man, although of the utmost im- 
 portance and undoubtedly the most interesting 
 of the whole field of human inquiry, has not received 
 the careful consideration it justly merits from those 
 who aspire to be teachers of men. 
 
 The poet in the warmth of his imagination, the 
 historian and the novelist with the accuracy of obser- 
 vation, have often described men with their passions, 
 animosities, longings, aspirations, and all the various 
 feelings which make up the characters of men. But 
 their pictures, though vivid, lack the uniformity and 
 distinct analysis which should constitute a science of 
 character. It is truly wonderful that man has occu- 
 pied so little of the attention of those whose peculiar 
 duty it was to make him a study. The types of hu- 
 man character are so abundant and prominent that it 
 seems hardly credible that the science of character 
 only dates as far back as the eighteenth century, and 
 had its origin with Francis Joseph Gall. True, there 
 were attempts to describe and classify men according 
 
 (ii) 
 
12 HOW TO STUD Y CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 to their dispositions before the days of Gall, but they 
 were so superficial, unsatisfactory, and unscientific as 
 to be unworthy of notice. As far back as human 
 records reach, the human race has always presented 
 types of character unmistakably different from each 
 other. The history of every nation and observation 
 of the men of our time reveal this fact. Geology, 
 which goes back farther than any human record, re- 
 veals man as an intelligent being, the tool-maker, and 
 even then showing his great superiority over the 
 brute creation. History is but the record of types of 
 character. There are Nero and Caligula, imbruing 
 their hands in human blood to satisfy a savage pro- 
 pensity, which forms the principal motive in their 
 character. There is Pope Alexander VI., steeped in 
 hypocrisy, reeking with the crimes of incest, poison- 
 ing, and murder. There is King John, full of blas- 
 phemy, foul with unnatural vices, inconstant, fickle, 
 yielding before the threat of his barons. There is 
 the religious enthusiast, Peter the Hermit, kindling 
 Europe into a blaze of religious excitement, compel- 
 ling the noble, the powerful, and the weak to leave 
 their homes and engage in a long and desperate cru- 
 sade. There is Henry VIII., reveling in amatory 
 pleasures. There is Lucretia, even in the face of 
 death, faithful to her marriage vow. There is the 
 philosophic type, buried in deep abstraction — Aris- 
 totle, Socrates, and Plato. There is the poetic type 
 — Homer, Virgil, Milton, Shakespeare. 
 
 The observation of men of our time reveals the 
 same diversity of types. We have brutal murderers, 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. j$ 
 
 Burke and Hare and Pomeroy; religious fanatics, 
 Freeman, Guiteau, and others ; sublime poets, Long- 
 fellow, Browning, Tennyson. The student of history 
 and observation therefore can not fail to perceive that 
 the human race has ever been divided into well- 
 marked types of character. 
 
 METAPHYSICS, DISCURSIVE AND SPECULATIVE. 
 
 The neglect to form a science of character is in 
 part attributable to the metaphysical school of 
 philosophy, which has cared more for idle disputa- 
 tions and long-winded discussions upon matters of 
 very little importance. Vain theorizing characterized 
 the systems of philosophers before the time of Gall, 
 who had directed their attention to the study of man. 
 It has been the unsatisfactory state of the science of 
 mind which has retarded the science of character, for 
 as the mind is the foundation of the character, it was 
 necessary that its fundamental organs and functions 
 should have been analyzed ; for it is by the funda- 
 mental powers singly and in combination that all the 
 types of character are produced. 
 
 The metaphysician, whose task it was to accom- 
 plish this analysis, has given us nothing but vague 
 generalities. We are struck with feelings of melan- 
 choly regret for the sad waste of time and choice in- 
 tellect, when, surveying the whole field of metaphysi- 
 cal inquiry, we behold nothing but campaigns of end- 
 less battles, interminable disputes, hair-splitting dis- 
 tinctions, and the ceaseless warfare of words which 
 have ever been its leading features. For more than 
 
I4 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 two thousand years the best intellects of every period 
 have been engaged in such intellectual combat with 
 each other, and the field still remains strewn with the 
 sad wrecks of fatalism, materialism, transcendentalism, 
 and pantheism. What absurd and extravagant doc- 
 trines have not had their origin in the minds of those 
 who looked to consciousness alone as a guide ! After 
 two thousand years of vain speculation, philosophers 
 are still on debatable ground ; some maintain that 
 there is an external world, others that no external 
 world exists ; some maintain that we think and feel 
 through material organs, others that the mind is 
 ethereal and not connected with the body ; others 
 again are divided even upon the fundamental powers 
 of the mind. 
 
 " CONSCIOUSNESS " AS A FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE. 
 
 The chief faculty through which they derive all 
 their knowledge of the mind has its functional nature 
 still under discussion — I mean consciousness. Some 
 philosophers maintain that consciousness consists of 
 an Ego only, others of a non-ego. Others again as- 
 sert that the Ego and non-ego are mysteriously com- 
 bined and act as one. Leaving the dispute as to the 
 function of consciousness, their principal fundamental 
 faculty, still undecided, they carry on long discussions 
 with each other respecting what are fundamental 
 faculties, the consciousness of one philosopher declar- 
 ing that such and such are fundamental faculties ; the 
 consciousness of another philosopher as triumphantly 
 evolving another set of fundamental powers, in oppo- 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 15 
 
 sition to those of his opponents. Some reduce 
 everything to sensation and permanent possibilities 
 of sensations (J. S. Mill). Others struggle fiercely 
 for innate powers ; while others create all the powers 
 which form the characters of men by laws of associa- 
 tion, attention, and habit. 
 
 The history of philosophy is but a history of a cycle 
 of these disputes. One theory arising in one age and 
 supported by some eminent thinker is popular for a 
 time, then gradually loses its hold upon men and 
 glides into the realm of forgetfulness, to be revived 
 in another age, only to undergo the same painful 
 road of popularity, opposition, and neglect. Meta- 
 physicians have no science of the mind. All their 
 fundamental faculties rest upon the testimony of each 
 individual consciousness, and are subject to its ever- 
 varying changes and fanciful modes. They are not 
 connected with organs. They have no physical seat 
 in brain or body ; without a resting-place, devoid of 
 bones and flesh, they have taken up their eternal 
 wanderings through the realm of consciousness, in- 
 visible spirits, ghosts of the imagination. 
 
 That the systems of mental philosophy are formed 
 upon insecure and conjectural bases, is evident from 
 the fact that no system has maintained its ground for 
 more than a limited number of years. Each age has 
 had its distinguished philosophers with their peculiar 
 views, and the people of that age have looked up to 
 them with awe and respect as the intellectual giants 
 of their time. But scarcely has age begun to dim the 
 power of thought of these representative philosophers, 
 
l6 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 when some intellectual prodigy evolves a system 
 more in accordance with the time in which he lives, 
 and demolishes the doctrines of his predecessors. 
 Thus mental philosophy is built upon the shifting 
 sands of time, ever changing her fundamental powers, 
 now fixing apparently beyond dispute the laws and 
 principles of mind, then tearing down the fabric so 
 firmly built. The cause of failure of the metaphysi- 
 cal school to establish a science of mind and character 
 is apparent. Each philosopher has endeavored to 
 evolve a science of mind from his own self-conscious- 
 ness, and the result has been confusisn upon confu- 
 sion ; for each philosopher has only acknowledged as 
 fundamental faculties those which were the most 
 prominent in his own mind. They scorned an appeal 
 to observation ; they shut out the world of things 
 and men entirely from their minds ; and instead of 
 observing the action of men to find what was in 
 others' consciousness, they sought to find the facul- 
 ties of mind solely by self-introspection. Once in a 
 while they appeal to a blind man or two, to support 
 their theories, as, for instance, in the discussion con- 
 cerning our knowledge of space ; both those who 
 maintain that a knowledge of space is obtained by an 
 innate power, and those who assert that it is wholly 
 an acquired product, appeal to the experience of the 
 blind to support their theories ; but they have never 
 made a systematic collection of the facts of nature to 
 support and prove their theories, and yet this ought 
 to be done in order to arrive at a complete analysis 
 of the powers of mind. 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 17 
 
 Suppose, for instance, that the fundamental pow- 
 ers could be ascertained by self-introspection, it is evi- 
 dent this could only tell half the story, for it is well 
 known that men differ widely in mental character 
 from each other, so that what one philosopher con- 
 siders as fundamental, would only be those qualities 
 which happened to be uppermost in his mind at the 
 time of his meditations. This is borne out by fact ; 
 for a long time the faculties recognized as fundamen- 
 tal consisted only of intellectual faculties ; now, it is 
 evident that, engaged in abstract thought, and in in- 
 tellectual meditation, the intellectual faculties would 
 be the uppermost in the mind, hence the faculties 
 recognized as forming our mental nature by the meta- 
 physician are of an intellectual character. Of the 
 other powers which form the characters of men, the 
 propensity to fight, to kill, the love of offspring, the 
 instinct of propagation, the love of approbation, they 
 have said almost nothing. 
 
 NECESSITY OF CONSIDERING MIND OBJECTIVELY. 
 
 The metaphysical analysis of the mind is extremely 
 one-sided. If a careful observation of the mental dis- 
 positions of others had been considered and applied 
 as a corrective to their self-introspective method, 
 it would have been more complete. But the meta- 
 physician up to recent times has always treated with 
 contempt facts derived from observation ; thus set- 
 ting at naught the experience of mankind, and ab- 
 sorbed in his own selfish observations, it could not 
 
X 8 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 be expected that the science of mind thus evolved 
 would consist of more than vague generalities, and 
 flat denials of some of the most evident innate pow- 
 ers. The philosophers of this school, in their desire 
 to get rid of the objective side of thought, have ap- 
 pealed to the subjective side entirely, and thus lost 
 the most universal field of proof — the observation 
 and experience of mankind. Neither did they escape 
 as they hoped the objective side of thought, for there 
 is really no such thing as thought without its object- 
 ive side. Let any one try, for a moment, to evolve 
 from his own consciousness the various faculties of 
 his mind, and he will find that before he can form 
 any conception of the nature or function of a faculty 
 at all, the faculty must be presented to his mind in 
 an objective aspect ; and in order that it may be pre- 
 sented as an object to the mind, it must present itself 
 in one of its distinct modes of activity. The question, 
 then, arises to perplex the inquirer: Is the mode of 
 activity thus presented the function of one funda- 
 mental power or of many? To answer satisfactorily 
 this question would require careful reflection upon 
 the modes of activity of the various faculties pre- 
 sented, from time to time, to self-consciousness. 
 Now this process is analogous to the observations 
 of nature ; it is a species of mental observation, 
 and as such, the analysis of mind thus founded 
 will depend for its completeness and accuracy upon 
 the skill and range of the mental observations. It 
 would therefore appear that observation forms even a 
 very important part in mental introspection, and can 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 1 9 
 
 not be shuffled aside, as the metaphysician strives to 
 do. It is evident also that this kind of mental obser- 
 vation, from the very nature of the difficulties which 
 surround it, is apt to be extremely one-sided, limited, 
 and inaccurate, and stands in need of thorough ob- 
 servation of external facts to enlarge and confirm 
 any analysis of the mind based upon it. 
 
 The futility of establishing an analysis of the mind 
 by the method of self-consciousness alone, appears in 
 the various systems of mental philosophy. The dust 
 of ages has accumulated upon libraries of books full 
 of endless discussions concerning the fundamental 
 powers of mind, yet no complete analysis of the mind 
 has been attained. Take for instance memory, which 
 is recognized by many philosophers as a fundamental 
 power. If this be a distinct fundamental power, it 
 ought to perform one distinct function, namely, mem- 
 ory, and should be able to retain and recall all things 
 with equal facility ; but what do we find by actual 
 observation of men? That some have good memo- 
 ries for events or historical facts, and poor memories 
 for figures. Some have poor memories for colors, 
 and yet can remember the situations of places with 
 facility. So others again can not remember locations, 
 but remember numbers. Some remember all the va- 
 ried harmony of time and tune, in vocal or instru- 
 mental song ; while others with good memories for 
 almost everything else, can not distinguish one tune 
 from another. This evidently points to powers be- 
 hind memory, which are in some cases deficient and 
 in others well developed. Memory, therefore, is not 
 
20 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 a fundamental power, but only a mode of activity of 
 fundamental powers. 
 
 The same may be said of conception, perception, 
 and imagination. If perception and conception were 
 fundamental powers, we ought to be able to perceive 
 and conceive of all objects with equal accuracy and 
 vividness ; but so far from this being the case, it is 
 notorious that there are persons unable to conceive 
 or perceive of many, while their perception and con- 
 ception of other things are not only good, but intensely 
 keen. So with almost every faculty the metaphysical 
 school calls fundamental. 
 
 THE INCOMPETENCE OF METAPHYSICS IN ANAL- 
 YSIS. 
 
 If we attempt to apply the mental analysis derived 
 from self-consciousness alone, to explain the varied 
 states of mental phenomena, its incompleteness and 
 unsatisfactory condition become at once apparent. 
 This analysis can offer no adequate explanation of 
 idiocy, insanity, or of partial genius. Nor can it tell 
 why some have talents for mathematics, and none for 
 poetry ; why one person's soul kindles with oratori- 
 cal fire and utters burning words which another with 
 equal intellect can not command. It can not tell why 
 one man is a clown and another is a consummate 
 tragedian ; why one man can express himself with 
 ease and facility, and another man with even more in- 
 tellectual power can not command sufficient words to 
 express his ideas clearly. The metaphysician may 
 attempt to account for diversity of talents by habits 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 21 
 
 of association, attention, and the force of circum- 
 stances, but the observed facts of nature do not sup- 
 port their conclusions. 
 
 Individuals have been found to manifest powers for 
 music, oratory, mechanical invention, who have been 
 brought up in the most unfavorable circumstances, 
 and so early in life as to preclude the possibility of 
 association, habit, or education having moulded their 
 minds in this direction. To enumerate examples 
 would only lengthen this thesis unnecessarily. A few 
 may suffice. George Bidder, in early childhood, had 
 a talent for mathematical pursuits. Pope was only 
 one among a thousand poets of whom it could be 
 said they " lisped in numbers, for the numbers came." 
 
 It is a well-known fact that youths who apply 
 themselves assiduously to the same task and spend 
 the same time will, nevertheless, show diversity of 
 acquirements. Children brought up in the same fam- 
 ily and under the same instruction differ often in char- 
 acter and talent. Association, habit, circumstantial 
 environment, or any other law of the metaphysician, 
 can not account for the diverse dispositions and tal- 
 ents of men. 
 
 The metaphysical analysis of the mind is equally 
 futile in its explanation of insanity or mental aberra- 
 tion and idiocy. In former times, when the self- 
 instrospective school had full sway, the soul or mind 
 of man was thought to be spiritual, and entirely in- 
 dependent of the body ; so, in those days, when men 
 had a passion for blood, or were troubled with some 
 mental aberration, or a fit of insanity, they thought 
 
22 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 he must be possessed by some evil demon, and they 
 called in a priest to exorcise him. Nor has the meta- 
 physical school of our day made much advance be- 
 yond this puerile stage of thought. It is still unde- 
 cided as to the relation of the body to the mind ; the 
 seat of their various faculties still unascertained, they 
 can offer no adequate explanation of mental aberra- 
 tion, disease, or insanity. When a man is insane, they 
 say he has lost the command of his faculties. But 
 what faculties, we may ask? for the manifestations of 
 insanity are not the same, but even more diverse than 
 the manifestations of men in the natural state. Some 
 lunatics, for instance, are subject to the most absurd 
 delusions, believing themselves to be popes, kings, 
 emperors, and other great men. Some believe them- 
 selves attended by spirits ; that the Virgin Mary 
 awaits upon them, etc. Some are harmless and full 
 of kindness, others are possessed with a desire to 
 fight and kill, and will tear their fellow inmates or 
 keepers into pieces. It would be a long story to enu- 
 merate the different phases of insanity. The meta- 
 physician can not account for these phases. He 
 might say that the mind was diseased, but in what 
 place and in what respect, he is unable to tell. 
 The intellect of some is apparently sound, and yet 
 they are subject to the most ridiculous delusions. 
 Why can these lunatics reason intelligently upon 
 almost all subjects except the one which is the 
 form of their insanity? So useless is the meta- 
 physical analysis for any practical purpose, that 
 a metaphysician is never called in to pronounce 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 23 
 
 a man sound or unsound ; and yet who ought to 
 be better able to decide such cases than those who 
 claim to have analyzed the mind ? The truth is un- 
 deniable, that by self-introspection we can not ascer- 
 tain any organ, either of mind or body. No one can, 
 by merely thinking or reflecting upon the various 
 thoughts or emotions which arise from time to time 
 in his mind, tell whether they depend for their mani- 
 festation upon material organs or not. The very 
 looseness of the phraseology we are obliged to em- 
 ploy proves this emphatically. We speak of heart 
 forces, of brain power, of the swellings of the soul, 
 and such like terms, and yet we do not really mean 
 that the heart is the seat of any faculty of the mind. 
 Whatever we may be able to ascertain by self-con- 
 scious reflection, we can not ascertain the seat of in- 
 dividual organs, nor their exact function, nor the 
 process by which thought or feeling is developed. 
 No knowledge of physical organs was ever obtained 
 by the self-conscious method. If physiologists had 
 not long ago given up this process and resorted to 
 observation and experiment as a basis for reflection, 
 we would still be in the vale of ignorance with respect 
 to the function of the multitudinous nerves of the 
 body. It was only by accurate observation that the 
 motor and sensory nerves were separated, and their 
 functions ascertained. So, also, with every bodily 
 function, experiment and observation were at the 
 basis of its discovery. The same law must regulate 
 the investigation of the mental functions, if they are 
 connected with material organs. We love, we hate ; 
 
24 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 we are urged by an instinct to propagate our species, 
 or an instinct to defend ourselves or property ; but 
 consciousness can not tell the seat of these feelings, 
 nor has anatomy, in her search for the fundamental 
 or genetic faculties of the human constitution, been 
 more successful. The brain has been dissected for 
 ages, and anatomists have examined its various parts, 
 and have failed to find the genetic powers of thought 
 or instinct hidden away in its convolutions. No one 
 could tell by merely looking at a convolution in the 
 brain that it was the seat of instinct, feeling, or 
 memory. 
 
 THE EARLY WORK OF THE PHRENOLOGIST. 
 
 When Gall appeared upon the arena of investiga- 
 tion into the genetic powers of mind, he found every- 
 thing in the mental field in a deplorable condition. 
 Philosophers of the introspective school were still 
 debating among themselves upon those very faculties 
 necessary to form an accurate judgment of anything. 
 Anatomists and physiologists were still undecided 
 that the brain was the organ of the mind. It is true 
 they had partitioned off the brain into a few com- 
 partments and had added barbarous names to them, 
 but these names indicated nothing but ignorance of 
 the function of the parts to which they were affixed. 
 Gall had, therefore, not only to combat the erroneous 
 analysis of the mind, as given by the metaphysicians, 
 but even to revolutionize the science of anatomy. 
 He taught the composition of the brain. He proved 
 the brain to consist of fibers and cells, and separated 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 25 
 
 the white from the gray matter. When we read the 
 account of Dr. Spurzheim's dissection of a brain, in 
 presence of the learned anatomists and professors of 
 medicine in Edinburgh, we find that so ignorant 
 were these professors of the composition of the brain, 
 that some of them shook their wise heads and said 
 they thought they saw fibers. The theory of the brain 
 composition is now a settled fact, yet Gall had to 
 combat this point against the learned of his day. He 
 taught a more satisfactory method of dissecting the 
 brain, a method which undoubtedly laid the founda- 
 tion of the present experimental school, at whose 
 head are Ferrier, Goltz, and others, yet some of the 
 disciples of this school, ignorant of what they owe 
 to Gall, are still in the habit of sneering at him and 
 his mental philosophy. 
 
 It is not within my province to give an account of 
 the discoveries Gall and Spurzheim made in anatomy 
 and physiology. I mention these only to show that 
 the founders of Phrenology were not unskilled in 
 anatomy, as the opponents of Phrenology have as- 
 serted. It was the opponents of Phrenology who 
 were unskilled in anatomy. All the discoveries in 
 anatomy and physiology made by Drs. Gall and 
 Spurzheim, and which were bitterly opposed at the 
 time, are now acknowledged by the leading anato- 
 mists and physiologists to be sound and correct. The 
 condition of mental and anatomical science being 
 such as we have described, we must acknowledge the 
 fathers of Phrenology to be men of rare genius. The 
 force of mind which enabled them to break away 
 2 
 
26 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 from nearly all the recognized channels of investigat- 
 ing the mind, and seize upon a system of investiga- 
 tion which included all the benefits obtainable by 
 other methods, and added a means of determining 
 the organs and functions of the brain entirely over- 
 looked by all who cultivated the science of mind, is 
 surely worthy of the name of genius. Their superior 
 minds surveyed the whole field of mental inquiry. 
 They saw at once the imperfections which necessarily 
 followed from investigating the mind by self-con- 
 sciousness alone. They saw the futility of anatomy 
 unaided by physiology to determine the organs and 
 functions of the brain, and formulated a method at 
 once simple, natural, accessible, and within the range of 
 thorough demonstration ; a method destined to lead 
 to a science of mind and character founded upon a 
 physical basis. As the truth of Phrenology depends 
 upon this system of investigation, I think it neces- 
 sary to show in detail, and yet, as concisely as pos- 
 sible, the method of proof and its attendant advan- 
 tages. Especially do I think this necessary, as Pro- 
 fessor Bain, while aided in the composition of his 
 works on the study of character by the analysis of 
 the human mind supplied by Phrenology, and also by 
 the new light thrown upon many obscure physio- 
 logical facts by deductions obtained from the phren- 
 ological methods ; yet, after examining Phrenology 
 and acknowledging its merits and the general truth 
 of its inductions, he professes to steer out upon a 
 course of self-conscious reflection, to discover the 
 fundamental powers of mind. I will not discuss 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 -27 
 
 Bain's work upon the study of character here, but 
 will leave it till later, and in the meanwhile go on 
 with the method of phrenological investigation. 
 
 Ever since the Baconian philosophy laid down the 
 grand principle of first accurately ascertaining facts 
 and then drawing inductions from them, the domain 
 of speculative philosophy has been growing narrower 
 and narrower ; science after science has freed it from 
 the trammels of the purely speculative school, and 
 established itself upon the solid basis of inductions 
 gleaned from a wide field of observation. For ages 
 the science of geology offered ample scope to the 
 speculative philosopher to engage in endless disputa- 
 tions ; but a few men by patient observation of the 
 phenomena of nature put to naught all their vain 
 speculation, and established a science of geology on 
 the basis of induction ; so also the sciences of chem- 
 istry and physiology never made any positive progress 
 till men of patient inquiry, undaunted by vague the- 
 ories, urged with all the vehemence of authority, es- 
 tablished them upon the basis of observed facts. 
 They constantly observed the various organs of the 
 body in activity until they learned their functions. 
 If they had merely speculated upon the probable 
 function of the heart or liver, they would be specu- 
 lating still. Thus every science has progressed in 
 proportion as it has been freed from the shackles of 
 speculation and guided by the light of observation. 
 
 THE PHRENOLOGICAL METHOD INDUCTIVE. 
 Phrenology was an attempt to rescue mental sci- 
 ence from the region of speculation, and subject it, 
 
28 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 like other sciences, to experiment and observation. 
 Phrenology claims that it should be investigated ac- 
 cording to the principles upon which all sciences hav- 
 ing a physical basis are investigated. Bain evidently 
 deals unfairly with Phrenology when he declares that 
 he is unwilling to follow its long, though correct, 
 method in determining what are and what are not 
 fundamental powers, and seeks to settle the truth or 
 falsity of the phrenological analysis by what he calls 
 an appeal to consciousness. No physiologist would 
 submit to have the functions of the various parts of 
 the body discussed in this way. He would insist 
 upon an examination of the observed facts by which 
 the functions of the different bodily organs had been 
 established. What physiologist, for instance, would 
 now submit to a long discussion upon the functions 
 of the liver, the kidneys, the heart or lungs, whether 
 it were possible that these could perform the work 
 respectively assigned to them. Every physiologist 
 would, most assuredly, protest against such a course, 
 and insist emphatically upon an examination of the 
 observed facts of nature ; yet, this is the way the 
 modern school of mental philosophy persists in deter- 
 mining the merits of Phrenology, which claims to be 
 founded upon the observation of physical and mental 
 phenomena connected with material organs. 
 
 The method of discovering the organs and func- 
 tions of the brain pursued by Gall was similar to that 
 which, pursued by the physiologists, led to the dis- 
 covery of the different organs of the human body and 
 their functions. 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 29 
 
 It was a method only such as a genius would ever 
 have thought of applying to the discovery of the 
 functions of the brain. Thousands had daily observed 
 the falling of apples to the ground, but it took a 
 Newton to discover, by the application of this fact, 
 the universal law of gravitation. Steam had always 
 issued from the mouth of a kettle, but Watt saw not 
 only the steam, but the power it contained. The 
 blood had coursed through the arteries and veins of 
 men ever since the creation, but no philosopher of 
 the speculative school ever evolved and demonstrated 
 a theory of its circulation ; this was the glorious 
 achievement of Harvey, by dint of patient observa- 
 tion and thoughtful induction. Anatomists, before 
 the time of Gall, had dissected the brain by slicing it 
 as one would a cabbage, and theorized concerning the 
 functions of its various parts, but no system of mental 
 philosophy was devised. Men have differed in dispo- 
 sition and talent ever since the world began, but no 
 philosopher, before the days of Gall, ever clearly 
 traced the connection of these dispositions and talents 
 with special developments of the 'brain. Much spec- 
 ulation no doubt existed before Gall as to the seat of 
 the passions, intellect, and emotions, but nothing was 
 clearly demonstrated. Many of the erroneous theo- 
 ries then promulgated still retard the progress of 
 mental philosophy. Gall was the first philosopher 
 who conceived the most accessible system of proof 
 capable of determining and demonstrating the organs 
 of the brain and the dependence of mental manifesta- 
 tion upon these organs. The method of his discovery 
 
30 
 
 HO W TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 was unique, but wonderful in its results. Who would 
 ever have supposed that the form or shape of the 
 head, that particular excesses or deficiencies in differ- 
 ent parts could tell such a marvelous tale, and settle 
 the debatable points which had been discussed for 
 more than 2,000 years ? In truth there is still some- 
 thing incongruous in the idea of telling a person's 
 disposition by the appearance of the skull, and the 
 science of Phrenology is even now mirthfully called 
 Bumpology ; yet, if we patiently follow the investiga- 
 tions of Gall, we will find that the science of Phrenol- 
 ogy is not so ludicrous as many suppose. So men 
 ridiculed Harvey's theory of the circulation of the 
 blood, and no contemporary of his of any renown 
 ever accepted or adopted it. Yet so perfect was his 
 demonstration, that no essential improvement has 
 been made in it, and its universal acceptance is the 
 monument accorded to genius. 
 
 But let us see how Gall proceeded. Having gleaned 
 from the field of observation facts to show that men 
 differed widely in dispositions and talents, he next 
 endeavored to ascertain whether these diverse talents 
 and dispositions were connected with any physiog- 
 nomical development of body or brain. He observed 
 that certain parts of the skull were more developed 
 than other parts, and he wondered if these developed 
 parts might not be a sign of the disposition he had 
 observed. How was Gall able, amid all the multiplic- 
 ity of human dispositions, to connect one fundamental 
 quality with a particular portion of the brain ? There 
 lay the Pyrenees to be crossed before success could 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 31 
 
 gleam upon him. Here is one of the principles of 
 the phrenological method which the learned have 
 failed to comprehend, else they would cease from the 
 unsatisfactory, if not the futile, attempt to discover 
 the fundamental powers of mind by slicing, cutting, 
 and subjecting the brains of animals to shocks of elec- 
 tricity. The expedient hit upon by Gall in order to 
 separate the dispositions and actions of men and con- 
 nect them with special cerebral developments, was as 
 follows. 
 
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PHRENOLOGISTS AND 
 EXPERIMENTALISTS. 
 
 He discovered in his investigations that nature had 
 performed what the experimental school at the pres- 
 ent time vainly tries to perform, namely, to obtain 
 negative and positive proofs of the functions of par- 
 ticular portions of the brain. The school of Ferrier, 
 Goltz, and others is wont to take living animals and 
 remove portions of their brains, and ascertain by their 
 actions what faculties seem to be lost. They hope in 
 this way to discover the functions of the various parts 
 of the brain. But Gall discovered that nature had 
 already performed this process, for she had given 
 birth to men and animals, with portions of their 
 brains excessively developed, and the same portions 
 in others exceedingly depressed. Gall, by a series of 
 observations on men of peculiar and special talent or 
 character, succeeded in connecting certain dispositions 
 or tendencies with particular portions of the encepha- 
 lon. This discovery was of immense importance to 
 
32 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 Gall, or rather to the science of mind. It was impos- 
 sible to get a more extensive field to prove any sys- 
 tem of philosophy. Nature had spread out in unlim- 
 ited profusion the means of making and verifying 
 observations. Not only the human race, but all ani- 
 mal life was subject to this method of investigation. 
 Neither did time place a limit to these observations, 
 for men and animals could be observed, not for one 
 day only, but for months and years. The experi- 
 mental school can boast of no such opportunities ; 
 their labors must necessarily be confined to a few an- 
 imals under the effects of anaesthesia, and reluctant 
 responses from the fundamental powers of mind can 
 only be dragged from them amid scenes of blood, tor- 
 por, and stupor. These responses consisting mainly 
 of bodily movements, will be interpreted with diffi- 
 culty as the signs of the functions of cerebral organs. 
 Gall having thus discovered that the talents of men 
 were connected with particular portions of the brain, 
 he next proceeded to gather a number of skulls show- 
 ing abnormal developments and depressions. He 
 took casts of the heads of such persons as were noted 
 for special talent or traits of character, and also casts 
 of those who were deficient in these same traits of 
 character, and on comparing them together found 
 that the former had certain portions of the brain ex- 
 cessively developed and the latter had but a small 
 development of the corresponding portions of brain. 
 When in many cases he found certain talents or traits 
 of character to exist in the person with a particular 
 portion of the brain developed, shown by prominence 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 33 
 
 or fullness on the skull, he found that the same 
 talents were absent or weakly manifested in those 
 whose skulls were depressed at the same place. 
 When the prominence existed in the other cases, he 
 concluded that these traits of character were con- 
 nected with a portion of the brain contained within 
 the skull. Thus he had proofs both positive and 
 negative. 
 
 He did not rest satisfied with the observations of a 
 few persons, but extended them to thousands of per- 
 sons, making casts and collecting skulls. To extend 
 the range of his observations, Gall visited schools and 
 colleges, insane asylums and prisons, and wherever he 
 had hopes of getting persons distinguished for special 
 talents or noted for anything peculiar. Their facul- 
 ties were carefully noted, casts of their heads were 
 taken, and special development recorded. Thus the 
 science of Phrenology was really discovered through 
 observations made upon prominences and depressions 
 of the skulls, and ridicule was thrown upon Phre- 
 nology because its principles were thus discovered. 
 
 But this, instead of being a demerit to Phrenology, 
 is its chief glory. If phrenologists had not taken ad- 
 vantage of the negative and positive proofs thus sup- 
 plied by nature they never could have established a 
 science of mind or character. The botanist takes ad- 
 vantage of abnormal development in flowers to clear 
 up difficult points of morphology, and many im- 
 portant truths have been discovered in this science by 
 such sports of nature which could never have been 
 ascertained in any other way. Nature always sup- 
 2* 
 
34 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 plies means for the ascertainment of truth, although 
 these means may seem ridiculous in the eyes of some. 
 The trouble too often lies not with nature, but with 
 a certain class of scientists who prefer to make an 
 abstruse problem rather than follow her plain teach- 
 ings. Men may call Phrenology a science of bump- 
 ology because its principles were first suggested in 
 this way, but it was only by these abnormal develop- 
 ments in connection with leading mental character- 
 istics that a knowledge of the primitive faculties could 
 be discovered ; for it was necessary that the mani- 
 festation of one particular faculty should far outstrip 
 in power and activity all the other faculties of the 
 mind in order to ascertain what dispositions could 
 come under that faculty. In other words, some 
 means should be supplied whereby the function of 
 one organ could be studied to the neglect, for the 
 time being, of the functions of the other organs, so 
 as to distinguish clearly what were the actions be- 
 longing to that organ from the actions belonging to 
 the others. And this the great and small develop- 
 ment of different parts of the head, called Bumpology, 
 conveniently supplied. Yet it ought to be remem- 
 bered that although the organs and functions of the 
 brain were correctly ascertained, and their sphere of 
 action and location discovered by special protuber- 
 ances and depressions of the skull, that these pro- 
 tuberances can not be found upon all heads. These 
 developments are abnormal. The harmoniously de- 
 veloped head does not have these special prominences 
 on the skull, but there is no difficulty in reading 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 35 
 
 character from such heads, as the location of each or- 
 gan has been accurately ascertained by means of the 
 abnormal developments. 
 
 THE BRAIN EXAMINED. 
 
 Dr. Gall next, when the death of these persons of- 
 fered an opportunity to get possession of their heads, 
 removed the skull and found that the cerebral mass 
 corresponded in every case with the abnormal devel- 
 opments of the skull. He found that when there was 
 no prominence of the skull, but a depression, the con- 
 volutions were small or entirely wanting, and where 
 there was a protuberance of the skull, the convolu- 
 tions swelled out and completely filled the cavity 
 made by the protuberance. Thus the labors of the 
 neurologists were at an end ; a resort to clinical and 
 pathological or experimental methods was not abso- 
 lutely necessary. But Gall and Spurzheim, with that 
 indomitable zeal to prove all things beyond a possi- 
 bility of a doubt which ever animated their profes- 
 sional career, followed up their investigations by 
 these methods. It would be a long task to enumer- 
 ate the catalogue of cases confirmatory of the loca- 
 tion and functions of the various organs they had 
 thus established. Injuries to the brain, accidental or 
 purposely induced, revealed the fact that the organs 
 of the mental faculties had been truly located. Per- 
 sons who had received a blow on the part of the 
 brain where the phrenologists locate the organ of 
 Color were known to be deprived of that faculty. So 
 men who had been suddenly possessed with an irre- 
 
36 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 sistible desire to kill, or to gratify sexual love and 
 other desires connected with the primitive instincts, 
 were discovered by phrenologists on removal of the 
 skull to have the portion of the brain under the skull, 
 where the organs of such propensities were situated, 
 diseased. Though the organs were first discovered 
 by the shape and form of the skull, yet by repeated 
 observations the distinct convolutions or parts of 
 convolutions connected with special dispositions were 
 accurately named and marked out. So that by the 
 situation of the convolutions themselves without the 
 aid of the skull, the analysis of a person's character 
 could be given. Spurzheim gave such readings on 
 several occasions. 
 
 The assertion, therefore, of Bailey and other 
 philosophers that Phrenology is at best only crani- 
 ology, or a science of the cranium, is not strictly cor- 
 rect. The phrenologists never attempted to connect 
 the dispositions of men with developments of the 
 cranium ; they always maintained that the brain 
 mass gave size and shape to the skull, and not the 
 skull to the brain. This doctrine they proved by 
 many facts. They showed, upon the removal of 
 many skulls, that the convolutions did not all run in 
 one direction, that some of them swelled out more in 
 the middle than at the end, some ran transversely, 
 vertically and some horizontally and actually mould- 
 ed the developments of the skull to correspond with 
 these portions. The fact that the size and form of 
 the organs of the brain can be predicated by the gen- 
 eral appearance of the skull does not necessarily con- 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 37 
 
 stitute Phrenology a science of the cranium. The 
 size and form of the muscles of the body may be de- 
 termined through the skin ; the space which the 
 lungs and other organs of the body occupy is deter- 
 mined by measurements of their bone or skin cover- 
 ing ; but does this constitute physiology a science of 
 skinology or boneology? 
 
 But it has been asserted by some writers on men- 
 tal science that Phrenology will have to give place to 
 the doctrines deduced from the more accurate ex- 
 periments of Goltz and others. It has even been 
 asserted that if Gall and Spurzheim were now living 
 they would give up Phrenology and betake them- 
 selves to the experimental school. But this is purely 
 a matter of conjecture, and there is nothing in the 
 facts of the case to warrant any such supposition. 
 That Gall and Spurzheim, if they were now alive, 
 would engage in experiments similar to those of 
 Ferrier and Goltz, is probable ; but that they would 
 decide these experiments to be more efficacious than 
 their own method is monstrously absurd. While 
 they lived they did not neglect any opportunity 
 which they thought would prove or throw light upon 
 the science of the mind. They employed the clini- 
 cal, pathological, and galvanic experiments which 
 gave results similar to those obtained at the present 
 time by Ferrier and others; but they employed 
 these methods, not because they thought them more 
 efficient, but as an aid to their own system, and more 
 especially to convince opponents who had a taste for 
 such experiments. They always maintained that 
 
38 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 these methods were insufficient to determine the 
 functions of the brain. 
 
 ARE THE METHODS OF THE EXPERIMENTALISTS 
 BETTER ? 
 
 The experimental school as conducted to-day offers 
 no better method of determining the organs of the 
 brain than the phrenological method. In order to 
 establish clearly an organ and its appropriate function 
 four conditions are necessary : (i) The probable lo- 
 cation and size of the organ ; (2) The natural lan- 
 guage, action, or process which constitutes its func- 
 tion ; (3) It must be experimented upon without 
 affecting neighboring organs ; (4) The organ when 
 experimented upon must be in a normal condition in 
 order to manifest its functions correctly ; and a fifth 
 condition might be added, viz., an extensive field for 
 experiment and observation, which, although not as 
 necessary as the four previous conditions, would seem 
 requisite because of the vital importance attached to 
 the deductions from the experiments. The experi- 
 mental school, it is needless to say, can not comply 
 with any of these conditions. They neither know 
 the extent nor location of the organs they seek, 
 whether they occupy a whole convolution or a part 
 of a convolution as they experiment upon the con- 
 volutions in a hap-hazard manner. They have not 
 systematically studied the language or processes of 
 the organs they seek ; hence their ridiculous inter- 
 pretation of the responses they have obtained. They 
 have exhausted the entire cerebral mass in the per- 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 39 
 
 formance of such ridiculous functions as a center for 
 wagging the tail, a center for the advance of the right 
 foot, a center for twitching the eyes, which latter 
 they call the organ of sight. They experiment under 
 very disadvantageous circumstances. They have re- 
 course to anaesthesia, which puts the organs of the ani- 
 mal in an unnatural stupor. It is not, therefore, possible 
 to get the clear responses which express the function 
 of an organ in the natural state. It is hardly pos- 
 sible to excite one organ by the electrode without 
 exciting jsl neighboring organ. And it is extremely 
 doubtful, nay, impossible, to get anything but bodily 
 movements from these organs in such a condition 
 and by such a process. How can thought, intellect, 
 or emotion be communicated in this way? Indeed, 
 the science of the mind, as presented by these ex- 
 perimentalists, is nothing more than a science of elec- 
 trical gymnastics. The cutting and mutilating of 
 innocent animals to acquire a few gesticulations and 
 twitches of the body and limbs, is, to say the least, 
 reprehensible, and contrary to the best feelings of 
 our fruman nature. The reader can easily imagine 
 how difficult it would be for an animal subjected to 
 stupefying drugs and deprived of parts of his brain 
 and irritated by shocks of electricity, to express the 
 various faculties of his mind. The extent of the field 
 of experiment is confined to a few animals, and the 
 experiments must be performed and the responses 
 obtained before the animal dies. If these gymnas- 
 tical performances and the ridiculous interpretations 
 drawn from animals in stupor and mutilation, by a 
 
4<D HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 process revolting and unnatural, are capable of super- 
 seding Phrenology, I should like to see the evidence. 
 If the experimenters had taken Phrenology as an aid 
 they would have been more successful ; they would 
 then have had some idea of the extent, location, and 
 language of the organs for which they were in search. 
 Even supposing that they could succeed in determin- 
 ing the functions of the brain in this way, they .can 
 only extend their conclusions to man by analogy, for 
 public sentiment will never submit to have men 
 experimented upon as they now experiment upon 
 animals. 
 
 So far from the experimental school superseding 
 Phrenology, it has much to do before it can arrive at 
 any one of the demonstrated principles of Phrenol- 
 ogy. In many cases the responses obtained by Goltz 
 and Ferrier, when rightly interpreted, support the 
 doctrines of Phrenology, and one of the latest an- 
 nouncements of Ferrier is that the phrenologists have 
 good reasons for locating the intellect in the frontal 
 lobes. 
 
 Not any of the inconveniences attending the, ex- 
 perimental method is incident to the phrenological. 
 Its field of observation is wide ; men and animals in 
 their natural state are its objects of investigation. 
 All the actions and language of the faculties can be 
 gathered and systematically arranged. It knows 
 the position and extent of the organs it seeks. 
 It can summon the clinical, pathological, anatom- 
 ical, and even the experimental school itself, to 
 support the truth of its principles. The superiority 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 41 
 
 of its methods is shown by the fact that it has al- 
 ready mapped out the convolutions of the brain into 
 distinct organs and described their functions, and has 
 built up a science of mind and character upon prin- 
 ciples not yet disproved. Gall, like some other 
 geniuses in other departments of knowledge, has 
 mapped out the field of mental science so exten- 
 sively that it will take a long time for men of moder- 
 ate talents to reach the utmost lines of his demon- 
 stration. Much, no doubt, remains to be done. 
 Phrenologists never claimed that their science was 
 complete in all respects. Yet the survey has been 
 made and the true road to travel is open, and, like 
 the railway, may have steel rails in due time. 
 
 Phrenology being founded upon inductions from 
 observed facts demands our investigation of these 
 facts, and disclaims to be investigated by self-con- 
 sciousness alone. It is surprising that the gauntlet 
 thus defiantly thrown down by phrenologists has 
 never been taken up. 
 
 SOME OF THE IMPORTANT TRUTHS OF PHRE- 
 NOLOGY. 
 
 Before proceeding to show the value of Phrenology 
 as a means of analyzing types of character, it may be 
 well to take a brief survey of some of the important 
 truths which Phrenology has added to the science of 
 mind. Especially do I think this necessary because, 
 even here in this school of learning (Harvard College), 
 we are wont to speak of many of the truths of the 
 science of mind as if they were but lately discovered 
 
42 
 
 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 by modern scientists. It is always a disagreeable 
 task to dispel pleasant illusions, but it is sometimes 
 very necessary, when men become over-confident of 
 the value of their own individual investigations. I 
 will have something further to say upon the sub- 
 ject of appropriation of phrenological discoveries 
 without acknowledgment, toward the conclusion of 
 this essay. 
 
 The first principle which Gall and Spurzheim main- 
 tained, and which was bitterly opposed on all sides, 
 was that the mind is dependent for its manifestation 
 upon material organs, and that the brain was the 
 principal seat of the mind. It is surprising to read, 
 when we reflect how universally this fact is admitted 
 at the pres:nt time, that Gall had to avail himself of 
 every resource to prove his position, and brought to 
 bear against his antagonists accumulations of facts 
 both psychological, anatomical, and physiological, 
 which completely established the phrenological view 
 and annihilated those of his opponents. It does not 
 fall within my province to give the proofs for the 
 mind's connection with the brain, and it is hardly 
 necessary, as nearly all scientists acknowledge this 
 truth. They differ only in the method of the brain's 
 manifestation of mind, whether the brain is composed 
 of cells, and each cell is responsive to a particular 
 shade of emotion or thought, and manifests that 
 emotion or thought when excited by the popular 
 stimuli ; or that the brain, as a mass, moves its bulky 
 weight every time to give rise to thought or emotion. 
 Phrenology claims that there are two grand divisions 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 43 
 
 of the brain mass, and that each hemisphere may act 
 independently of the other or consentaneously to- 
 gether. This is only following the general analogy 
 of the bodily constitution, for we have two eyes 
 which may see objects independently or at the same 
 time ; so also with the organs of hearing. This truth 
 is now admitted. The phrenologists affirm that there 
 are distinct mental faculties, each having a cerebral 
 organ in each of the hemispherical lobes. This truth 
 has been debated with great rancor, but according to 
 phrenological proof it is as truly demonstrated as is 
 the truth of the mind's dependence upon the brain. 
 It is further maintained that power of manifestation 
 depends {caeteris paribus) upon the size of the hemi- 
 spheres, and upon the size of each individual organ. 
 Upon these principles a science of mind and character 
 has been built up which may be divided into divis- 
 ions as follows : (1) A system of Psychology, having 
 for its basis primitive or fundamental faculties, with 
 a description of their nature, function, sphere of oper- 
 ation, and their relations to each other. (2) A system 
 of Physiognomy, founded (a) upon the form of the 
 skull, as determined by the size and form of the cere- 
 bral mass, or particular portions of it measured in 
 radial distances from the medulla oblongata; (b) upon 
 the natural language of the feelings and faculties as 
 displayed in the actions, expressions, and attitudes of 
 men. (3) A practical sociology, or the application of 
 the system of psychology and physiognomy in con- 
 nection with principles of cerebral physiology to the 
 welfare of society and the ordinary business of life. 
 
44 
 
 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER : OR, 
 
 The psychological part of Phrenology might be di- 
 vorced from the physiognomical and physiological and 
 studied as a separate system, and it appears to have 
 superior advantage over all other psychological sys- 
 tems. Let us see what it offers to science to-day. 
 
 (i) It has been determined by observation and re- 
 flection that there are distinct faculties, and that the 
 brain is the organ of the mind, and has a seat for each 
 individual faculty. I will not attempt to give the 
 numerous phrenological proofs for this statement, 
 but will content myself by showing, analogically, that 
 it is quite possible that mind is manifested, not as a 
 unit, but by a plurality of organs. In our investiga- 
 tion of animal life we have found a dependence of 
 mind upon cerebral structure. Every year new facts 
 are added to prove a plurality of cerebral organs. 
 All animal life is a progress on the plane of 
 
 SPECIALIZATION OF FUNCTION 
 
 from the lowest to the highest, and has its culminat- 
 ing point in man ; the more distinct and separate the 
 organs through which the functions are performed, 
 the higher and more intelligent is the animal. If we 
 trace animals back to their lowest forms, we discover 
 but little appearance of separate organs for special 
 functions. The next grade probably reveals a stom- 
 ach, or something resembling digestive organs. Then 
 the next grade has special parts of the body devoted 
 to special functions ; for example, the breathing or- 
 gans become distinct from the digestive, the eye from 
 the ear, and the organs of voice from the organs of 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 45 
 
 smell. In the highest animal, man, there is the great- 
 est specialization of function. There is a distinct or- 
 gan for everything — the eye, the ear, the sense of 
 smell, are all distinct. The functions of the liver, the 
 stomach, the heart, have all separate organs. Nay, it 
 has been discovered that the nerves which ramify 
 through the body and lie in bunches beside each 
 other and are almost undistinguishable in form, have 
 apparently the same texture and composition, yet 
 perform different functions. In the same sheath, 
 side by side with each other, are the nerves of mo- 
 tion and feeling. It is extremely absurd to conceive 
 the brain, which is a collection of fibers, cells, and 
 nervous ganglia in convolutions, acting as a unit, 
 and moving its entire bulky mass every time a 
 thought or emotion agitates it. This is a direct con- 
 tradiction to all we know of the body in general. It 
 would seem as if nature began on a line of harmo- 
 nious differentiation of structure, which she carried 
 through the whole body as far as the medulla ob- 
 longata and ended there, giving up the idea of differ- 
 entiation after having tried it through all stages of 
 life, from the oyster to man, as a bad business. Is it 
 not more in accordance with her general plan to sup- 
 pose that differentiation of structure is also charac- 
 teristic of the encephalon? that feelings so distinct 
 as anger, love, sense of causation, sense of mathe- 
 matical relation, of colors, of space, of self-esteem, of 
 construction, can not all be performed by the brain 
 mass acting as a unit? 
 
 In the light of modern science, then, Phrenology 
 
46 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 still can maintain her doctrine of plurality of organs, 
 and every new fact added seems to support that con- 
 clusion. In the days of Gall and Spurzheim this ana- 
 logical proof could not be so successfully used as at 
 present, for there has been much information gath- 
 ered from the investigation of the animal life which 
 did not then exist ; but, nevertheless, the early fa- 
 thers accumulated a mass of evidence which proves 
 conclusively the doctrine of the plurality of organs. 
 It is my endeavor not to repeat old arguments in 
 favor of Phrenology, but to view that science in the 
 light of modern research, and to show that Phrenol- 
 ogy has still strong claims upon us as a means of in- 
 vestigating the science of character; and, indeed, it 
 holds a place in this department of knowledge which 
 can not be filled by any other method of investiga- 
 tion. Since, therefore, it is not my aim merely to 
 quote and apply arguments from phrenological works, 
 but rather to give a series of original reflections upon 
 the truths of Phrenology, I beg to refer the reader to 
 the works of Gall, Spurzheim, Combe, and the later 
 phrenologists, for the solid array of facts which they 
 have accumulated to prove their principles. The ques- 
 tion has been agitated whether the phrenological ter- 
 minology founded upon the classification of the mind 
 is of value to-day. It would appear needless to discuss 
 this question had not Bain and others attacked it, and 
 endeavored to show that it was erroneous and faulty 
 in many respects. Whatever defects there may be in 
 the definition of the functions which the terminology 
 conveys, nevertheless modern science has not given 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 47 
 
 us a better terminology. When a modern philoso- 
 pher shall arise and gain for his terminology such al- 
 most universal acceptance in current literature and 
 popular language as the phrenologists have gained, 
 Jje will be in a position to dispense with the phreno- 
 logical terminology. As the case now stands, after 
 years of carping criticism and systematic attack by 
 the learned, men can find no better means of describ- 
 ing the various types of character than by the use of 
 phrenological language. 
 
 Again : if we view Phrenology in the light of mod- 
 ern science, we find it has many other strong claims 
 upon us. The exposition of the primitive powers of 
 mankind which Phrenology has given, has made it a 
 science of the utmost practical importance. Educa- 
 tion which is not conducted upon its principles with 
 reference to the various degrees of development of 
 the primitive powers, can not be complete and satis- 
 factory. Phrenology maintains that a harmonious 
 development of all the powers should be the true 
 aim of education. If, for instance, a person is found 
 with any particular organ excessively developed, as, 
 for example, a person in whom Destructiveness — the 
 excessive manifestation of which is the desire to kill — 
 is out of proportion to his other faculties, all the cir- 
 cumstances which are liable to excite that organ must 
 be removed, and those organs which restrain the 
 promptings of Destructiveness must be educated. 
 So with all the faculties, the weak must be cultivated 
 and the strong restrained, unless it is desired to make 
 the person a specialist in the direction of the strong 
 
48 HO W TO ST UD Y CHARA CTER ; OR, 
 
 faculty. It is evident that any science which is able 
 to point out the connate tendencies of men, will have 
 a vast influence upon the education and legislation of 
 men. If the various capabilities or innate capacities 
 of men are thus unfolded, a sure foundation for the 
 study of character is laid. This science of character 
 will not culminate merely in a theoretical science, but 
 like all other sciences which are founded upon physi- 
 cal facts, will lead to an art — namely, the art of read- 
 ing the characters of men. This has actually been 
 accomplished ; yea, while the metaphysicians are still 
 discussing the genetic powers of mind, or rather their 
 boasted power, consciousness itself, through which 
 they claim to have given a correct analysis of the 
 mind, Phrenology, undaunted by the long discussions 
 of alarmed opponents, has been slowly and surely per- 
 fecting the science of mind and character. 
 
 READING CHARACTER AS AN OBJECTION. 
 
 An objection has been made to Phrenology, even 
 by the present professor of psychology in this univer- 
 sity (Harvard), that Phrenology is not a science of the 
 mind, but merely an art of reading character ; but of 
 all objections made against Phrenology this is the 
 weakest. Is the science of medicine less of a science 
 because it has given rise to the art and practice of 
 medicine? Is geology less a science because from its 
 principles practical geologists can survey tracts of 
 country and draw geological maps and write reports ? 
 If that objection holds good against Phrenology, it 
 applies with equal force against every science which 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 49 
 
 has its principles so well defined that they can be put 
 into practice, for an art is only applied science. This 
 objection, instead of being an argument against Phre- 
 nology, is the crowning proof that its principles are 
 derived from nature itself.* No vain theory of the 
 imagination has given birth to her mental delinea- 
 tions. In the crowded hall, in the street, on the plat- 
 form, in schools and seminaries, in insane asylums, in 
 prisons, on convict ships, in churches or in the thea- 
 ter, and among the most barbarous and civilized peo- 
 ples of the world, its principles have been tried and 
 failed not. Can any of her sister sciences — metaphys- 
 ics and experimental philosophy — show an equal 
 record ? No, they have not yet accomplished a pre- 
 cise and complete analysis capable of unfolding a sci- 
 ence of art and character. That Phrenology is an art 
 is no objection, but her chief triumph, proving her 
 
 * It is only just to mention that the professor of psychology be- 
 fore whom this essay was read, since the reading of the essay has 
 explained that by his assertion that Phrenology was not a science, 
 but merely an art of reading character, he did not mean an art 
 in the real and true sense — as an art of medicine, etc. — but sim- 
 ply an art in its degraded sense, as applied to fortune-telling, as- 
 trology, etc. It would have been well if he had given this defini- 
 tion of art to his students in class assembled, as his words then 
 conveyed a condemnation of Phrenology as an art in the true 
 sense of the word. It does not seem possible that the professor 
 of psychology, after a careful reading of the works of Gall, Spurz- 
 heim, Combe, and Bain, which he says he read with great inter- 
 est, could entertain so low an estimate of Phrenology, especially 
 as Prof. Bain, who is not at all partial to Phrenology, admits it to 
 be a science of character as well as an art. 
 
50 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 principles to be as sure in their operation as the laws 
 of nature. How, in the name of common sense, could 
 the principles of classification and cerebral develop- 
 ment be erroneous, if men can by their means pick 
 out all the types of character, and analyze them so 
 successfully that thousands will admit the correctness 
 of their delineations ? Phrenologists are not afraid of 
 their science ; they have always sought, nay, en- 
 treated, begged, and demanded investigation. The 
 conduct of Gall, Spurzheim, Combe, Vimont, Cald- 
 well, Elliottson, and the Fowlers proves this. They 
 have selected prominent men, men whose char- 
 acters were known to the public, and have appealed 
 to them to witness the truth of their science ; they 
 have shown upon every occasion that the cerebral 
 development corresponded to the mental manifesta- 
 tions. The heads of persons unknown to them have 
 been given, whose characters they have successfully 
 read. Any person is at liberty to decide for himself 
 the truth of their propositions. It would be an easy 
 matter to put Phrenology into the crucible and try it. 
 Take any one of the many persons whose characters 
 phrenologists have claimed to have analyzed, and 
 show that the analysis is incorrect ; this would do 
 more to convince the public of the falsity of phreno- 
 logical principles than all the long-winded discussions 
 of the metaphysical, and the rash assertions of the 
 experimental schools. But this has never been done, 
 and I am convinced it never will be accomplished. 
 For many years the science of mind and character, 
 as revealed by Phrenology, has been before the pub- 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. $i 
 
 lie, and the learned have either ignored its claims by 
 appeals to the mirthful tendencies of human nature, 
 or have misquoted its teachings and principles. 
 
 THE INJUSTICE OF PREJUDICE. 
 
 The demand made by phrenologists that their sci- 
 ence should be investigated according to the princi- 
 ples they have laid down, has never been complied 
 with by the opponents of Phrenology. If this de- 
 mand were complied with the opponents would be- 
 come fewer and fewer, and finally disappear alto- 
 gether, or begin to waste their strength and delay the 
 progress of truth in some other department. I speak 
 this as no mere rhetorical flourish, but from historical 
 facts. It is a circumstance strongly in favor of Phre- 
 nology, that all those who have made a thorough in- 
 vestigation of its principles according to the natural 
 rules laid down by phrenologists, have ended in belief 
 in the science. To give names would only encumber 
 unnecessarily this essay. If any one wishes to prove 
 the truth or falsity of Phrenology, let him pursue the 
 following method of investigation : (i) Clear your 
 mind fully of all preconceived theoretical opinions 
 originated by the self-introspective method as to the 
 impossibility of founding a science after the manner 
 of Phrenology. (2) Keep your mind freely open to 
 receive truth, even if it is new and not recognized by 
 the members of the conservative schools of thought 
 who wear their professorship cowls within the walls 
 of many of our universities because they have given, 
 in their college career, good proof of their orthodoxy. 
 
52 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 (3) Remember that schools and colleges have not gen- 
 erally received new truth, but have oftentimes been 
 the first to oppose it. (4) Remember, also, that prin- 
 ciples which have long been taught may be false, even 
 if professors of ability maintain them ; in other words, 
 authority is no criterion, truth must be decided in the 
 crucible of mental conflict and experiment. (5) Do 
 not hastily conclude that a whole science is false be- 
 cause one or more of its principles seem founded upon 
 a wrong basis ; this is often exemplified by the oppo- 
 nents of Phrenology ; some are ready to consign the 
 whole science to the region of forgetfulness, because 
 they think they have found one or more errors in the 
 system — as, for instance, you know the frontal si- 
 nuses, even if they are only an inch and a half or so 
 wide, have the expansive power of rubber, and may 
 cover the entire brain, so that it is utterly impossible 
 to measure any organ when you can not measure one 
 or two. That is, you know, Edinboro' and Boston 
 are so intimately connected with each other, that the 
 covering of a few houses in the first city by a drift of 
 sand or snow would completely cover all Boston, and 
 nobody could find his own house. (6) Never surren- 
 der truth, or your convictions of truth, through fear 
 of not being on the side of your professor, and thus 
 lose that delightful criterion of human scholarship, 
 that adjustable gauge by which professors assure them- 
 selves of the brilliant lights of the school if not of the 
 world — you know what I mean, those ominous things 
 which make a man's heart tremble about examination 
 time — Marks ! Marks ! It would be well, also, to 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 53 
 
 bear in mind, in all your investigations, the following 
 definition of a faculty : (i) A faculty is admitted as 
 primitive (a) which exists in one animal and not in 
 another ; (b) which varies in the two sexes in the same 
 species ; (c) which is not proportionate to the other 
 faculties of the same individual ; (d) which does not 
 manifest itself simultaneously with the other faculties ; 
 (e) which may act or rest singly ; (/) which may be 
 propagated distinctly to offspring ; (g) which may 
 singly preserve its proper state in health and disease. 
 To the classes of this definition of a primitive faculty 
 no objection can be made, says Professor Bain, and 
 yet he will not follow such a method because too la- 
 borious. I shall have occasion to discuss Professor 
 Bain presently. 
 
 A BASIS LAID DOWN FOR THE STUDY OF CHARACTER. 
 
 In order to establish a science of character, we 
 ought to study man as he presents himself to us. 
 Observation, which is the foundation of all that is 
 permanent in every science, is even of more impor- 
 tance in the science of character. Men differ so 
 widely from each other in character and mental qual- 
 ities, that it is impossible to build up a science of 
 character from self-introspection unaided by observa- 
 tion. Yet self-introspection can do much more for 
 the science of character than she has done in the past. 
 If the philosophers of this school had made themselves 
 the subject of the closest observation and introspec- 
 tion ; if they had noted down their various actions, 
 modes, feelings, and the conflicting passions which at 
 
54 HO W TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 times stirred their bosoms ; if they had extended 
 these observations and reflections into a period of 
 years, not for a few moments only, not solely when 
 in tranquil and thoughtful states of mind, but at all 
 times, in calms and in passionate moods alike, a more 
 satisfactory analysis of their own character would 
 have been accomplished. Nevertheless, this would 
 only be half of the science of mind and character, and 
 would lack wide and definite proof ; and, besides, 
 since men differ in dispositions and mental qualities, 
 in order to get a complete science of character men 
 in every condition and of individual traits of charac- 
 ter must be observed. After the facts were collected 
 deductions could be made from them, and a correct 
 analysis of mind and character obtained. This might 
 be called the psychological part of the science of char- 
 acter, but still this process alone would not lead to a 
 complete analysis of human character. If mind is 
 connected with the brain and body, the seat of the 
 fundamental powers which lead to the differences of 
 character ought to be discovered. The size and qual- 
 ity of these organs (if any material organs are discov- 
 ered) and the conditions of their activity should then 
 be investigated. This would lead to organology, or 
 the physiological side of man's character. This is by 
 far the most important part of the subject. Physical 
 facts, when once established, are not easily disproved. 
 If the seat of a function has been ascertained, many 
 opportunities are opened for watching its manifesta- 
 tions, for these can readily be noted from time to 
 time, and their degrees of power and activity meas- 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 55 
 
 ured. The proof of an organ or of a fundamental 
 power is then capable of thorough demonstration, for 
 a certain function being always connected with a par- 
 ticular organ, the function infers the organ and the 
 organ infers the function. It is because the meta- 
 physical analysis of the human mind has no physical 
 side that it is so unsatisfactory. Built upon mere 
 speculation and connected with no particular part of 
 our organization, the mind has been discussed and 
 analyzed by metaphysicians as if it had already 
 broken loose from its physical environment. The 
 consequence has been, and will ever be, endless dis- 
 cussions concerning the very existence of primitive 
 powers. Could the metaphysical thinker point to 
 the seat of any one of the faculties he has analyzed, 
 its existence could no longer be disputed. The ques- 
 tion of innate and acquired powers could then be 
 solved. But not having done this, they have re- 
 sorted to such laws as the law of association, habit, 
 attention, etc., to account for all the various disposi- 
 tions of men. 
 
 What I have just said applies both to the old and 
 new school of metaphysics. The modern only dif- 
 fers from the old school in the principle by which 
 they evolve their conclusions. The old school 
 sought to arrive at an analysis of the mind by des- 
 perate efforts to evolve fundamental powers from 
 their own minds, and ignored entirely physical data ; 
 the new school simply differs in that they make 
 physical data correspond to their own internal cogi- 
 tations. Professor Bain belongs to the new school of 
 
56 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 psychologists, and his discourses on the human mind 
 consist mainly of muscular association spread out as 
 thin as molasses, by which he attempts to create 
 such primitive powers as the perception of space, 
 locality, size, etc. But laws can not create faculties — 
 they are merely the explanation of how the faculties 
 act. The laws themselves depend upon the faculties 
 behind them. They depend for their very existence 
 upon the very powers they attempt to create. The 
 laws of association, habit, etc., give much information 
 respecting the method by which the fundamental 
 powers act, but although they may discipline such 
 powers they can not create them. 
 
 The physical side of investigating the mind and 
 character offers still other advantages. When we 
 know the seat of an organ and its manifestations, we 
 can predicate each in the absence of the other. Thus, 
 for instance, when the lungs are largely developed we 
 can predicate, all other things being equal, great 
 breathing power, and so when the stomach is present 
 we may confidently assert that the powers of diges- 
 tion will be manifested. Should both these organs 
 be absent, we can declare that breathing and diges- 
 tion, according to animal processes, will not be mani- 
 fested. So the phrenologist, having ascertained the 
 physical seat of the various fundamental powers of 
 the human mind, is enabled to predicate the func- 
 tions of each. Thus, for instance, if it has been as- 
 certained that the disposition to fight or defend 
 oneself is connected with a physical organ for its 
 manifestation, then when that organ is present we 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 57 
 
 can confidently assert that the instinct of defense will 
 form an element in the character of those possessing 
 that organ. Thus Phrenology shows that in those 
 animals which are pugnacious in the assertion of their 
 rights, as, for instance, the cock, the organ of Com- 
 bativeness is largely developed ; and in those animals 
 which have no disposition to defend themselves by 
 resistance, as, for instance, sheep, the organ of Com- 
 bativeness is deficient. When a science is thus found- 
 ed upon a physical basis, it always advances out of 
 the misty regions of speculation into the clear light 
 of demonstrated facts. 
 
 THE PHYSIOGNOMICAL RELATION. 
 
 In the study of character there is still another side 
 ►to be considered, which may be called the physi- 
 ognomical side. Men and animals express their feel- 
 ings, passions, and thoughts in their faces and by 
 bodily attitudes. These expressions become so fixed 
 that the lines on the face announce what has been 
 the ruling passions of an individual's life, as surely as 
 the hands of a clock indicate the hours on the dial- 
 plate. Behold the graceful curling lines on the 
 cheeks above the mouth indicating the mirthful and 
 happy character! On the other hand, behold the 
 graceful lines are flattened and the cheeks drawn 
 down in the morose and gloomy dyspeptic. No one 
 could fail to tell by the look of a man, when he was 
 angry, sad, or kind. All the various emotions, in- 
 stincts, and passions have their language, which a 
 practical observer can read as easily as the alphabet. 
 3* 
 
58 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 The tones of the voice, the scowl, the sneer, the ges- 
 tures of the head and body, reveal much of man's 
 inner nature. A systematic study of this language of 
 the passions should be made if a science of character 
 is to be established. Where is the science of mind or 
 character which has thus surveyed man from all these 
 points of view? Not metaphysics, not psychology, 
 not the experimental school, but Phrenology, con- 
 temptuously sneered at because she has so studied 
 man. Her investigations have always been conducted 
 on the broad principles of psychology, physiology, 
 and physiognomy, and the result has been wonderful. 
 It has led to a science of mind having a physical 
 basis, and which, although not complete, has given 
 an analysis of the genetic powers which no other 
 science of the mind has accomplished. « 
 
 I have not space to give in detail the phrenologi- 
 cal analysis of mind and character, yet it seems neces- 
 sary, before proceeding further in our inquiry re- 
 specting the bearing of Phrenology upon the analysis 
 of types of character, to give a general outline of its 
 classification. 
 
 Gall and Spurzheim arranged the faculties of the 
 mind in two orders, corresponding to the feelings and 
 intellectual powers of the metaphysician, named 
 respectively the affective and intellectual faculties. 
 The feelings were divided into two genera, the pro- 
 pensities and sentiments. A propensity is an internal 
 impulse — in common language an instinct, which im- 
 pels only to certain actions. A sentiment is an in- 
 ternal impulse, with an emotion superadded — in com- 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 59 
 
 mon language, an emotional instinct. The propensi- 
 ties and sentiments have various degrees of activity, 
 from a simple elementary impulse to the most ex- 
 cited outburst of feeling, which is called passion. 
 
 The phrenologists also recognize the truth which 
 the present psychological school asserts, that even the 
 intellectual faculties are of the nature of instincts. 
 Thus, to seek the causes of phenomena, or to com- 
 pare and classify things, are the instinctive prompt- 
 ings of the intellectual faculties of Causality and 
 Comparison. It seems to us that the phrenologists 
 have here anticipated a great truth, which will in the 
 end break down the hitherto rather sharp distinction 
 made by psychologists between the intellectual and 
 the other faculties of our nature. It has been their 
 principle all along to ignore the testimony of the 
 feelings and emotions as merely instincts, and, there- 
 fore, untrustworthy ; but if the intellect is proven to 
 be also instinctive, surely, then, the feelings and 
 emotions are as trustworthy in their own sphere of 
 action as the intellect. 
 
 The intellectual faculties are subdivided into per- 
 ceptive and conceptive or reflective faculties. These 
 are the grand divisions of the phrenological exposi- 
 tion of the human mind, but each of these divisions 
 has many individual faculties under them. I will 
 now proceed to show, in a general way, the applica- 
 tion of the phrenological analysis of mind to the 
 study of character. I have said before that the meta- 
 physical analysis of mind was inadequate to establish 
 a science of character because of its one-sidedness. I 
 
60 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 shall not, therefore, give arguments to prove this 
 statement, as I have sufficiently discussed it in the 
 first part of my essay. The phrenologists, by sys- 
 tematically studying man according to the principles 
 which I have laid down in this essay, escaped the 
 vague generalities of the metaphysical school. The 
 phrenologists avoided the difficulty of separating 
 clearly the genetic from adaptive powers, or funda- 
 mental powers from their combinations, by observing 
 men of extreme development. Men of one idea, 
 specialists in various departments, were observed, and 
 the elements which made them such, clearly ascer- 
 tained. When the elementary faculties are once dis- 
 covered the way is clear. Any intelligent person can 
 combine the fundamental powers together, and esti- 
 mate accurately their effects in combination. This 
 analytic system can not lead to abuse if followed ac- 
 cording to the method laid down by the founders of 
 Phrenology. The unnecessary or too minute analysis 
 which has crept into some works of late date on 
 phrenological classification, seems to have arisen, not 
 from methods of close observation, but rather from 
 the imagination and the introspective method. 
 
 ANALYSIS THE BASIS OF PROGRESSIVE SCIENCE. 
 
 Analysis is characteristic of all sciences whose prin- 
 ciples are subject to observation and experiment. In 
 the childhood of all sciences men are satisfied with 
 mere generalities, but as science progresses these 
 generalities become more specific. Things formerly 
 included under a certain class are shown to differ 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 6 1 
 
 among themselves, so that two species may be formed 
 from that which before was held to be but one. 
 Analysis is the spirit of our age ; not content with the 
 classification of natural objects which the naked eye 
 has given, men have surveyed the field of objects 
 with the microscope, and microscopic analysis now 
 forms an important part of every science. The 
 chemist, by proceeding upon this principle, has an- 
 alyzed into simpler elements many things before re- 
 garded as elementary. Everything general has now 
 its subdivisions. The chemists can tell how various 
 elements, when compounded, may either neutralize 
 each other or increase their own qualities, or produce 
 a third thing different from the elements. So the 
 phrenologists, having pierced the veil of human 
 action, having got beyond the compounds which 
 make up human motives, and having discovered the 
 elements upon which the compounds depend, have 
 laid the basis for the science of character. 
 
 All the types of character are nothing more than 
 the effect of the combination of the genetic powers. 
 For example, a mean, grasping, sordid character like 
 the miser, may be shown to have as its principal ele- 
 ment an excessive and powerful activity of the organ 
 of Acquisitiveness unrestrained by the moral and in- 
 tellectual faculties. A science of character thus built 
 upon the fundamental or genetic powers, is able to 
 state the elements in every type of character, and to 
 arrange all types under their respective classes. This 
 is evident from the phrenological classification, which 
 revolves man's constitution into three well-defined 
 
62 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 regions — animal, moral, and intellectual, with various 
 subdivisions. It is my object to show that the true 
 basis for the study of character has not been solved 
 by the psychological or experimental schools of phi- 
 losophy, but by the phrenological, because that school 
 has endeavored, however imperfectly, to study man 
 according to the plan which we have pointed out as 
 the one capable of reaching satisfactory conclusions. 
 
 APPLICATIONS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 First, then, the phrenologists divide the region of the 
 propensities into the social and selfish groups. The 
 social group includes those propensities which prompt 
 us to love home, friends, and country. All the types 
 of character whose characteristics are those of socia- 
 bility, may be shown to depend upon one or more of 
 the propensities of the group. Thus those who love 
 their home, wife, and all the pleasures of the family 
 circle, are not only included in this class, but the very 
 power which shapes the direction of their sociability 
 can be pointed out. For example, large Philopro- 
 genitiveness will lead a mother or father to manifest 
 their sociability in the love and care of children. Or 
 Conjugal Love will make the husband and wife to 
 desire the companionship of each other more than 
 that of others. 
 
 The second division of the propensities is the 
 selfish group, whose normal function is self-preserva- 
 tion. Thus Alimentiveness in the normal state gives 
 simply a desire and relish for food, and regulates its 
 quantity, whereas in an abnormal condition it leads 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 63 
 
 to gluttony and drinking ; hence under this class may 
 be included the glutton and drunkard, prominent 
 types of character which prevail in civilized commu- 
 nities. As this division comprises such organs as 
 Destructiveness, Combativeness, etc., we can class 
 the pugilistic type under this head, also murderers, 
 soldiers, and all those types of character which have 
 traits of aggressiveness. Acquisitiveness and Secret- 
 iveness, although in their normal action are necessary 
 to economy and prudence ; in abnormal activity, 
 when unrestrained by the higher faculties, they may 
 produce a disposition to steal. Hence under this 
 division are arranged all those persons whose leading 
 traits of character are cunning, secrecy, and theft. 
 In general the criminal class are those who have the 
 propensities excessively developed, and the moral and 
 intellectual faculties comparatively weak. They can 
 be divided into types according to the fundamental 
 powers or combination of powers, which shape their 
 character. 
 
 Second. The moral sentiments are divided into 
 two groups, the selfish and religious group. The 
 selfish group comprises such faculties as Cautiousness, 
 Love of Approbation, Self-esteem, and Firmness. 
 Under this division there are many well-marked types 
 of character. The coward or poltroon, the timid and 
 irresolute, belong here. Here also belongs the egotist, 
 a prominent character. Everybody has come across 
 the man who esteems himself highly; who thinks 
 everybody is wrong but himself ; who lays down his 
 commands with authority; whose fiat must be obeyed. 
 
64 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 Much of the manifestations of egotism depends upon 
 the unbalanced activity of the organ of Self-esteem. 
 The well-known type, whose chief trait is vanity, has 
 its place here — those who glory in talking about 
 themselves, who are ever striving for the praise of 
 others. Women who are fond of dress and show, 
 and who love flattery, come under this division. A 
 normal development of love of approbation gives 
 ambition and due respect for the opinions of others, 
 but in abnormal activity leads to vanity. Under the 
 influence of the organ of Firmness, which is one of 
 this group, we have the well-defined types of char- 
 acter whose leading trait is stubbornness. Men of 
 strong convictions and iron will ; men who are not 
 easily turned aside from the path they are treading ; 
 men who can be relied upon to stick to whatever 
 cause they espouse, belong to this class. Firmness 
 in its normal activity is an essential element in all 
 truly magnanimous characters, but when unduly de- 
 veloped and not restrained by the higher faculties, 
 leads to that unloving type of character which we 
 call the mulish or ass type. All those men who are 
 dogmatic, who adhere to opinions or measures in 
 spite of reason or persuasion, belong to this class. 
 When to large Firmness is added an abnormal de- 
 velopment of the organ of Self-esteem, we have that 
 most unlovely type of character, the dogmatic egotist. 
 This type is rather prevalent among the Anglo-Saxon 
 race. Who has not had to suffer from some domi- 
 neering, tyrannical, egotistical specimen of humanity ? 
 It ought to be remembered, however, that all the 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 65 
 
 fundamental powers have their appropriate sphere of 
 action, and none of them are essentially bad, but good 
 when in normal development and activity ; it is only 
 when abnormal that they give rise to these marked 
 types. 
 
 The second division of the sentiments, viz., the 
 religious group, which comprises such faculties as 
 Conscientiousness, Hope, Marvelousness, Veneration, 
 explain all the religious types of mankind. The de- 
 vout Christian, the adoring worshiper, the religious 
 enthusiast, the troublesome ritualist and spiritualist, 
 have their place under this division. Moralists, di- 
 vines, philanthropists, and all sympathetic and ador- 
 ing types, depend upon one or more of the organs 
 found in this group. 
 
 The semi-intellectual group now demands attention. 
 This group consists of such faculties as Constructive- 
 ness, Ideality, Sublimity, Imitation, Mirthfulness, etc. 
 This class embraces the mechanician, the artist, the 
 orator, the poet, the sculptor, etc. But it must be 
 recollected that more than one organ is necessary to 
 form these types. Thus, for instance, while the 
 orator needs sublimity, ideality, imitation, and wit, 
 which are organs belonging to this division, he also 
 requires faculties which belong to the other division 
 I have described. In speaking of types of character, 
 it would be necessary to give, first, the classification 
 of mind, and then to take up each type in detail, and 
 show just exactly what are the elements which form 
 that type of character, but this would require more 
 space than is permitted me. I must, therefore, be 
 
66 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 brief, at the expense of being misunderstood. I think 
 that a better classification, derived from the phreno- 
 logical system, could be made, bearing especially upon 
 types of character, as a separate and a very import- 
 ant subject. I hope to see this point more fully de- 
 veloped by the phrenologists. It is not that the 
 elements of the hnman mind, as set forth by the 
 phrenological system, are erroneous, or that their 
 meanings shade into one another and thus produce 
 cross-division, as Bain and others have asserted, but 
 that while one classification or arrangement is philo- 
 sophically essential in the exposition of the human 
 mind, another arrangement of the elementary powers 
 is necessary when we come to apply the phrenological 
 classification to explain types of character. 
 
 The intellectual faculties also lead to marked types 
 of character. This group of faculties consists of In- 
 dividuality, Form, Size, Weight, Color, Order, Calcu- 
 lation, Tune, Time, Eventuality, Language, etc. It 
 may be shown that according to the development and 
 activity of one or more of these faculties men have a 
 tendency toward certain professions. Thus, for in- 
 stance, calculation was the ruling passion of Bidder, 
 the wonderful calculator ; a passion for colors was a 
 leading trait in the character of Benjamin West, the 
 celebrated painter. Explorers, navigators, and geog- 
 raphers have a good development of the perceptive 
 faculties, especially Locality. So Tune and Time will 
 explain the genius for music which some possess. 
 The literary class must have good endowments of the 
 intellectual faculties, especially Language. We may 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 6? 
 
 explain such types of character as the loquacious 
 talker, the prattler, the eternal gabbler, who seems 
 to have an inexhaustible supply of words, by show- 
 ing that a large development of the organ of Lan- 
 guage, pure and simple, is its basis. 
 
 The philosophic type has its basis in the reflective 
 organs, with such as Comparison and Causality 
 largely developed. 
 
 It would be a long story to show in detail how ad- 
 mirably the phrenological analysis of mind can be 
 applied to the exposition of character ; but in all that 
 has been said, it ought to be remembered that v/hen 
 we speak of one faculty as forming a type of charac- 
 ter, we do not mean that all the other faculties are 
 absent in that type, but we mean that the faculty 
 spoken of so predominates over all the others, that it 
 shapes the character and forms a special type. There 
 are also types of character which are the result, not 
 of one elementary power, but of a combination of 
 powers. 
 
 THE ORATORICAL TYPE OF CHARACTER — AN 
 ANALYSIS. 
 
 I laid down as a basis for the study of character 
 the principle that man ought to be studied as he 
 presents himself to us, and I also pointed out that 
 the best way to carry out this principle was to con- 
 sider man psychologically, physiologically, and phys- 
 iognomically. In accordance with this I have given 
 a very brief outline of the genetic powers in man, 
 which singly and in combination form the basis of 
 
68 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 types of character. But the reader, from this short 
 abstract, can form no adequate conception of the 
 fullness, practicality, and scientific accuracy of this 
 method of investigating human character. It was my 
 intention to take up prominent types of character in 
 detail and analyze them according to the basis laid 
 down, but this would require more space and time 
 than is at my disposal. I will, however, select one 
 prominent type for special treatment, and I hope it 
 may convey some notion of how well this system of 
 studying man can fulfill the necessary conditions of 
 scientific accuracy. 
 
 ORATORICAL TYPE. 
 
 I select the oratorical type for special treatment, 
 not because it is an easy type to analyze ; far other- 
 wise, for no system of mental philosophy or character- 
 reading has been able to give a clear, full, and ex- 
 haustive exposition of this type. My object in se- 
 lecting it is rather because of its importance, and be- 
 cause it embraces the three divisions laid down more 
 exhaustively than almost any other type, and though 
 difficult to analyze, yet, upon this account, affords a 
 good example of the principle of investigation laid 
 down. 
 
 What, then, are the qualities of an orator, and upon 
 what elements of the human constitution do they de- 
 pend? We have all felt the mysterious power of 
 oratory, more or less, and we would welcome with 
 joy any system of character-reading which enables us 
 to make at least an approximate estimate of what con- 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 69 
 
 stitutes true oratory. In the consideration, however, 
 of this subject, I am obliged to be brief at the sacri- 
 fice of beauty and clearness of statement. 
 
 Let us take an orator as he presents himself before 
 an audience, we forming members of that audience, 
 and endeavor to study him as he appears to us. Our 
 speaker is a popular one, an orator of a national 
 or world-wide reputation ; this is the best model for 
 study. As he steps upon the platform, the confused 
 murmur of whispering pleasantry subsides, and all 
 eyes are directed toward this one man. What a ter- 
 rible situation for a human being ; ten thousand faces, 
 all glowing with various passions, emotions, and 
 thoughts, are turned toward him. Innumerable eyes 
 are flashing a steady magnetic flame into his eyes. It 
 is no wonder that the orator seems to tremble ; his 
 first sentences are husky, inarticulate, and tremulous. 
 A strange, excitable dread takes possession of his 
 whole being, and his body shrinks back, as if wishing 
 to escape from this vast army of men and women. 
 What shall he do? Retire in disgrace, or attempt 
 and fail ? How can he, a man possessing the same 
 number of faculties, intellectual, emotional, and 
 animjal, as each individual before him, ever address a 
 great assembly of men and women, all burning with 
 passions, some the very opposite to those which he 
 wishes to kindle ? It is a dreadful position for any 
 mortal. Very few have been successful. You can 
 count great men in poetry, philosophy, science, and 
 other departments, and fill a book with them, but 
 great popular orators can be told off on your ten 
 
yo HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 fingers. To face an audience of men and women, 
 and sway them by the power of eloquent speech for 
 an hour or two, is a triumph far greater than the con- 
 quest of a kingdom. 
 
 The few who have accomplished this glorious vic- 
 tory are found scattered on the pages of history, and 
 it would be an easy task for the memory to enumer- 
 ate them. But let us see, our orator is one of the 
 successful ones. He passes the Rubicon. That ex- 
 citability which almost overpowered his intellect now 
 becomes the electric fire by which he will send his 
 message into the palpitating hearts of the multitude 
 of men and women before him. Those eyes and 
 faces which seemed at first so dreadful, so threatening 
 in their aspect, will become the source of his greatest 
 power. As each gleam of pathos, sublimity, wit, and 
 burning logic, lights up his eyes, plays on his coun- 
 tenance, and radiates from every atom of his body, so 
 does a responsive flame glow on the faces of the men 
 and women before him. Thus sympathy is awakened, 
 a bond of communication is established, and that 
 which the orator at first feared has become the 
 momentum power of his success. 
 
 As we listen to him, we feel indescribable thrills 
 run through and through our frames. Sometimes 
 they pass along the heart like an icy hand, sometimes 
 they awaken to fury irresistible, and the cry is, 
 " Grasp the shield, draw the sword "; " Let us fight 
 for the principles which the speaker advocates " ; 
 " Let us march against Philip ! " Then, again, we 
 are entranced, charmed, and held spell-bound by some 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 71 
 
 beautiful, mysterious, or wonderful illustration or de- 
 scription. Perhaps wit plays with all the irresistible 
 charm of humor, mirth, and drollery ; and laughter 
 and applause follow each other in rapid succession. 
 And the more we respond to these emotions, stimu- 
 lated by the orator, the more powerful and higher his 
 flights of eloquence become. 
 
 Now, the question for us to solve is, upon what 
 does all this depend ? There is evidently a current 
 of sympathy between the audience and the speaker. 
 What is the law of this current, and the conditions 
 of its manifestation ? It depends upon the three 
 conditions which I have mentioned as an introduc- 
 tion to this subject. They are, psychological, physio- 
 logical, and physiognomical. 
 
 THE PSYCHOLOGICAL. 
 
 This embraces all the qualities of mind necessary 
 to an orator. In the old scheme of metaphysical 
 analysis we would probably find the essentials of 
 oratory enumerated as a gift of the imagination, a 
 copious supply of words acquired by habits of study, 
 the capacity to arrange in an orderly way the various 
 heads of a speech. Their analysis would consist, at 
 any rate, of the enumeration of some general powers ; 
 but few specific elements would be mentioned, and 
 no attempt would be made to connect them with 
 brain or body. In our analysis, we shall attempt to 
 specify the psychological conditions necessary to ora- 
 tory. There are individual differences in orators, but 
 there are general principles which are common to all. 
 
j 2 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 First, a bond of sympathy must be established be- 
 tween the speaker and the listener in order that the 
 orator may accomplish his purpose, which is the chief 
 end of oratory. 
 
 • Second, special endowment ; there is a genius for 
 oratory as there is for poetry, philosophy, and science. 
 The law of sympathy with respect to this principle 
 is relative ; its activity depends upon the constitu- 
 tional endowment of the speaker and the listener. 
 If the orator and his audience have a number of 
 faculties in common, there will be a psychological 
 current of sympathy set in motion whenever these 
 elements are awakened in the speaker and the listener. 
 Now, this current will be more powerful and over- 
 whelming in its sweep, the more numerous the con- 
 stitutional elements aroused, and according to the 
 depth and brilliancy of the ideas and phraseology 
 which appeal to them. This is why one kind of ora- 
 tory has a powerful effect upon some, and , another 
 kind has an equal effect upon others. The national 
 or popular orator has the power to awaken the 
 greatest number of constitutional elements, which are 
 possessed in common, or to intensify a few of the 
 more energetic and elevated with frenzied passion. 
 Orators who could sway all classes of people have 
 been few. The great popular orators, like Demos- 
 thenes and Cicero in ancient, and Chatham, White- 
 field, and Chalmers in modern times, are not numer- 
 ous. The reason is partly psychological and partly 
 circumstantial. There must be genius, and there must 
 be opportunity. All great orators have appeared in 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 73 
 
 great crises of the world's history ; there must be an 
 outlet for brilliant oratorical bursts commensurate 
 with their power and splendor. 
 
 The psychological gifts are these : The highest 
 
 Daniel Webster. 
 
 success in oratory depends upon rare constitutional 
 endowments ; large mental powers in the highest 
 state of activity ; a vigorous endowment of the emo- 
 tional nature ; a poetic imagination, and a command 
 of choice phraseology. Large mental powers depend 
 4 
 
74 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 upon the size, quality, texture, and health of the brain. 
 All the organs must not only be large, but they must 
 be in a passional state of activity. No metaphysical 
 coolness, no abstract logic, no dry formulas, and com- 
 monplace phraseology can thrill an audience. Meta- 
 physical reasoning must become concrete, logic must 
 shine in the volcanic flames of the emotions, and 
 words must be instinct with life and power. 
 
 There are two ways of gaining truth through meta- 
 physical and intricate logical processes or by poetic 
 and imaginative intuition. Great philosophers like 
 Kant and Aristotle reached truth by the former; 
 eminent poets like Shakespeare and Milton, by the 
 latter process. Truth is just as true discovered by 
 Shakespeare as by Kant. But truth in the hands of 
 Shakespeare is more persuasive, because dipped in 
 the fountains whence well up the life-springs of 
 action, the fountains of emotion and imagination. 
 The orator should present truth more after the man- 
 ner of the poet than the metaphysician. 
 
 We have said that the orator should, if possible, 
 possess all the faculties in the human constitution in 
 a high state of power. It is right here that oratory 
 divides off into branches ; here is where the streams 
 separate, and different styles of oratory become mani- 
 fest. Some orators possess a few faculties in a state 
 of great power and activity, as compared with other 
 elements in their make-up, and this leads to a pecul- 
 iar style of oratory. For example, an orator may be 
 all emotional ; the whole of his discourse may be 
 addressed to the feelings, pure and simple ; he will 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 75 
 
 wield great power over those who have a similar en- 
 dowment ; and in a great metropolis will draw around 
 him a large audience, but he can never be a national 
 orator ; he never can be like Chalmers, Demosthenes, 
 or Lord Chatham. This emotional class of orators 
 may divide again into as many branches as there are 
 
 Demosthenes. 
 
 different elementary powers manifesting themselves 
 in their oratory. Thus, for example, an orator under 
 the influence of the organ of Benevolence will have a 
 sympathetic style of delivery. His illustrations will 
 be tinged more or less with pathos. If we add wit, 
 sublimity, and ideality, then we shall have an orator 
 like John B. Gough, who thrills his audience with 
 
76 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, ■ 
 
 stories of pathos, humor, and heroism. Add to these 
 other powers, and you make an approach to the model 
 orator. The mere effusions, expletives, and exclama- 
 tions such as are sometimes heard among itinerant 
 preachers, ought not to be dignified with the name 
 of oratory. They are not bursts of genuine passion ; 
 they are mere sentimentality, the product, not of a 
 highly emotional nature, but of a low state of devel- 
 opment of the feelings. The endeavor of all such is 
 to stimulate feeling which is only skin deep in their 
 nature ; hence they express themselves in howls and 
 exclamations. This kind of oratory has been called 
 the oratory of the feelings, but it is no such thing. 
 It is rather a superficial show of the genuine article. 
 Feelings which are deep and powerfully active, are 
 passionate, not sentimental ; they express themselves 
 in real pictures, rather than empty expletives. Wrap- 
 ped around the gleaming trellis-work of the imagi- 
 nation, they glow with all the luxuriance of reality. 
 
 It would be a long task to enumerate all the styles 
 of oratory. It is sufficient to remember that psycho- 
 logical difference leads to variety of style. While we 
 assert that every faculty of the human constitution 
 can be skillfully employed in oratory, there are some 
 faculties without which no one can be a great orator. 
 There must be the gift of speech, the organ of Lan- 
 guage, as the phrenologists call it. Men have indeed 
 influenced an audience who were not fluent in speech; 
 but we do not call that eloquence. Their power was 
 not in their oratory, but probably in the truth or 
 efficacy of their statement, or in the importance of 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 77 
 
 the cause for which they spoke. Genuine oratory 
 demands a skillful use of choice words, harmonious 
 in sound and radiant with feeling. Strong, pointed 
 phraseology, interspersed with stately periods, is a 
 powerful auxiliary in arousing men to action. All 
 
 Chrysostom. 
 
 the popular orators have possessed this power. Their 
 diction is marvelous for sweetness, music, and grand- 
 eur. A good endowment of language, then, is essen- 
 tial to an orator. 
 
 Imagination and originality of conception are the 
 next psychological requisites. The metaphysical 
 school simply mentions Imagination in their analysis 
 
78 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 as a general power ; it is therefore of value only so 
 far as it is a convenient term easy of use ; but if we 
 take the best classification of the mind which has as 
 yet appeared, that of Phrenology, we will have a 
 more satisfactory and practical definition of Imagina- 
 tion. Imagination, pure and simple, is the ability to 
 call up an image or representation of object, idea, or 
 event. It is that faculty which makes old truths live 
 over again, which develops and clothes with living 
 beauty the dry bones of intellectual conceptions. But 
 imagination is not one and indivisible ; it is not a 
 primitive faculty, it is a general conception like mem- 
 ory, emotion, etc. Imagination, in a general sense, 
 is a property of every faculty in the human mind. 
 Benevolence, for instance, in a state of activity can 
 conceive of suffering so as to inspire the intellect to - 
 supply materials for a pathetic story. So Veneration, 
 Hope, Spirituality, Amativeness, all have their imagi- 
 native side, and according to the development and 
 passional activity of these organs will be the intensity 
 of the imaginative picture which they present. Such 
 is imagination in general ; but the higher functions . 
 of imagination — the sublime and beautiful — depend 
 upon the passional activity of sublimity and ideality. 
 Ideality gives that exquisite feeling of harmony and 
 proportion ; it detects and rejoices in the beautiful. 
 An indescribable thrill of pleasure seems to radiate 
 from all artistic works of perfection. Ideality is, 
 therefore, an element in perfection of diction and 
 beauty of ideas. But the most important organ in 
 high and elevated oratory is Sublimity. All popular 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 79 
 
 orators have possessed it well-developed. It seems 
 almost absolutely necessary to popular oratory. When 
 we conceive of the magnitude of the occasion when 
 an orator must address thousands of men and women ; 
 when anything commonplace would be unsuitable for 
 
 Cicero. 
 
 such a vast assembly ; when, if the speaker wishes to 
 preserve his own identity, his power over so vast and 
 threatening a multitude, his language, his phraseology, 
 his ideas must be correspondingly magnificent. Sub- 
 limity clothes all with power. Images and illustra- 
 tions subjected to its influence burn with volcanic 
 intensity. It has power to lift up and sway an audi- 
 ence as no other sentiment or intellectual faculty can. 
 
80 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 Besides imparting grandeur and magnitude to all the 
 emotional nature, it draws the intellectual concep- 
 tions within its furnace and imparts to them a giant 
 strength. Hence there have been orators who, in 
 the utterance of what would have been otherwise 
 cool intellectual statements, have seemed to swell 
 with irresistible power. This was because the con- 
 ceptions were so heightened in magnitude and power 
 by sublimity that they lost for the present their com- 
 monplace intellectuality. 
 
 If we wish to prove this, we have but to take up 
 the speeches of Demosthenes and Chatham, and the 
 sermons of the great Scottish preacher — Thomas 
 Chalmers. Reason in Demosthenes is not common- 
 place ; the strong elements are seized upon and sub- 
 limity exaggerates their proportions. It is the faculty 
 which delights in strong contrasts. The Psalms of 
 David and the book of Job, and prophets Isaiah, Eze- 
 kiel, and the book of Revelation are examples. It 
 abounds in Shakespeare, Homer, and Milton. It 
 forms one-third of prose, two-thirds of poetry, and 
 four-fifths of genuine oratory. I have no space for 
 illustration, but here is a comparison which has rooted 
 and blossomed in the fertile soil of sublimity. The 
 orator is speaking of the corruptions of the Roman 
 Empire, and is seeking for a comparison by which to 
 represent the death of her national life, the effect of 
 those corruptions. He compares the utter desolation 
 of Roman nationality to an extinct volcano. 
 
 " My friends, have you ever stood above the crater 
 of a volcano when she has spouted forth her burning 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. Si 
 
 lava and gazed far down into her hissing womb, void 
 of all save murky darkness ? Such was Rome — one 
 vast volcano drained of all her fire and life ; the lurid 
 light of her dying ashes served only to reveal the vile 
 filth spread in heaps around ; she grows detested in 
 
 the sight of nations ; her doom is drawing nigh ; the 
 cold hand of death is on her." 
 
 Now, an equivalent statement of this by the intel- 
 lectual faculties would be a tame affair. It would be 
 
82 BOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 simply that Rome, because of her corruptions of mor- 
 als and general political disorganization, lost her na- 
 tional spirit and so fell a prey to her enemies. But 
 how faint the impression made upon an audience by 
 the latter expression. 
 
 I have said that sublimity was one of the most use- 
 ful faculties in oratory, inasmuch as it made even 
 logic and metaphysics live in a dazzling atmosphere. 
 Chalmers* astronomical sermons are illustrative of this. 
 Probably no other orator ever submitted such deep 
 intellectual thought to a mixed audience as Thomas 
 Chalmers. Yet he was listened to with rapt attention 
 because of the enthusiasm of his delivery and the 
 magnitude of his expressions. In his portrait the 
 organs of Sublimity and Ideality are both large. 
 These organs, Ideality and Sublimity, prompt the 
 intellect to express ideas concretely, not abstractly. 
 This is a high element in oratory. There never has 
 been a great orator, and probably there never can be 
 one, who does not manifest this quality. All the 
 great preachers have the faculty of picture-painting 
 of ideas more or less. The tameness of the ordinary 
 preacher is the result in part of a lack of this quality 
 of the imagination. They gather a few common- 
 place thoughts and string them together by means 
 of stale phraseology. The whole may have the ap- 
 pearance of condensed thought, but it is old thought 
 in an old garb. Sunday after Sunday people are 
 bored with this stuff, and there is no relief. The 
 clergyman they had before preached in the same 
 way, and should they get a new clergyman he would 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 83 
 
 probably do the same thing ; so there is no escape 
 except to cut prayers as often as possible. 
 
 The absence of imagination and originality in a 
 minister is almost fatal to his success as a preacher, 
 because the substantial facts of Christianity are old, 
 and church-people have heard them over and over 
 
 mirabeaU 
 
 again. What is wanted in such circumstances is to 
 produce truth in a new way, in new phraseology, with 
 new illustrations, and new turns of thought, make it 
 glow with the light of the imagination. 
 
 I will just quote one extract from the greatest ora- 
 tor since Demosthenes — Lord Chatham, as an illus- 
 tration of the difference between commonplace state- 
 ment and that produced by the imagination : " The 
 poorest man may, in his cottage, bid defiance to all 
 
84 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 the forces of the crown. It may be frail — its roof 
 may shake — the wind may blow through it — the 
 storm may enter — the rain "may enter — but the king 
 of England can not enter! — all his forces dare not 
 cross the threshold of the ruined tenement." 
 
 The common intellectual statement would be sim- 
 ply that the king of England has no power to enter 
 a peasant's cottage without that peasant's permis- 
 sion. The latter some would regard as strong be- 
 cause more brief, and the speaker would get credit 
 for condensation ; but is it not a poor, insipid state- 
 ment, compared with the pathos and sublimity of 
 that of England's greatest orator? 
 
 The other qualification, originality, is partly a prod- 
 uct of the emotional nature and partly an intellectual 
 endowment. The capacity to grasp truth in an orig- 
 inal way, to clothe it with new phraseology and turns 
 of thought, is an indication of true genius. A speaker 
 may be influential who collects and gathers facts and 
 presents them before an audience as matters of in- 
 formation without original reflection, but he never 
 can wield the destinies of nations, or systems of 
 truth, or the fate of great movements. It is great 
 orators like O'Connell, Chatham, Fox, Mirabeau, and 
 Luther, who can shake thrones, demolish old abuses, 
 and build up on their ruins a new and more noble 
 edifice, burning with the original fire of their own age. 
 I have said that the power of originality was partly a 
 quality of intellect and partly a product of the emo- 
 tional nature. The intellectual faculty most concerned 
 is Comparison, whose function is to detect similarities 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 85 
 
 in ideas and things. Old truths become new by plac- 
 ing them in new relations, or by discovering their 
 similarity to other truths. In doing this there is a 
 process of comparison going on, an object is pre- 
 sented by the observation, and the faculty of Com- 
 parison detects a likeness or common resemblance 
 
 between that object and some other object or idea. 
 This flash of identification is an element in original- 
 ity. All great inventors and scientific investigators 
 have made their discoveries in this way. It was by 
 a stroke of the identifying faculty that Newton saw 
 the law of gravitation in the falling apple, and that 
 Watt beheld the steam engine in the white coils of 
 the vapor issuing from the mouth of the kettle. 
 
86 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 Comparison extends through every department of 
 knowledge — in botany, chemistry, philosophy, and 
 poetry. In oratory it is almost indispensable. The 
 Saviour of mankind — the greatest orator the world 
 has ever seen — seldom spoke without a comparison. 
 "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard 
 seed." " It is easier for a camel to enter the eye of a 
 needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of 
 heaven." The prodigal son, the man traveling into 
 a far country, the foolish virgins and their oilless 
 lamps, and many other fetches of similarity testify to 
 the usefulness of comparison in oratory. If we ex- 
 amine the great sermons of distinguished preachers, 
 we will find them full of metaphors, similes, and 
 fetches of the identifying faculty. Take, for in- 
 stance, Rev. Phillips Brooks, the great Boston 
 preacher, and you will find examples of this power. 
 His famous sermon, "The Candle of the Lord," is a 
 stretch of the identifying faculty from beginning to 
 end. Man under the image of a candle is presented 
 in all his relations to God. The power of similarity 
 may express itself in simple illustrations and com- 
 parisons, or it may, by the aid of the other faculties, 
 especially Sublimity and Ideality, carry out a grand 
 image under which truth gleams in all its relation- 
 ships. Brooks' sermon just spoken of is an example 
 of this kind. The image of a candle runs through 
 the whole discourse, supported by beauty and grand- 
 eur of statement. It is one of those rare sermons 
 which will rank its author among the greatest of 
 orators. 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 87 
 
 I can not help remarking in passing that Phillips 
 Brooks is a good illustration of all I have been incul- 
 cating under this subject, and, as he is within the 
 reach of investigation, it may be well to mention 
 some of his characteristics as an orator. He has a 
 large head and strong physical development, but of 
 that I will speak under the division of the physiolog- 
 ical side of man. The most perceptible qualities in his 
 oratory are fervor, grandeur, and vivacity. His fer- 
 vor springs from his active brain and emotional tem- 
 perament. The grandeur, dignity, and overwhelming 
 impressiveness of his thoughts arise from the condi- 
 tion we spoke of before; they have budded and fruit- 
 blown in the rich soil of sublimity. His vivacity 
 springs from the intense excitability of his whole con- 
 stitution ; every faculty is not only active, but alive 
 with passion. He does not merely think truth, he 
 feels it. This is because he has all the psychological 
 registers enumerated in this essay. He has also 
 well - developed physiological and physiognomical 
 characteristics, but of these we will speak hereafter. 
 
 PHYSIOLOGICAL SIDE. 
 
 We come now to examine our model orator from 
 the physiological side. First, then, there is a temper- 
 ament of body more favorable to oratory than any 
 other. The vital-mental temperament is the best. 
 I do not maintain that all orators have had this tem- 
 perament — there are abundant examples of the men- 
 tal-motive, motive-mental, and vital-motive. But 
 the highest flights of oratory are compatible with the 
 
88 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 vital-mental temperament. There should be an equal 
 balance of the temperaments ; no one should be ex- 
 tremely weak ; but if any predominate, it should be 
 the vital. The enormous strain of excitability, the 
 intense mental effort, the dread of failure, the almost 
 superhuman courage necessary to face a sea of faces, 
 the tremendous vocal exertions, all eat and drink up 
 the vital fluids of life. 
 
 The vital constitution is naturally excitable ; it is 
 the genuine emotional nature ; it can bear heavy 
 strains of passion-feeling, because passion is its food, 
 and emotion its pastime. The vital temperament is 
 characterized by great lung power and good diges- 
 tion. There is an abundance of good hard flesh, and 
 the blood is full, vigorous, and active. The great 
 breathing power which comes from the large develop- 
 ment of the organs of respiration and inspiration is 
 highly essential to vocal delivery. The vital temper- 
 ament is vivacious; every member of the body is 
 active, every movement of the hands, eyes, and face 
 is expressive. It is, in short, the Elocution temper- 
 ament. Since all the vital fluids are vigorous and 
 highly charged with the elixir of life, there is a con- 
 stant stream of magnetism passing from this temper- 
 ament through the voice, eye, and gesticulations. 
 This temperament, therefore, gives an orator a mys- 
 terious power over his audience. What is called 
 magnetism is merely a current of sympathetic feel- 
 ing developed between the speaker and the audience. 
 The orator who can awaken emotion in himself can 
 awaken similar emotion in the listener, if the means 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 89 
 
 of communication are good ; and these are generally 
 of a high nature in the vital temperament. It is the 
 nature of good oratory to glow with feeling at all 
 times, and the vital temperament is most susceptible 
 to influences, external and internal, which produce 
 feeling. The personal appearance of an orator of 
 this kind of temperament is attractive and command- 
 ing. An audience is powerfully impressed by a well- 
 developed physical form. The vital temperament 
 has, as one of its great elements, the function of re- 
 productivity ; to supply material for brain, muscle, 
 flesh, and nerve, is its great office. There is, there- 
 fore, a fullness and repletion of all the elements of 
 the body and brain in this temperament. This is of 
 the greatest importance to the orator, not only in 
 supporting the enormous strain of nerve and muscle 
 to which he is subjected, but it gives that equipoise 
 of body, that feeling of ease and repose to gesticula- 
 tion and voice delivery which is called " reserve 
 power." 
 
 An orator with this temperament performs all the 
 functions of speaking with ease and deliberation. If 
 we pass in review the great orators of ancient and 
 modern times, we will find that the vital-mental tem- 
 perament prevails in nearly all. Bossuet, Chalmers, 
 Whitefield, Chatham, Fox, Webster, and Henry Ward 
 Beecher are prominent examples. 
 
 It is also the constitution of great actors, because 
 the vocal powers are generally well developed in this 
 temperament. 
 
9° 
 
 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 THE VOCAL POWERS. 
 
 The capacity to deliver well a speech or discourse 
 depends upon the vocal organs. In an essay like this 
 I can not go into physiological details respecting the 
 vocal organs. But I may state in passing that vocal- 
 ity depends upon the muscles of the abdomen, the 
 capacity of the chest, the resonant power of the 
 larynx, pharynx, and mouth. According to the size 
 of these organs, all other things being equal, depends 
 the power of elocution. Each of these organs has 
 its appropriate function in voice formation. No 
 system of elocution can be successful if the function 
 of each has not been carefully distinguished. It is 
 the predominating power of one or more of the 
 organs of voice over others which makes the differ- 
 ence in delivery. A large larynx, for instance, will 
 give that deep, bell-like tone which is a characteristic 
 of some speakers. Elocution teachers should not 
 attempt to destroy this tone in their pupils, if it is 
 natural, and they should not force it upon others if 
 not natural to them ; it is because this principle is 
 overlooked by elocutionists that artificiality is often- 
 times the result of elocutionary training. The train- 
 ing of the voice is of the utmost importance in speak- 
 ing. The great national orators have had good vocal 
 powers. Even if a speaker is endowed with a good 
 voice it is necessary that he should keep it flexible 
 and sympathetic by elocutionary training. Many of 
 the great orators have had naturally good voices, but 
 they were diligent in training them. This training, 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 91 
 
 however, should be conducted on scientific principles. 
 There is method in everything. The various systems 
 of elocution which have as yet appeared are defective 
 in at least one principle, and that principle is a very 
 vital one. Complete success can not dawn upon elo- 
 cutionary training until this principle is complied 
 with. Training of the voice is all very well, but after 
 the voice is trained the element of expression should 
 be studied. Now, all systems of elocution so far, fall 
 short of a complete, satisfactory, and philosophical 
 exposition of the principle of expression, because 
 they have not studied man's constitution. True, ac- 
 curate, and perfect expression depends upon how far 
 the elements of that expression represent the facul- 
 ties of the human constitution. In other words, a 
 philosophical analysis of the human constitution 
 should be at the basis of elocutionary training. This 
 principle, when complied with, is productive of the 
 highest results, as I could illustrate from my own ex- 
 perience. When we know, for instance, the natural 
 language either of voice, gesture, or any one of the 
 mental powers of the human constitution, we have a 
 double method of procedure by which we can train 
 that power to express itself in oratory. We can stir 
 up the internal feeling appropriate to that power by 
 bringing before it images, words, or actions which ap- 
 peal to that emotion, or we can simply assume the 
 language of the emotion without arousing the inter- 
 nal feeling. 
 
 There are present in all good delivery two charac- 
 teristics : symbol and spirit, shell and soul, sign and 
 
q 2 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 the thing signified. The most important of these is 
 the spirit or soul. The undercurrent of all impressive 
 oratory is the soul' or spirit. Now, this is precisely 
 what elocutionists nearly always neglect ; they are so 
 eager to teach the sign or symbol of a feeling that 
 they do not take means to arouse the feeling itself. 
 The soul or spirit of delivery can not be thoroughly 
 trained without a knowledge of the human constitu- 
 tion. To know the powers intellectual and emotional 
 of one constitution and their various states of activ- 
 ity from a low to a high degree of passion is of the 
 utmost importance in the cultivation of those powers 
 for the purpose of oratory. Elocutionists are wont 
 to bring forward as proof of the efficacy of elocution- 
 ary training the practice of great orators; but the 
 method of these orators has not been the same as 
 those promulgated by modern systems of elocution. 
 Their practice was more psychological. They took 
 selections of orations or poems the sentiment of 
 which was capable of kindling their emotions ; and 
 stirred by the internal feeling thus awakened, they 
 delivered themselves. Hence their delivery was nat- 
 ural, not artificial. They did not assume gestures, 
 tones of voice, but they strove to kindle the internal 
 feeling which would prompt the right gestures and 
 vocal intonation expressive of that feeling. We do 
 not disparage elocutionary training, but we do think 
 that a more natural method could be devised capable 
 of arriving at more satisfactory results. The basis of 
 this method should be an analysis of the human con- 
 stitution. A thorough exposition of all the emo- 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 93 
 
 tions, passions, sentiments, and propensities should 
 be made, and the gestures and tones of each clearly 
 pointed out. The endeavor should be not merely to 
 assume the language of the emotion, but to awaken 
 the emotion itself. The basis of all good elocution 
 is a real reproduction of nature. Bellowing and 
 howling, dignified by the name of oratory, have, I 
 hope, disappeared. The natural language of emo- 
 tions and propensities when carefully studied will 
 give the key to a graceful delivery. 
 
 We will not delay on this subject any longer ; but 
 there is one remark which we wish to make in pass- 
 ing. The vocal organs differ in size and quality in 
 the different temperaments. The practice, therefore, 
 of elocutionists in training every pupil exactly alike 
 is a practice unphilosophical and ruinous to good de- 
 livery. Many a young man's delivery has been com- 
 pletely spoiled by being drilled in a way which was 
 suitable only for some other temperament. The form 
 and size of the vocal organs should also guide the 
 training. While it is wise to preserve individual char- 
 acteristics of voice, yet a harmonious cultivation of 
 all the vocal organs should be the aim of Elocution. 
 
 We have seen, then, that the vocal organs are a 
 great desideratum in the physiological endowment of 
 the orator. A systematic study of the vocal organs 
 should be made a part of the science of mind and 
 character. This department I hope to see more fully 
 developed by phrenologists. The vocal organs are so 
 important in oratory, music, elocution, and acting, 
 that a delineation of the character by artists in their 
 
q 4 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 profession can not be complete and perfect without 
 a knowledge of these organs. The success of a musi- 
 cian or orator depends as much upon his vocal as upon 
 his psychological endowments. Besides, the various 
 tones and inflections of voice are indicative of char- 
 acter, and ought, therefore, to be systematically 
 studied. 
 
 It is easy to prove how necessary vocal power has 
 been to the orator. The most distinguished orators 
 on record have had good voices. The marvelous in- 
 tonations of Demosthenes and Cicero still linger 
 among the hills of Greece and Rome. Whitefield's 
 wonderful voice representation, with its almost super- 
 human power, flexibility, and intensity, is still in the 
 memory of man. St. Chrysostom is yet remembered 
 as John of the golden mouth, and Nestor as the clear- 
 toned orator of the Pylians. 
 
 THE PHYSIOGNOMICAL SIDE. 
 
 This will not detain us long. Physiognomy is the 
 judging of things by their appearance. The Creator, 
 as He presents Himself to us, has a personate which 
 is striking. We can generally tell whether a man is 
 a great orator or not by his physiognomy. The ora- 
 torical type is marked. It is generally characterized 
 by the vital-mental temperament, or by a constitution 
 equally balanced. The face is expressive. Large 
 language fills out the eye ; facile gestures leave their 
 impressions on the countenance. The forehead is 
 generally large and wide at the upper lateral region, 
 denoting intellect, and especially the development of 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 95 
 
 the organs of Wit, Ideality, and Sublimity. The pro- 
 pensities and sentiments are generally large, which 
 give intensity and fervor to delivery. We can study 
 his character from his gestures and vocal intonations. 
 
 In this analysis of the oratorical type, I have briefly 
 sketched the prominent psychological, physiological, 
 and physiognomical indications. To sum all up in a 
 smaller compass, the oratorical type depends upon a 
 rare combination of the powers of mind and body. 
 The orator should have a large brain, active and pas- 
 sionate ; a high, excitable, or emotional nature, sup- 
 ported by a strong constitution. There should be a 
 predominance of the faculties of Language, Wit, 
 Ideality, and Sublimity. This intellect must be 
 strong and vigorous, with a predominance of the 
 organ of Comparison. He stands midway between 
 the poet and the philosopher ; he must have all the 
 poet's feeling, with the logic of the philosopher ; but 
 he differs from both in that his powers must be dis- 
 played in a moment. He has not only to feel thought 
 and emotion, but he has to propel them into his au- 
 dience. The propulsive power of an orator is the dis- 
 tinguishing feature between oratory and literature. 
 A man may write out brilliant thoughts upon paper, 
 but to deliver them is quite another affair. 
 
 Orators differ according to the degree in which they 
 possess these powers. These varieties of oratorical 
 type can be analyzed and their basis pointed out. 
 
 In support of the various principles laid down in 
 this essay, we have but to take up the history of all 
 the great orators, ancient and modern, and compare 
 
9 6 
 
 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 their history with their constitutional development. 
 The sculptured heads and shoulders of seven great 
 orators ornament the upper part of the outside walls 
 of Sanders' Theater at Harvard ; they are the heads 
 of Demosthenes, Cicero, St. Chrysostom, Bossuet, 
 Chatham, Burke, and Webster. In all of these heads 
 the faculties we have enumerated are largely de- 
 veloped ; and if the shoulders are a just representation 
 of the originals, they evidently had what we have called 
 the oratorical temperament. But if the objector to 
 this method of investigation is fearful lest these sculpt- 
 ured heads may not be exact reproductions of the 
 originals, then we will take orators in our own neigh- 
 borhood. 
 
 Phillips Brooks is, probably, the most popular 
 preacher in Boston. His whole constitutional build 
 complies with our principles. He has the oratorical 
 temperament, large brain power, with a predominance 
 of the organs of Language, Comparison, and Sub- 
 limity. In his sermons he displays a profound ana- 
 lytical skill ; he seizes upon a particular conception 
 of a text, and carries that conception throughout his 
 whole discourse. No weak, puerile descriptions dis- 
 grace his sermons ; there is profundity of thought 
 with depth of feeling. Everything glows with sub- 
 limity, even his very delivery ; it is a grand torrent 
 from beginning to end. He sometimes wearies, be- 
 cause in his delivery there is too much of the grand. 
 His voice has not the silvery clearness nor penetrating 
 quality of Wendell Phillips, nor the compass, flexi- 
 bility, volume, and expressive intonation of Henry 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. gj 
 
 Ward Beecher, but it has a depth and grandeur of 
 resonance, an intensity of enunciation, an animated 
 and expressive utterance, a natural and sympathetic 
 
 Henry Ward Beecher. 
 
 tone, and, when vitalized and charged at the cerebral 
 batteries ' of his large brain, sways an audience at 
 will with an overwhelming current of magnetism. 
 
p8 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 He has propulsive power in abundance, and his great 
 physical stature gives him complete control over his 
 audience, which makes up for his defective voice. 
 
 Let us now take another illustration of a different 
 stamp. Henry Ward Beecher, if not the greatest 
 preacher of the age, is, at least, the most popular 
 orator in America. He fully complies in every par- 
 ticular with the principles herein laid down. He has 
 almost every faculty in the human constitution largely 
 developed. Language is so large as almost to be 
 a deformity. Wit, Ideality, and Sublimity are also 
 large, and his analytical power is immense. His emo- 
 tional nature is intensely active and passionate. There 
 is original thought combined with intense feeling, not 
 surpassed by any orator. He is very large in the 
 faculty of Human Nature, reads the characters of men 
 like a book, and the activity of this faculty he has in- 
 creased by a study of Phrenology. His knowledge of 
 the human constitution is one element of his success. 
 He preaches to men because he knows just what is 
 in men. His scope of preaching is wider than any 
 preacher of our age, and perhaps in any age, with the 
 exception of St. Chrysostom. He is practical, logi- 
 cal, and doctrinal ; but the practical element is more 
 emphasized by him. Full of illustrations an J original 
 thought, he never wearies. Age has not diminished 
 his power. The streets of Brooklyn leading to Plym- 
 outh church are still crowded with people anxious 
 to obtain standing room. On account of his inde- 
 pendent thought, he differs in many points from his 
 orthodox brethren ; but the views which he enter- 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. gg 
 
 tains resemble those of the new school of German 
 theology. On account of his fertile imagination he 
 never seems to get exhausted. His sermons are al- 
 ways full of new material and new illustrations. If 
 these qualities are not connected with his large phys- 
 iological development, then with what are they con- 
 nected? His physiological and physiognomical de- 
 velopments are equally remarkable. Beecher has a 
 well-balanced constitution, with a predominance of 
 the vital-mental temperament. His stature is just a 
 little above medium height, but his whole physique 
 is firm and well knit. The quality and texture of 
 brain, nerve, and body are good. His vocal powers 
 are wonderful. He has a graceful and natural de- 
 livery, pitched on a conversational basis, but capable 
 of the grandest flight of oratory. In every respect, 
 Brooks and Beecher fulfill the requisites for oratory 
 laid down in this essay. 
 
 I think it hardly necessary to enumerate more ; 
 but, if further examples are wanting, we have but to 
 turn to England for them. There we find Spurgeon 
 and John Bright, both examples of the vital tempera- 
 ment, and both fulfilling the psychological qualities 
 mentioned. 
 
 In the treatment of types of character, I have at- 
 tempted to condense a very large subject into a small 
 compass, and the result is not as satisfactory as one 
 might wish, but it is hoped that sufficient has been 
 here stated to show that the phrenological system can 
 be employed to advantage in analyzing types of 
 character. 
 
I0 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OH, 
 
 RELATIONS OF PHRENOLOGY TO MODERN 
 PHILOSOPHY. 
 
 In the course of this essay it may not be out of place 
 to show the important relation Phrenology bears to 
 modern sciences which have directed their attention 
 to the study of man. Phrenology analyzes the ge- 
 netic powers of the human constitution, and treats of 
 their action singly and in combination. Now, it is 
 evident that if Phrenology has separated the instincts 
 and various innate tendencies in man and connected 
 them with cerebral development, it must have an im- 
 portant bearing upon the evolution theory and the 
 speculations of Darwin and Spencer. When Gall and 
 Spurzheim gave their views to the world, the doctrine 
 of the innate powers of the human constitution was 
 at its lowest ebb. Hume, Paley, Hobbes, and others 
 were the typical philosophers under whose yoke all 
 men groaned. These philosophers reduced all our 
 instincts, faculties, and everything which elevates us 
 above the level of the dust, to mere bodily feelings 
 of pleasure and pain. Notwithstanding that this 
 doctrine seems absurd at the present time, it was 
 then widely prevalent, because urged alike by skep- 
 tics and Christian believers. To face the supporters 
 of this groveling and debasing doctrine was the task 
 of Gall and Spurzheim. Unfolding a system of men- 
 tal philosophy, which not only recognized instinct as 
 a part of our mental constitution, but that all our 
 faculties were innate, and not created by any law of 
 habit or association. This doctrine did not escape 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. \ \ 
 
 the venom of skeptics and Christian philosophers, 
 who stigmatized it as a materialistic system destined 
 to overthrow all belief in philosophy and religion. 
 Its supporters were branded as heretics, charlatans, 
 and ignorant quacks, and some of them driven from 
 their native country. 
 
 Amid all opposition, however, the three faithful 
 apostles of truth, Gall, Spurzheim, and Combe, spent 
 their lives and fortunes in promulgating their prin- 
 ciples. It is curious that some of this scorn and con- 
 temptuous neglect still continue to sway the minds 
 of some even in our own day. Men carefully avoid 
 stating that they derive any light from Phrenology. 
 Yet many of the doctrines taught by the phrenologist 
 have crept into the legitimate branches of anatomy 
 and physiology, without credit being given to their 
 authors. Many points settled by the phrenologist 
 are being brought forward every day as new discov- 
 eries by the experimentalists. So valuable a collec- 
 tion of facts and truths as that embraced in the works 
 of the phrenologists could not remain hidden, but 
 found their way among the thinking public at large. 
 And when once you affect the thoughtful class who 
 constitute the readers and arbiters of philosophic 
 truth, a pressure is brought to bear upon select and 
 conservative schools of learning, and finally the phi- 
 losophers of such schools find themselves secretly 
 imbibing truths which openly they would reject with 
 scorn. 
 
 Moreover, it is a deep principle, revealed by his- 
 tory, that truth must prevail, if not in the garb or 
 
I02 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 body in which it is at first set forth, yet when culled 
 of its disagreeable association or presentation, it 
 silently makes its way where it was zealously de- 
 barred. It was even so with phrenological truth. It 
 was bitterly opposed on all sides, but somehow or 
 other men began to find themselves using its nomen- 
 clature and speaking of innate powers as part of the 
 human constitution which were entirely unknown to 
 the schools of their fathers and which would have 
 shocked conservative circles to hear mentioned as 
 worthy of philosophical consideration. If any one 
 wishes to verify this statement for himself, let him 
 take up our modern philosophers, Bain, Spencer, 
 Darwin, and see what they are willing to acknowl- 
 edge as primitive faculties, and then compare them 
 with the classification of their philosophical prede- 
 cessors, and he will be surprised to find how many 
 faculties are now thought to be a part of our consti- 
 tution which before were totally ignored. It is a fact 
 evident to all who have studied the phrenological 
 system that many of the faculties which they were 
 the first to analyze and describe have been secretly 
 appropriated by metaphysicians and scientists with- 
 out even an acknowledgment. The most honest and 
 candid of modern philosophers in this respect, how- 
 ever, is Professor Bain, of Edinburgh, a philosopher 
 whose books on the " Emotions and the Will " and 
 "The Study of Character" entitle him to a very high 
 rank among that class of philosophers who have 
 directed their energies and investigations to the solu- 
 tion of the difficult problems of the most useful of 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. i $ 
 
 all the sciences, the science of human character. But 
 it will become evident to any careful reader of Phre- 
 nology and of Bain's works that much of his reason- 
 ing and classification has been drawn from or sug- 
 gested by the fathers of Phrenology. 
 
 INFLUENCE ON MODERN THOUGHT. 
 
 The doctrine of the innate powers of mind as 
 taught by the phrenologist has great value in any 
 system of morals, hence Combe's " Moral Philosophy" 
 and "Constitution of Man" were the natural outcome 
 of his study of Phrenology, and as these books were 
 widely circulated in their day they have had an in- 
 fluence direct and indirect on our modern ethics. 
 
 Another science, the science of Ethnology, has had 
 a flood of light thrown upon it by Phrenology. Under 
 its principles this science has assumed a sure and def- 
 inite character. The characters of the various races 
 of men have been analyzed and classified. Regional 
 phrenology has been accepted as an indispensable 
 element in the study of this science, even by those 
 who object to organological phrenology. The classi- 
 fication of the characters of the people of the various 
 nations has an important bearing upon the art of 
 diplomacy, and it would be well if this department 
 were more thoroughly developed. The revival at 
 the present time of the study of innate powers by 
 Spencer and others is a movement if not due to 
 Phrenology is at least anticipated by Phrenology. 
 The views of Spencer and modern scientists, that, no 
 matter about the genesis of the faculties, we have in- 
 
104 
 
 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 stincts which are closely related to those in animals — 
 thus that the instinct which causes the squirrel to 
 hoard his food is that which in man gives the love to 
 acquire property — is nothing more than what Phre- 
 nology taught years ago. The modern scientists take 
 up some of our instincts and discuss them somewhat 
 in detail, but much of what they say can be found in 
 the works of the phrenologists. It is not my aim to 
 prove that modern scientists have not added anything 
 to the science of mind either in the way of clearer 
 definition or demonstration ; far be it from me to slur 
 in the least the earnest effort of modern philosophers 
 to solve the different problems in the science of char- 
 acter, but in the name of impartiality I do protest 
 against all egotistical efforts on the behalf of modern 
 philosophers to glide over or ignore the truths of 
 Phrenology to which they are indebted directly or 
 indirectly. 
 
 The phrenological system has still much to offer 
 modern science which can be pushed aside only to 
 the detriment and delay of the study of human nat- 
 ure. The genetic faculties of the human constitution 
 are not only analyzed and described by the phreno- 
 logical system, but they are connected with cere- 
 bral development. Suppose we deny the truth of 
 this cerebral connection, we can not shuffle aside the 
 facts they have accumulated. These facts were col- 
 lected during the lifelong labors of men of marked 
 abilities for scientific investigation, and therefore de- 
 serve our careful attention. Each instinct is sepa- 
 rately considered, minutely described, and appropri- 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 105 
 
 ately illustrated by facts gathered from the observation 
 of the habits not only of men, but also of animals. 
 The tendency of these facts is to support the prin- 
 ciple that mentality depends for its manifestation 
 upon cerebral development, that from the lowest to 
 the highest creature living there is a dependence upon 
 cerebral structure, that in the lower species the brain 
 and nervous organization are smaller in size than in 
 the higher. There is not only an advance in develop- 
 ment of the encephalon as a whole, but there is a 
 marked difference in the development of the respect- 
 ive parts themselves. Thus, for instance, phrenolo- 
 gists find that the parts of the encephalon which they 
 connect with different instincts are wanting in some 
 and present in other animals, as in the case of the 
 instinct of locality, which gives a knowledge of dis- 
 tance and direction, is large in birds which leave their 
 homes for foreign countries in seasons when food can 
 not be obtained, and is small in those birds which 
 prefer to perish at home rather than fly to distant 
 parts. So also the beaver, noted for its constructive- 
 ness, has that organ large. The squirrel is an acquis- 
 itive animal and has the organ of Acquisitiveness 
 large ; while many animals that do not construct 
 houses or lay up food for themselves are deficient in 
 these organs. The cocfi has the organ of Combative- 
 ness large and is noted for his pugnacity. 
 
 Spencer discusses at particular length the relation 
 of the inner to the outer environment. It seems to 
 me that from the basis of the phrenological system a 
 similar doctrine could be deduced. The phrenolo- 
 
 5* 
 
I06 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 gists do not express their views in terms of the rela- 
 tion of the inner to the outer environment, but they 
 have given facts with respect to the action of the 
 faculties which are well worthy of consideration at 
 the present time. They hold that all the faculties 
 they have discovered are not mere passive sensibil- 
 ities, but all tend to actions, the larger having greater 
 tendency to act than the smaller. These faculties 
 can not be called into action by the influence of the 
 will ; we can not fear, love, hate, or pity simply by 
 willing it, but internal or external causes may stimu- 
 late the nerve-centers, and whether we will or not 
 the emotions will be felt. As, for instance, how often 
 do we feel an uncontrollable trembling of the body 
 and signs of fear when placed in circumstances of 
 danger. This is because the instinct of cautiousness 
 is awakened by the circumstances of the outer envi- 
 ronment which has the appearance of danger. In this 
 and other cases we have the action of the outer phe- 
 nomena upon the inner instinct and the corresponding 
 effect, fear, which follows. There is a doctrine taught 
 in one of our prominent universities (Harvard) that 
 the signs, such as the trembling of the body in fear 
 and the billing and cooing of some animals in ex- 
 pressing love, are not simply manifestations of innate 
 powers, but are the very powers themselves. Not- 
 withstanding that this doctrine is supported by one 
 for whose learning and philosophical talents I have 
 the deepest respect, yet it seems to be extremely ab- 
 surd. It seems to me that such philosophers con- 
 found the sign of an organ with the organ itself. 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 107 
 
 NATURAL LANGUAGE OF FACULTIES. 
 
 Every instinct has its own peculiar language, and 
 the very fact that the language itself differs would 
 prove a difference of instinct or emotion behind this lan- 
 guage. The language is the effect of the excited in- 
 stinct, it is its natural expression, but the language is 
 not the instinct itself. Thus the varied language of 
 Amativeness : the billing and cooing in pigeons, the pet- 
 ting and caressing among animals, are not the amative 
 propensity, but only its natural language. The crim- 
 son blush which steals over the cheeks of a modest 
 maiden is the expression of self-consciousness or act- 
 ive love of approbation, but it is not the faculty 
 itself. The true principle is rather that the instincts 
 and their manifestations form a cycle. The excited 
 instinct manifests itself in its own peculiar language, 
 and this language by a sort of reflex action excites 
 the instinct, so that when the language is presented 
 to an instinct or emotion, that instinct or emotion 
 will be awakened and will express itself in actions of 
 the body or the voice. We have here a principle 
 which in application is of the utmost importance 
 especially in elocution and oratory, for we may arouse 
 the emotion, not by willing that the emotion should 
 be aroused, but by assuming the language of the emo- 
 tion. The best way to feel angry is to put ourselves 
 in the environment necessary to produce anger, viz. : 
 assume the gestures of face and body and the tones 
 of voice which are the language of anger ; this gives 
 the external manifestation of anger ; the internal will 
 
I08 H 0W TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 be developed by the external, and also by putting 
 oneself in mental attitudes which stimulate anger, 
 i. e.y to think over all the reasons we have for being 
 angry, the slights we have received, etc. If we wish 
 to restrain anger we withdraw ourselves from all the 
 attitudes, both external and internal, of anger, and 
 endeavor to stimulate the emotions which are of an 
 opposite nature to those of anger. Although few 
 phrenologists have treated the expression of the in- 
 stincts in this way, yet I think I am justified in draw- 
 ing such deductions from their mental classification. 
 
 Phrenology throws light also on that puzzling ques- 
 tion in psychology, how it was possible to feel anger 
 and compassion at the same time. Any one who has 
 studied himself or other people carefully, will find 
 that there often rages in our bosoms at the same 
 time two or more instinctive promptings — voices let 
 us call them ; one calls in one direction, while another 
 prompts in just the opposite direction. Shakespeare, 
 with that natural poetic instinct which has often put 
 to shame the metaphysical philosopher by its deep 
 insight into human character, illustrates this principle 
 in the case of young Gobbo, whom he represents as 
 in great perplexity whether to obey the voice of his 
 conscience and return to his master the Jew, or fol- 
 low the voice of his feelings, or, as he calls it, the 
 council of the fiend, and run away. 
 
 So we have often felt the desire to punish an of- 
 fender and have felt at the same time an instinct of 
 kindness calling on us to spare the guilty, and thus 
 there is in our constitution, in general, a conflict of 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 109 
 
 instincts which restrain each other. This doctrine 
 of the mental combat of instincts is due to Phre- 
 nology, and is in harmony with observed facts and the 
 common practice of mankind. Nor does Phrenology 
 stop here ; it settles that most important question in 
 ethics, which instincts in our nature should have the 
 supremacy ; it shows clearly that the highest develop- 
 ment of our race consists in harmonious organization, 
 and that in order that there may be harmony the 
 higher faculties should prevail. 
 
 BAIN DISCUSSED. 
 
 It was my intention to have discussed Prof. Bain 
 extensively, but I am sorry to say that space and 
 time will not allow me. In his book on the study 
 of character, he begins by stating that he will give 
 the analysis of the human character according to the 
 phrenological system. It is to be regretted that Bain 
 did not carry out his intention. While he gives the 
 organs and their location according to the phreno- 
 logical method, the facts supporting the location of 
 these organs and the nature of their functions he does 
 not give according to Phrenology, but steers out into 
 a system of self-conscious reflection upon each indi- 
 vidual organ, and attempts to show the errors in the 
 classification. Now, this would not have been objec- 
 tionable if he had not stated that he would give the 
 phrenological system. He would have dealt more 
 fairly with Phrenology if he had reserved his criti- 
 cisms and made them in connection with his own sys- 
 tem. It is not a matter of great importance to those 
 
IIO HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 who have studied the systematic works on Phrenol- 
 ogy, but it has a tendency to mislead the novice in 
 phrenological principles who is apt to believe that all 
 the evidence which phrenologists bring to prove each 
 organ is given by Bain and annihilated by him. Yet 
 I have many objections to make against Bain's criti- 
 cisms of the faculties thus presented, but have not 
 time to do so. As a systematic exposition of charac- 
 ter Bain's book is a successful production, and shows 
 how far a person of intelligence can become a phre- 
 nologist even by a system of mental introspection. 
 Bain could be taken as a fair phrenologist, though 
 he professes to steer clear of such methods of investi- 
 gation ; but to take his book as one of the best phren- 
 ological books, or as the best on the study of human 
 character, would be a great blunder. No one can 
 form a correct estimate of Phrenology by a perusal 
 of Bain. He proposes to follow the self-conscious 
 method of investigation. He admits the correctness 
 of the phrenological method, but refuses to follow it 
 because too laborious. Now, this is the secret cause 
 of the errors he falls into himself, and of the mistakes 
 he makes in attacking the phrenological classification. 
 Let no one therefore imagine for a moment that Bain 
 has taken up the gauntlet thrown down by Gall and 
 Spurzheim during their career and as defiantly thrown 
 down by all phrenologists since. No, Bain does not 
 undertake to prove Phrenology imperfect by methods 
 of induction, but by self-introspection. Those who 
 are doubtful as to the efficiency of the self-con- 
 scious method to determine the genetic powers of 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. m 
 
 mind, I refer to what I have said upon this subject 
 in the early part of this essay. I must hasten to give 
 a concise criticism of Bain. 
 
 Professor Bain having stated clearly the method he 
 intended to pursue, gives the phrenological organs in 
 order and files objections against some and acknowl- 
 edges others as correct. His main attack is on the 
 description of the functions of the organs given by 
 the phrenologists. Now, it appears to me that much 
 of the discussion arises from the difficulty the phre- 
 nologists found in getting words to define accurately 
 the functions which the observed facts indicated. 
 Such confusion occurs in every system and is not 
 confined to Phrenology. Still there is a seeming in- 
 justice on the part of Bain, because he does not ac- 
 knowledge that many of the points he treats and the 
 objections he makes, were already discussed among 
 the phrenologists themselves ; and because the argu- 
 ments which Bain uses, giving his readers to under- 
 stand that they are the products of his own mind, are 
 in many cases arguments which were brought forward 
 by the phrenologists themselves in their endeavors to 
 get a terminology to correspond with the facts ob- 
 served. 
 
 The phrenologists have avoided as much as possi- 
 ble mere strife of words ; it is the facts alone they 
 concern themselves about ; so even if Bain's criticism 
 has succeeded in anything it has not been in disprov- 
 ing the facts or principles of the science, but only 
 some errors or cross-divisions of function of the or- 
 gans. If Bain had given the phrenologists a better 
 
II2 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 terminology, he might have done something ; but 
 while he has shown much ability in endeavoring to 
 tear down the fabric erected by Phrenology, he has 
 not shown unerring skill in his reconstruction of the 
 system. 
 
 I have said that many of the objections urged 
 against the phrenological classification and organ- 
 ology by Bain may be found in the phrenological 
 works themselves. Thus, for instance, Bain has long 
 discussions to make about whether the absence of 
 one faculty would lead to the manifestation of the 
 opposite function, as, for example, if Combativeness 
 were absent would timidity or fear be the conse- 
 quence, or is it necessary to have a new organ for 
 fear under the name of Cautiousness ? Now, this 
 mode of discussion is found among the phrenologists 
 themselves, and if Bain had taken the trouble to look 
 into Gall's works he would have found that Gall had 
 the same opinion as he himself entertains. So also 
 Bain thinks that the organs of Size and Form ought 
 to be made into one and called extension or space. 
 But if he had consulted Gall and not confined his 
 reading to Combe he would have found that Gall had 
 already denominated these organs as extension or 
 space. Many other points which Bain brings up as 
 objections to be made against Phrenology are really 
 not objections against the science, but against some 
 of the metaphysical disquisitions of George Combe. 
 Indeed Bain, in many of his arguments, shows much 
 of the same acumen as is shown by almost every per- 
 son who begins the study of Phrenology, but has not 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 113 
 
 sufficient leisure to pursue it according to its methods 
 of investigation. He constantly betrays his insuffi- 
 cient knowledge of the fathers of Phrenology, and 
 oftentimes he gets involved in his own metaphysical 
 subtilty and can not disengage himself from it. Then 
 again he forgets that he had started out with the in- 
 tention of evolving Phrenology from the internal 
 depths of his own self- consciousness, and makes 
 statements and arguments which can only be drawn 
 from observation. Indeed, his system is a mixture of 
 two conflicting elements. Bred in the schools of phi- 
 losophy which recognized the introspective method 
 as the only process of investigating the mind, he 
 seems at one time about to throw off its trammels 
 and soar on the wings of induction into the region of 
 clear proof, then he suddenly flops down again and is 
 willing to accept as proved many things which the 
 general consciousness of man can not harmonize. 
 Thus while he agrees that many of the instincts and 
 propensities recognized by Phrenology are innate 
 powers in the constitution of man, self-consciousness 
 testifying to the fact, he makes exceptions to some, 
 and yet it is peculiar that many of those organs which 
 he accepts are ones less clearly demonstrated by the 
 introspective method. 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS OF BAIN'S METHOD. 
 
 For example, he is willing to recognize, nay, he is 
 absolutely positive, that Alimentiveness, which gives 
 a taste and relish for food, is a primitive faculty. It 
 is a favorite method of his, upon other occasions, to 
 
H4 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER j OR, 
 
 show that some of the phrenological faculties are 
 explainable by supposing their seat to be in the body 
 and not in the brain centers. Now, what faculty is 
 more connected with the body than Alimentiveness ? 
 Could we not account for the love of food and the 
 desire to satisfy hunger and thirst purely from bodily 
 feelings? The claims of the body for food and drink 
 are imperious. The stomach gnaws with irresistible 
 craving for something to feed upon, and the sense of 
 want may be nothing more than the desire of an 
 empty stomach. And besides, the love and relish for 
 different kinds of food may be only the result of the 
 delicate discrimination of the tongue. The existence 
 of an organ of Alimentiveness is, therefore, by the 
 self-conscious method of argumentation which Bain 
 skillfully employs upon other occasions, totally unnec- 
 essary. 
 
 There are many other organs which Bain acknowl- 
 edges which could be objected to upon the evidence 
 of self-consciousness ; but I must hasten to consider 
 some other of his statements. He displays a very 
 confused conception of the two phrenological organs of 
 Love of Approbation and Self-esteem. He thinks that 
 as presented by the phrenologists they neutralize each 
 other. He can not see that there is any great differ- 
 ence between being confident of our own powers and 
 esteeming ourselves, our personal identity and all we 
 ca 1 o .i own, as anything distinct from the instinct 
 of approbation, which desires the praise of others. 
 Now it seems to us that there is a clear and necessary 
 distinction made here by the phrenologists, which 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 "5 
 
 Bain fails to grasp. It is something very different to 
 have a selfish pride in our own abilities, and to desire 
 the approbation of others. In other words, the ego- 
 tist who is satisfied with himself and cares not a straw 
 about the opinions of others, is different from the 
 sycophant, who desires to be esteemed by others, and 
 whose character manifests itself very often in vanity 
 and in a fawning, cringing disposition. There are 
 persons who, rather than be deprived of the esteem 
 and praise of others, will surrender their own views 
 and adapt their conduct and opinions to please those 
 whose commendation they value. Cicero is a good 
 example of those whose character is influenced by 
 the love of approbation ; he was always troubled 
 about what the people, and especially what fut- 
 ure generations, would say concerning him. Much 
 could be said regarding the marked difference be- 
 tween the conceit which makes us esteem all things 
 belonging to us and the vanity which desires the 
 praise of others ; but I must glance at some other of 
 Professor Bain's exceptions to Phrenology; for in- 
 stance, his comments on Philoprogenitiveness, Com- 
 bativeness, Secretiveness, and Acquisitiveness. 
 
 PHILOPROGENITIVENESS. 4 
 
 In the treatment of this organ, Bain pursues his 
 usual method of trying to account for all the mani- 
 festations ascribed to it by Phrenology. He very 
 elaborately argues that the function of Philoprogeni- 
 tiveness, pre and simple, is so narrow in its scope that 
 the organ may be eliminated from the analysis of the 
 
1 1 6 HO W TO STUDY CHA RA C TEK ; 0A\ 
 
 human constitution. In his mind, the love of the 
 beautiful, the tender sentiment, the sentiment of 
 power, the habit of bestowing care, the scope of 
 ideality, and the self-regarding sentiments generally, 
 all concur in producing the parental emotion. 
 
 Now, let us examine for a moment the effect of all 
 these powers to produce parental love, and discover, 
 if we can, whether they account for all the feeling 
 embraced under this organ. In the first place, Bain 
 wishes us to understand that one element in parental 
 love is the parent's love of the beautiful ; that is, an 
 infant or grown child is so full of natural beauty that 
 a mother can not help loving it ; in other words, the 
 mother's attraction toward the child is because it is 
 beautiful. There are but few parents who would 
 concur in such an explanation of their love. 
 
 How often does parental love manifest itself more 
 strongly in tender and affectionate regards for their 
 most deformed and homely offspring. The cripple, 
 the ill-favored daughter, are oftentimes more loved 
 than the sound and well-formed children. The ten- 
 der sentiment might form an element in the case of 
 deformed or weakly-developed children as a motive of 
 parental love ; but why should it operate exclu- 
 sively so as to produce that pride and anxious love 
 which one has for their own offspring? Under the 
 promptings of the tender emotion, mothers ought to 
 love other children as well as their own. The tender 
 emotion, from its very nature, does not seek out any 
 one particular object on which to bestow affection. 
 It is the feeling which is an element in the love one 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 117 
 
 individual bears to another, irrespective of age or sex. 
 Why, therefore, should it give rise to exclusive love 
 for children, which is a characteristic of a true 
 mother? The sentiment designated tender emotion 
 by Bain is too general in its scope to offer any solu- 
 tion of the problem of parental love. It is one of 
 those metaphysical terms, like memory and percep- 
 tion, which embraces too much to be of any practical 
 use in an analysis of mind. What we want is not 
 general terms, but individual elements. We are seek- 
 ing the root-germs of those feelings which build up 
 the vast fabric of human thought and activity. Ten- 
 der emotion has no specific direction ; it is as much 
 an element in Amativeness, Adhesiveness, Benevo- 
 lence, and Conjugal Love as it is in Philoprogenitive- 
 ness, and therefore fails to account for parental love 
 even when taken in combination with the other 
 sources mentioned by Bain. Nor does the senti- 
 ment of power explain all that is embraced under the 
 organ of Philoprogenitiveness. To say that a mother 
 loves her children because they submit to her author- 
 ity, is an assertion which few mothers would admit ; 
 oftentimes the most disobedient and unruly are not 
 only loved, but are even enviable pets. And it is also 
 a truth, which every observer of human character has 
 witnessed, that mothers in whom parental love is 
 strong spoil their children through overweening affec- 
 tion. Besides, we have here in this endeavor of Bain 
 to account for parental love by other sources than a 
 pure and simple instinct, a combination of the most 
 conflicting sentiments, all operating as elements to 
 
1 1 8 HOW TO STUD Y CHA RA CTER ; OR, 
 
 produce a feeling of affection for one object. Where 
 has Professor Bain bestowed his metaphysical con- 
 sistency in this case ? We are asked, first of all, to 
 regard the love of children as a product of the senti- 
 ment of the beautiful ; then comes in tender emo- 
 tion, and then that most antagonistic sentiment — the 
 love of authority; and all these are to concur in pro- 
 ducing parental love. When we reflect that each of 
 these sources, singly and in combination, may all be 
 directed alike to love any person, how can we say that 
 they account for that strong feeling in a true moth- 
 er's breast which history and observation show burns 
 with an undying brilliancy, which has made many a 
 woman lay down her own life for her offspring? 
 
 If we leave metaphysical speculation for a moment 
 and apply a little common-sense observation, we shall 
 find the organ for the love of offspring fully estab- 
 lished ; but Bain objects to the employment of ob- 
 servation. He puts aside the evidence supplied by 
 Dr. Gall and says that the old method employed by 
 metaphysicians is the best way to solve the problem. 
 This method consisted of a series of questions ad- 
 dressed to the consciousness or experience of moth- 
 ers. Now, upon what authority does Bain declare 
 this to be exclusively the metaphysical method, and 
 not recognized by phrenologists? In addition to ob- 
 servations made upon the cranium of persons noted 
 for peculiar talents, Drs. Gall, Spurzheim, and Combe 
 not only interrogated these persons individually as to 
 their characteristics, but also instituted inquiries among 
 their friends and neighbors concerning the traits 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 II 9 
 
 of character of the persons examined. Now surely 
 this method, if not the same as that employed by the 
 old school, was a great deal more scientific, inasmuch 
 as its field of operation was wider and the opportu- 
 nity to make and verify such interrogations exceed- 
 ingly good. Here Bain evidently has made a vigor- 
 ous attempt to destroy the organ of Philoprogenitive- 
 ness by the self-introspective method, but without 
 success ; and, finding that metaphysical subtility can 
 only offer a few suggestions which might account for 
 parental love, he begins to feel the necessity for some 
 surer ground, some more definite proof, a feeling 
 which many an astute philosopher has felt before 
 him ; but unfortunately Bain seeks that proof in a 
 return to the old school of metaphysics, and declaims 
 against Dr. Gall's method. 
 
 If it were not for anticipating matter which I will 
 treat of hereafter, I would show how inconsistent 
 Bain is in making this statement when contrasted 
 with certain admissions or concessions made to Phre- 
 nology in other parts of his book. It is evident 
 that at this stage of the discussion Bain does not 
 grasp the full value of Gall's method of investigation. 
 He does not clearly see that the highest proof we can 
 have for anything is positive and negative proof. It 
 is strange that one so fond of mathematics as Profes- 
 sor Bain can not comprehend how valuable the signs 
 plus and minus are. What more convincing proof 
 can be found than positive and negative evidence? 
 Since the days of Gall his method of proof has become 
 in experimental philosophy the predominant and al- 
 
120 BOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 most' the sole one, with this difference only: whereas 
 Gall took his subjects for examination as nature sup- 
 plied them, the experimental school produces artificial 
 subjects ; but the evidence is the same in both cases, 
 positive and negative. For explanation of this proof 
 and an estimate of its value, I must refer the reader 
 to an earlier part of this essay. If we have failed to 
 arrive at a knowledge of an organ for parental love 
 by self-introspection, there is nothing left for us but 
 to fall back upon Dr. Gall's method. 
 
 By a series of observations instituted upon men 
 and women noted for their love of children and those 
 not remarkable for such love, Gall has laid before the 
 scientific world facts which strongly prove that the 
 love of children is an innate power in the human 
 constitution. 
 
 The experience of all phrenologists since Gall points 
 to the same conclusion. It has been my lot to meet 
 many exemplary mothers who loved their children 
 even better than their own lives. In all of them the 
 phrenological organ was large. They would have re- 
 pudiated with scorn the insinuation that they loved 
 their children because of their beauty, or because 
 they were submissive to their authority ; they loved 
 them as the magnet draws the filings, because there 
 was a bond of union. This bond of union was an 
 instinct in them which caused them to love their own 
 offspring as such. I do not wish to extend this dis- 
 cussion any further; but would it not be interesting 
 to attempt to apply Bain's hydra solution of parental 
 love to account for the strength of that function in 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. I2 i 
 
 some animals ? Does the cat, for instance, love its 
 kittens because they are beautiful or submissive to 
 her authority? And does the cuckoo lay her eggs 
 in another bird's nest and take no further care of her 
 young because she is afraid they will not be beautiful 
 or will not submit to her authority? 
 
 COMBATIVENESS. 
 
 The function of this organ Prof. Bain elaborates 
 fully and clearly. He is almost persuaded that it is 
 properly localized, and is inclined to recognize it as 
 an element in our constitution. His exposition of its 
 scope and function is masterly, and shows a power of 
 keen analysis. He discovers the combative propen- 
 sity to be made up of two distinct ingredients : the 
 superabundance of central energy, and the love of 
 power in its most wide guise : successful rivalry. He 
 criticises George Combe's definition of Combative- 
 ness at certain stages of his delineation of this organ. 
 But it seems to us that the objections to Combe's 
 definition urged by Bain spring from a failure upon 
 the part of Bain to comprehend exactly what Combe 
 intends to convey ; in other words, Bain puts an un- 
 fair (not intentionally, Bain is too much of a Scotch- 
 man for that,) interpretation upon Combe's definitions. 
 
 When Combe declares that the propensity of Com- 
 bativeness is necessary even for philanthropic schemes, 
 he does not mean the pure pleasure of fighting, but 
 simply means that Combativeness supplies courage 
 in advancing those schemes, and the power to resist 
 all opposing obstacles. There is no difficulty, as 
 6 
 
122 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 Bain declares that there is, in ascertaining whether a 
 man is combative or not when a motive influences 
 him to undertake some courageous enterprise. There 
 are motives which enlist every faculty of our consti- 
 tution, and yet we do not find any difficulty in sepa- 
 rating the adjuncts or supports of that motive. We 
 know perfectly well, for instance, that Luther was 
 exceedingly combative, and that Melancthon was 
 not. There was the same motive : both sought 
 to reform the Church, but both were not equally 
 bold. Luther feared neither man nor devil, but 
 Melancthon shrank back even from a public avowal 
 of his faith. When the combative Luther was 
 by his side, Melancthon displayed a good deal of 
 courage; but when Luther died, Melancthon com- 
 pletely broke down. Now here were two men, both 
 inspired by the same motive, yet the difference of 
 their combative spirit was very great. Was not the 
 combative temper of Luther of immense aid in prop- 
 agating his religious reforms? There is no difficulty 
 in deciding which was the more combative, Melanc- 
 thon or Luther ; for the physical development of the 
 back-head of each is a perfect revelation. 
 
 A mere novice in portrait-reading ought to be 
 ashamed to say that he can discover no difference 
 between Melancthon's and Luther's Combativeness. 
 We would differ also, in some respects, as regards the 
 definition given by Prof. Bain that the combative 
 principle is the love of power in its most wide guise, 
 successful rivalry. That there is an element of power 
 in this propensity we admit, but it is different from 
 
TJTE TRUE BASIS. 123 
 
 the power enumerated under the function of self- 
 esteem. 
 
 It is a power of resistance to aggression, not a feel- 
 ing of authority. The feeling of triumph which 
 arises whenever a successful combatant defeats his 
 opponent is incidental to the combative propensity, 
 and would arise upon the success of any other of our 
 faculties. The martial ardor displayed by troops, the 
 love of debate, the spirit of contention which char- 
 acterizes some men, is the real element in Combat- 
 iveness rather than a feeling of power. And if Prof. 
 Bain would carefully ponder the definition given by 
 phrenologists, that all our faculties have various de- 
 grees of activity, from a low state of manifestation 
 to a high or passional state, much of the confusion 
 incident to criticising the phrenological analysis 
 would vanish. Combativeness may, for instance, 
 sometimes only display the simple element of resist- 
 ance, or it may give way to a higher state of activity, 
 exemplified in a spirit of aggressiveness, or it may 
 become intensely passionate, and develop a pugna- 
 cious spirit in which the love of fight rules supreme, 
 and outweighs all other considerations. It is not, 
 therefore, necessary, as Bain seems to think, that 
 when we speak of an element of pugnacity, that that 
 element should prevail upon all occasions. 
 
 In the case, for instance, of a John Howard being 
 aided in his philanthropic measures by a combative 
 spirit, it is not necessary that we should find the pug- 
 nacious element, but simply the element of resist- 
 ance displayed. We could extend these remarks 
 
I2 4 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 further, and meet some other of Bain's objections 
 under this organ, but we have a wide field to cover. 
 
 SECRETIVENESS. 
 
 As we have dwelt at some length upon Bain's 
 method of argumentation in our treatment of the 
 organ of Philoprogenitiveness, we can not repeat his 
 arguments in connection with Secretiveness, nor can 
 we discuss his objections in detail. He asserts, how- 
 ever, his unbelief in Secretiveness as a distinct element 
 in our constitution. His proof is simply the same old 
 story: he thinks that the habit of forethought, ex- 
 perience, and prudence will account for all the differ- 
 ence found in persons with respect to the manifesta- 
 tion of Secretiveness. We admit that habit and ex- 
 perience do develop Secretiveness ; but at the same 
 time, every habit of a specific direction must in- 
 fluence some nerve-center. Habits never originate 
 the germal elements — they can only cultivate those 
 elements. Granted an instinct to conceal or secrete, 
 and we can easily conceive of a person's increasing 
 that capacity by habits of association, by prudential 
 spirit derived from pleasure or pain or from expe- 
 rience ; but how that instinct can be created by these 
 habits without having a cerebral center is puzzling. 
 If the tendency to conceal is so distinct an element 
 in character that Bain confesses that even he has ob- 
 served that some have more of it in their character 
 than others, it seems as if there ought to be a cere- 
 bral center ; for in the first place, it is a well-known 
 truth of physiology, that whenever an action or move- 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 125 
 
 ment, bodily or mentally, is made, responsive muscles 
 or nerves take on the impress of that action, and be- 
 come larger or more compact. That is, there can be 
 no feeling, thought, or emotion developed without 
 affecting responsive nerve-centers, so that these nerve- 
 centers or brain convolutions must take on a change 
 of structure, either an enlargement of the cells of the 
 brain convolutions, or become firmer in quality. 
 Now, suppose we develop Secretiveness by associa- 
 tion, prudent conduct, experience, or any other 
 method of the psychologist, where do the impressions 
 heap themselves up — all over the brain, or in one 
 quarter of it ? If all over the brain, then Bain may 
 be correct in assigning Secretiveness to habits of as- 
 sociation of other faculties, but it is highly improb- 
 able. Nerve-centers do not perform dissimilar func- 
 tions. There is, as far as we can discern, special 
 cerebral centers for special functions. The best way 
 then to solve a difficulty, like the problem of innate 
 Secretiveness, when the psychological method has 
 failed, is to follow up investigations after the method 
 of Gall, into the function of certain parts of the brain. 
 These investigations, as carried on by phrenologists, 
 may well make us pause, and consider that if we 
 would only all set out with zeal in pushing on a 
 method which has discovered so much, we might 
 soon bring to perfection the science of mind and 
 character. 
 
 Our own observation of men and animals, and also 
 self-introspection, has revealed, beyond dispute, the 
 fact that some animals are noted for cunning and 
 
126 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 some are not. If habits, or prudential measures, or 
 experience, had anything to do by way of creating this 
 secretive propensity, then why did it develop in some 
 and not in others ? Why, for instance, should races 
 of animals living in the same region, in the same en- 
 vironment, and subjected to the same kind of dan- 
 gers, yet display entirely opposite characteristics in 
 this respect ? We can only solve this question by 
 saying that those animals noted for their cunning or 
 Secretiveness possessed it as an inborn element in 
 their constitution, which their manner of life helped 
 to bring out and cultivate. Those who are not re- 
 markable for this quality must have had but a slight 
 endowment, or none at all. There is no reason, then, 
 why we should not examine the data laid before us 
 by phrenologists, and add to it as much as we can 
 accumulate by observation, and decide this question 
 upon such evidence. 
 
 ACQUISITIVENESS. 
 
 In Professor Bain's discussion of Acquisitiveness 
 there is nothing new. It is simply the old metaphys- 
 ical method of accounting for this function by the 
 love of power, the necessity of accumulation, or the 
 benefits incident upon the acquisition of wealth. He 
 asserts that all of these influences operating sepa- 
 rately, or in combination, will produce the function 
 of hoarding assigned to the organ of Acquisitiveness. 
 If it were permitted me to meet Bain by a reference 
 to the phrenological methods of proof, it would be an 
 easy matter to dispense with all his objections at once. 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. \ 2 J 
 
 But as I said I would meet him on his own ground 
 I am obliged to discuss the point metaphysically. 
 Nevertheless it will be impossible to go over the 
 whole range of metaphysical subtility in the discus- 
 sion of each organ. Much of the argumentation 
 which I have employed under the discussion of the 
 functions of other organs is applicable to this. I 
 can, therefore, only mention a few strong points 
 which lead us to infer that the function of Acquisi- 
 tiveness is a real element in the constitution of man. 
 It is obvious to all that many individuals possess an 
 exceedingly avaricious spirit, not only in great mat- 
 ters, such as wealth-power, but even in small things. 
 Some are greedy and avaricious for mere trifles, which 
 have no value in themselves, and do not exalt those 
 who possess them in power or influence. We can as- 
 sign no motive whatever, and, least of all, any of the 
 great motives mentioned by Bain, to account for this 
 avaricious disposition. How many persons, for in- 
 stance, keep a tight hold of everything they acquire, 
 from a golden fortune to a cast-off garment ! There 
 is no real necessity in the retention of many things 
 which the wealthy retain. The love of power, the 
 necessity of existence, ought to weigh equally with 
 all classes, yet we find a vast difference between men 
 in the hoarding capacity. Some people hoard where 
 there is no possibility of gaining popularity and 
 power, and where the necessities of life are even sac- 
 rificed to the all-engrossing passion for accumulation. 
 The character of the miser, pure and simple, can not 
 be accounted for by any of the principles laid down 
 
128 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 by Bain. The instincts of animals also throw much 
 light upon this subject. We must admit that the 
 necessity for existence is equally important to an 
 animal life ; yet the squirrel, the bee, and the ant are 
 more acquisitive than a very large class of animals. 
 Shall we trace this acquisitiveness in the squirrel or 
 bee to the fact that they have more wisdom to see 
 the necessity of laying up a store for the coming 
 winter? This is hardly the case, for the animals 
 which do not acquire are just as intelligent as those 
 who do. The difference is in an elementary instinct. 
 That is the way the squirrel, bee, and ant provide for 
 themselves. Other animals may make provision for 
 themselves in some other way. 
 
 There is, again, the feeling of kleptomania, or 
 shop-lifting, which is practiced oftentimes by those 
 who have all the wealth necessary to give them power, 
 influence, etc. To say with Bain that these are 
 merely eccentricities, does not materially alter the 
 fact. We are as much required to explain upon 
 what such eccentricities depend, as to explain the 
 generic function of any organ. Then, again, if the 
 principles laid down by Prof. Bain are capable of in- 
 ducing the propensity to hoard, and the more these 
 influences sway a person, the more acquisitive that 
 person will become, the question may reasonably be 
 asked, how is this acquisition recorded ? Why does 
 the function become more keen the more it is exer- 
 cised, and what part of the brain is called into activ- 
 ity in order to record this development ? Bain might 
 reply to this question that no particular part of the 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. I2 q 
 
 brain was exercised, but all parts. Then we would 
 have the phenomena of the brain performing as a 
 general function that which has a specific application. 
 In other words, as Bain has previously admitted, that 
 there are cerebral centers for primitive functions 
 which are exercised by giving full scope to opera- 
 tions which develop them, now he declares that a 
 function which is seemingly elementary is performed 
 by the brain as a whole. We will then have to estab- 
 lish general functions as well as individual functions. 
 Now, we can conceive of the mind acting as a whole 
 in the operations of such general functions as those 
 of conception, memory, etc., because they are only 
 general processes connected with all the organs ; but 
 when we are asked to consider the mind as acting as 
 a whole to produce a hoarding spirit, it seems to be 
 a direct violation of clear metaphysical analysis ; for, 
 as I have said before, there is a physiological law that 
 when a function is exercised the material organ of 
 that function becomes larger or increases in quality. 
 Now, does the whole brain become larger or more 
 compact in order to take on a development of ac- 
 quisitiveness, or would it not be more reasonable to 
 suppose that a certain cerebral center recorded this 
 acquisitive development? Remember, a spirit of 
 avarice is a totally different thing from a law of asso- 
 ciation or habit. We can conceive of such laws train- 
 ing and educating all the faculties and leaving a gen- 
 eral impression on the physical organism ; but when 
 it comes to the fact that we have to make a feeling or 
 propensity so elementary as that of acquisition, a 
 6* 
 
^O HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 general power similar to these, it demands more met- 
 aphysical demonstration than Prof. Bain supplies. 
 
 It may be said, however, that Bain does not imply 
 that the acquisitive faculty is a general power, but 
 simply a specific habit generated by the influences 
 which he has enumerated. The answer to this is ob- 
 vious. All habits, as far as we know, leave their 
 impression on the physical or cerebral organism ; 
 thus, for instance, if we exercise any part of the body, 
 that part becomes more compact or larger, and hence 
 an increased capacity to perform the function follows 
 upon this increase. So, if we exercise the organ of 
 Comparison, there will be an increase of the analytical 
 function due to an increase in the size or quality of 
 the cerebral organ on which it depends. So if we 
 start with an organ whose function is mere brute ac- 
 quisition, without regard to the end or object of these 
 acquisitions, we can conceive of its activity being in- 
 creased by the motives enumerated by Bain, and that 
 such an increase could be recorded by this organ. 
 But when we are asked to conceive of a propensity so 
 elementary as the disposition to hoard to be entirely 
 originated by certain general influences, there is no 
 reasonable explanation, — it is like expecting soil to 
 bring forth flower and fruit where there has been no 
 seed planted, because the sun and rain have been beat- 
 ing upon that soil. This whole question of how far 
 general laws or individual influences can create spe- 
 cific or elementary functions is a puzzling one to 
 the metaphysician, and I can not enter upon it here 
 in detail. It is sufficient to say that the psychologi- 
 
THE TR UE BA SIS. \ 3 1 
 
 cal method of accounting for individual differences of 
 function by operation of general laws has failed upon 
 many occasions. The psychological analysis pro- 
 duced by this method has had to change its funda- 
 mental powers repeatedly. The tendency at present 
 is to rely less upon general laws for a solution of in- 
 dividual characteristics, and to ascribe them to fun- 
 damental instincts. Our impression is that there is 
 an innate propensity to hoard in the human con- 
 stitution. 
 
 We should like to take up Bain's exceptions to 
 the other phrenological organs in detail, but we must 
 hasten to discuss a very important division of Bain's 
 book, 
 
 "THE OMISSIONS OF PHRENOLOGY." 
 
 Professor Bain has a chapter devoted to the subject 
 of " The Omissions of Phrenology." Many of his com- 
 ments and suggestions in this chapter are highly valu- 
 able, and demand careful attention from the advocates 
 of Phrenology. I think, however, the title of his 
 chapter is misleading, as it seems to imply a willful 
 rejection by phrenologists of the points he discusses ; 
 whereas the truth is simply this : Gall and Spurz- 
 heim were introducing a new method of investigating 
 mind and character, and so, in arranging the mental 
 analysis of the human constitution, some things were 
 overlooked by them for the time being. These omis- 
 sions are natural, and are incident to all sciences in 
 their early stages of development. Of such a nature 
 are the muscular feelings, which Bain declares the 
 phrenologists have slighted. It is true that Drs. 
 
I32 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 Gall and Spurzheim have not gone into detail in 
 regard to these feelings, but we must recollect that 
 physiology was not so fully occupied in investigat- 
 ing the important relations which the muscles and 
 nerves of the body sustain to mental excitability in 
 the days of Gall as in our time. The same may be 
 said of the vocal powers and the department of sen- 
 sation — including the senses of taste, sight, smell, and 
 the tactile sensations of the skin — which Bain men- 
 tions as omissions ; they are all departments of physi- 
 ology, and ought to have been carefully treated by 
 physiologists ; but as this had not been accomplished 
 in the days of Gall and Spurzheim, the omission is 
 not one of willful rejection, but simply of unavoid- 
 able neglect. Nor is there anything in the treatment 
 of the points proposed by Bain incompatible with or 
 antagonistic to the principles of Phrenology, because 
 Phrenology does not confine itself to psychology, but 
 also includes physiology. Whatever suggestions, 
 therefore, physiology has to make may be embodied 
 by Phrenology as a part of its analysis of mind and 
 body. In fact, some departments enumerated by Bain 
 as omissions have been duly emphasized in the light 
 of modern information by the phrenologists who have 
 followed in the paths of Gall and Spurzheim. Pro- 
 fessor Bain is an enthusiast in the department of 
 muscular sensations, and has made an extensive study 
 of the subject. Many of his suggestions are valuable, 
 and can be allowed a place in the phrenological sys- 
 tem without detracting in any way from the honor 
 due to the early phrenologists. Still we can not 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 133 
 
 concur with all he brings forward in the chapter 
 under consideration. It is impossible, for instance, 
 for those who have been trained to the keen analysis 
 fostered by the phrenological method of investiga- 
 tion to agree with Bain that the functions of the 
 organs of Color and Form are implied in the func- 
 tions of Locality, Size, and Individuality. What- 
 ever errors have been made by phrenologists in their 
 exposition of these organs, it is true that close 
 analytical reasoning and investigation are in favor of 
 a distinct and generic function for each of the organs 
 enumerated. We can not say, for instance, that we 
 remember the location of places because of their color, 
 size, and form. There is implied in the function of 
 Locality, elements of distance, position, and situation, 
 which can not possibly be covered by form or color. 
 I know that the metaphysical school lays great stress 
 upon the element of color as a factor in the estima- 
 tion of space, but observed facts do not sustain this 
 conclusion. If a person were asked why he found 
 his way so readily to a certain place, he would hardly 
 reply that he recognized the colors or forms of the 
 various objects on his way ; these might be accident- 
 ally observed ; but the place was in his mind as a 
 sort of mental picture as a whole, and not in individ- 
 ual traits such as those supplied by form and color. 
 When we start out to go to a place where we have 
 been before, we have a sort of natural intuition of 
 the place with respect to situation without any regard 
 to individual characteristics either of color, form, or 
 size. On the way, however, we may recognize these 
 
134 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 individual phenomena as a confirmation that we are 
 treading the right path, but not as forming our specific 
 notion of locality. 
 
 The omission of a separate treatment of the vocal 
 powers in connection with the phrenological system 
 is to be regretted, and I do not think modern phre- 
 nologists have done this subject full justice. Yet Pro- 
 fessor Bain has only succeeded in throwing out a few 
 hints in this department ; he has proved nothing, 
 neither has he systematically treated the vocal pow- 
 ers in their relation to the human constitution. We 
 consider that the omission of the topic of vocality 
 from any system which claims to be a science of mind 
 and character is a very serious neglect. It is true that 
 phrenologists have made many valuable suggestions 
 in this department in their treatment of the functions 
 of Language, Tune, and Time, but these remarks are 
 only incidental, and not directed to this department 
 as a separate subject. The value of an exposition of 
 the voice, giving the situation of each physical mem- 
 ber; the conditions of vocality; the relative size and 
 position of each vocal member, and the quality of 
 voice produced by each ; the manifestation of charac- 
 ter in the voice, not in a general way, but specifically, 
 is surely of the utmost importance in the delineation 
 of character. All the organs of the human consti- 
 tution have their natural language. This language 
 consists of the gestures of the body and the tones 
 of the voice, and all these gestures and tones should 
 be carefully separated and assigned to their respective 
 functions. Much valuable information may be gained 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 135 
 
 upon this subject from books on Elocution, but the 
 treatment of it by such books is quite empirical, not 
 scientific. It would take too much time to convey 
 any adequate conception of how this department 
 should be worked up. In the present essay, I must 
 therefore defer further comments, with the hope that 
 I may be able to present on another occasion an 
 essay on a system of Elocution and Oratory having 
 its basis in the constitution of man. 
 
 He files an objection against the explanation of 
 .the organ of Benevolence as given by the phrenolo- 
 gists. In his own system he recognizes an organ of 
 sympathy. I will endeavor by the self-conscious 
 method to meet Bain, not that I think the self-con- 
 scious method of investigation is able of itself to 
 settle the question ; but as that is the method Bain 
 pursues, I desire to meet him on his own ground. 
 Now, it seems to me at least, that according to self- 
 introspection sympathy is a general power, and not a 
 special instinct. How can we separate sympathy from 
 any power, and make it a distinct instinct ? Do we 
 not sympathize with those only who have feelings 
 and sentiments in common with us ? Thus man can 
 not sympathize with a monkey, because he can not 
 enter into its feelings. Neither can an infidel sym- 
 pathize with a spiritualist, because there is no bond 
 of connection. Neither can the virtuous man sympa- 
 thize with the profane sinner and evil-liver for the 
 same reason. Sympathy depends much upon the 
 power we have of entering into other people's 
 thoughts and feelings, and this power depends upon 
 
136 HO W TO STUD Y CHA RA CTER ; OR, 
 
 the relative number of faculties we have in common. 
 Sympathy in the sense of pity is clearly performed 
 by benevolence. Benevolence is the foundation of 
 philanthropy, and if we admit an organ of Benevo- 
 lence there is no necessity for an organ of sympathy, 
 for benevolence acting with other faculties will give 
 all that Bain places under sympathy. 
 
 bain's organs of elocution and plot-interest. 
 
 Professor Bain is still more ambitious in his at- 
 tempts to evolve Phrenology from consciousness. 
 He thinks there ought to be an organ of cadence or 
 elocution. 
 
 Now, I was very desirous at first to follow Bain in 
 his views upon the necessity of an organ for elocution 
 and evolve such an organ from my own conscious- 
 ness, but I thought it only fair to hear those on this 
 matter who might be expected to have a clearer con- 
 ception of this subject than either Bain or myself, 
 namely, professional elocutionists. I put the ques- 
 tion to several well-known professors of the art of 
 elocution, whether there was anything in elocution 
 which might not be accounted for by tune and time. 
 The answer was clear and unequivocal. These gen- 
 tlemen showed me that the great difference between 
 music and recited speech was a difference of pitch 
 only, the former being discrete and the latter con- 
 crete. All the varied harmony of music and intona- 
 tions of speech depend upon the organs of Tune and 
 Time. Bain's attempt, therefore, to evolve an organ 
 of cadence by the self-conscious method seems to be a 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 137 
 
 failure. The difference which Bain observed between 
 speech and music must have been the quality of the 
 tones of the voice, although he does not clearly state 
 that to be his view ; but if he had made a more thor- 
 ough observation of great actors and orators, he 
 would have discovered that all the difference in the 
 quality of intonation was due to the peculiar effect 
 of each of the phrenological faculties. The instincts 
 and sentiments have all their effect upon the voice ; 
 for example : Secretiveness muffles the voice, its nat- 
 ural expression is a whisper ; bereavement is low and 
 plaintive ; Veneration soft, subdued/ and reverential ; 
 Destructiveness is sharp and guttural, and Self-esteem 
 is hard, positive, and dogmatic, while Combativeness 
 has abrupt, harsh, emphatic tones ; Sublimity gives 
 depth, grandeur, swelling, and profound quality and 
 quantity to the voice, and all the force of enunciation 
 is on a grand scale ; Mirthfulness has light, playful 
 tones ; and so on, every sentiment or propensity adds 
 a certain coloring to the tones of the voice. It was 
 probably from having observed all the various intona- 
 tions of the voice which each individual faculty of 
 the human constitution produced, that Bain was led 
 to think that there ought to be an organ of elocution 
 or cadence. But all the functions such an organ 
 could perform can clearly^De ascribed to other fac- 
 ulties. 
 
 Bain having reached a certain height in his phreno- 
 self-conscious method does not wish to surrender his 
 elevation or remain there, but spreads his pinions 
 wider and ends by introducing a new organ which he 
 
138 HOW TO STUD Y CHARA CTER ; OR, 
 
 thinks will be a good addition to the phrenological 
 system, called Plot-interest. Now, I should like to 
 have such an organ made a part of the analysis of 
 the human mind, but I am afraid if its existence de- 
 pends upon the self-conscious method of investiga- 
 tion, it will never exist. Plot-interest is only the 
 effect of a combination of faculties, as, for example, 
 in a novel the plot-interest depends upon the number 
 and kind of sentiments and propensities excited by 
 the events of the story. Thus benevolence will be 
 aroused by the suffering of the various characters 
 which are described in the story, and will anxiously 
 watch the plot to see if the objects of its interest 
 will be safe. So with the love of the marvelous, all 
 things which are new, strange, and miraculous will be 
 watched by it with intense interest. So with the 
 organ of Cautiousness, dangers and hair-breadth 
 escapes, gloomy caverns, and all kinds of adventures 
 will be interesting to that faculty, and the plot-in- 
 terest which appeals to it will be powerfully intensi- 
 fied. So Combativeness will be aroused to activity 
 by events of heroism and self-defense, descriptions of 
 battles, etc. Veneration, Hope, Justice, and all the 
 various faculties may be actively aroused by the inci- 
 dents in the novel, and thus the plot-interest will be 
 rendered intense. The more numerous the organs 
 excited by the events in the novel, the more intense 
 the plot-interest ; and besides there is one organ above 
 all others which tends to deepen the plot-interest, the 
 organ of Secretiveness, whose function is the desire 
 to pry into hidden things. Now, the chief point of 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 1 39 
 
 interest in a plot is to conceal the true nature and result 
 of the story as much as possible, and concealment is 
 highly delightful to Secretiveness, and much of the 
 interest we have in a highly-drawn plot is due to the 
 excitement of this faculty. Thus we see that plot- 
 interest can be accounted for by the activity, more 
 or less intense, of the sentiments and propensities, 
 singly and in combination, and there is no necessity 
 for a separate organ for plot-interest. 
 
 Bain has some valuable suggestions to make upon 
 the sentiment of love of truth. He claims that phre- 
 nologists have not developed this sentiment suffi- 
 ciently, and considers that the organ of Conscientious- 
 ness, as set forth by Phrenology, does not cover 
 entirely the domain of love of truth. 
 
 It seems to us that Bain does succeed in develop- 
 ing points omitted by the phrenologists in their treat- 
 ment of this sentiment, but we can not concur with 
 him in his rash statement that Phrenology, if she 
 can make good any of her positions, ought to be able 
 to discover something to indicate his distinctions. A 
 science is not called upon to surrender her established 
 truths because of omissions or imperfections ; if this 
 is to be the test of Phrenology, then it is a test which 
 will lay the axe at the root of every science, even 
 at Bain's own system of phreno-self-introspection. 
 Truths are not all discovered at one time or in mass, 
 but one by one. If there is an organ for Love of 
 Truth separate and distinct from any of the innate 
 powers enumerated by Phrenology, time will show. 
 But the statement of Professor Bain that if Phrenol- 
 
140 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 ogy can not make good his distinctions she can not 
 make good any of her positions, is a very rash state- 
 ment, unworthy of the great Edinburgh professor, 
 and he must surely have departed from that quah 
 ity of character so highly developed among his coun- 
 trymen, a quality which has gained for them the 
 world-wide reputation of the " canny Scots." While 
 we must in the name of correct scientific investigation 
 refuse to concur with Professor Bain that omissions 
 in any system invalidate or destroy all the truths of 
 that system, yet at the same time we are willing to 
 consider how far his analysis of the sentiment of the 
 love of truth indicates the necessity for a distinct 
 cerebral center. He holds that George Combe's ex- 
 position of the function of Concientiousness is but 
 an ethical exposition, and he then asserts that the 
 love of truth has a signification in the abstract (what- 
 ever he means by that) which is different from the 
 ethical. His comments are too long to quote, but 
 his position is, that there is in the sentiment of truth 
 an element of impartiality, a total disregard of con- 
 clusions, whether favorable or unfavorable to precon- 
 ceived notions or to the desires or the emotions. 
 In brief, he means steadfast loyalty to truth for its 
 own sake, which he considers different from moral 
 obligation — the root element as set forth by Combe's 
 treatment of Conscientiousness. Now, whether the 
 function of Conscientiousness by a clearer definition 
 can be made to embrace this abstract conception of 
 truth or not is a very nice question. It may be, how- 
 ever, that the distinction made by Bain is not a sepa- 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. I4I 
 
 rate element in the constitution. We question much 
 the statement that there are men who investigate 
 truth with no leaning or prejudice toward some form 
 of that truth. Men, by their training and by con- 
 stitutional endowment, are prone to consider that 
 the principles which seem evident to them are the 
 only true principles.- The various systems of science 
 and philosophy have had their origin because of prej- 
 udice or constitutional tendencies. To get at truth 
 in the abstract is a very difficult achievement, and has 
 not yet been accomplished by Bain, or anybody else 
 as far as we know. In fact, truth in the abstract, from 
 its very nature, is undefinable ; it belongs to the same 
 genera of conceptions as absolute virtue, goodness, 
 purity, etc. We can only realize such states by con- 
 trasting such conceptions with concrete existences. 
 A sentiment for the love of truth in the abstract may 
 be, after all, a visionary sentiment. The preponder- 
 ance of the truth element not included under the 
 function of Conscientiousness, may be a result of a 
 more harmonious constitutional endowment. Thus, 
 for instance, if we can conceive of a person whose 
 intellectual faculties are in proportion to his emo- 
 tional and animal faculties, then there will be an 
 approximation to absolute truth in the judgments, 
 thoughts, and conceptions of that individual. This 
 adherence to truth, then, for truth's sake, would come 
 not from any particular organ in the constitution, but 
 from harmonious development of the entire man. In 
 other words, the nearest approach a man can make 
 to correctness of judgment, thought and conception is 
 
I4 2 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 made when such a one holds a parliament, as it were, 
 of all the elements in his constitution, and decides 
 after each has had its full voice in the matter. To 
 illustrate this more concretely : suppose a person 
 under the influence of Veneration, which is so fully 
 developed that it is a leading characteristic of his con- 
 stitution, all his judgments will be biased, more or 
 less, by the promptings of that faculty. If he takes a 
 stand in church matters, he may grasp that side of 
 worship and church authority which appeals to his 
 veneration. Perhaps his conception of true worship 
 is a highly ritualistic service, and in combating for 
 this kind of service, which nourishes but one element 
 in his constitution, he sacrifices truth. The same 
 may be said of all special developments: however 
 much truth they discover in that particular depart- 
 ment, such truth will be lacking in universality. 
 Special developments of the innate powers will bias 
 the judgment m favor of those elements, and abstract 
 loyalty to truth can not prevail in such organizations. 
 But suppose a man to exist who has a harmoniously 
 balanced brain, properly trained and educated; he 
 will accept as true only that which appears to satisfy 
 all the cravings of his being. Such truth is the only 
 approximation we, in this world, can make to absolute 
 truth. And in such minds there dwells the quality 
 spoken of by Bain — impartiality of investigation and 
 loyalty to truth for its own sake. If our exposition 
 of this rather obscure metaphysical subject is correct, 
 there does not seem any necessity for any separate 
 innate power distinct from Conscientiousness in the 
 
THE TRTTE BASIS. 143 
 
 human constitution, such as Bain sets forth and de- 
 nominates the Love of Truth. Conscientiousness, 
 with a clearer definition, will sufficiently account for 
 all other elements of Truth. 
 
 Bain now passes on to show that the sensibility 
 connected with the fine-arts, or what is called aes- 
 thetic pleasure, whether realized by nature or pro- 
 vided for by art, has not received full treatment at 
 the hands of phrenologists. He accuses the phrenol- 
 ogists of treating the fine-art feelings as if they were 
 one, and traces a probable reason for this method of 
 treatment to the prevailing opinion of philosophers in 
 the days of Gall and Spurzheim, that the sentiment 
 of the beautiful was one and indivisible. It is possi- 
 ble that the early fathers did attribute too much to 
 the organ of Ideality. This organ was then not di- 
 vided into two innate powers as in recent works on 
 Phrenology. The objections urged against Phrenology 
 by Bain in this department, however, are not root errors 
 detrimental to Phrenology as a system, but only con- 
 fused definition which can easily be remedied. Pro- 
 portion and harmony enter into all works of art more 
 or less, as into a building, a painting, or a poem. 
 Upon what does this feeling of proportion and har- 
 mony .depend : on a special fundamental endowment ? 
 or is it an element common to all the faculties ? The 
 early phrenologists taught that Tune gave the sense 
 of musical concord, Color the feeling of well-assorted 
 tints in painting, Form the susceptibility to fine 
 sculpture and the beauties of the human figure ; but 
 Bain asserts they did not tell us what constitutes the 
 pleasure of a fine poem. 
 
144 HOW T0 STUDY CHARACTER j OR, 
 
 The solution of the difficulty is simply to be found 
 in a proper comprehension of what the fine-art feel- 
 ings are. We can not prove that any one of these 
 feelings depends upon one innate faculty alone. In the 
 Fine-arts a reproduction of nature, animate and inani- 
 mate, is sought ; hence the faculties employed by an 
 artist will be as various as the object selected. It would 
 be impossible, for instance, to say that sculpture de- 
 pended upon a feeling of symmetry, for that feeling 
 is not individual — it is a general feeling, and belongs 
 probably as much to the intellect as to the emotive 
 nature ; but the basis of sculpture may be found in a 
 just perception of forms and outlines of objects. The 
 sculptor's aim is to transfer these living outlines into 
 marble, and here the intellect will come in, supply- 
 ing comparison and the ability to construct or repro- 
 duce. 
 
 An epic poem like " Paradise Lost " or Homer's 
 " Iliad," is not the product of any one faculty ; every 
 organ of the mind supplies its quota. The distin- 
 guishing feature, however, is the presence of the sub- 
 lime or beautiful. The material supplied by the in- 
 tellect and emotive nature is colored by the organ of 
 Sublimity, or Ideality, and this coloring is what en- 
 ables us to say whether a poem is an epic, a satire, 
 or an ordinary poem. Ideality, or the love of the 
 beautiful, is a feeling which displays itself in the love 
 for perfection. It may produce then that exquisite 
 thrill which one feels on beholding a beautiful work 
 of art. Ideality and Sublimity are the organs which 
 cast an imaginative lustre upon all works of art, 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 145 
 
 whether they belong to literature, sculpture, or paint- 
 ing. But Ideality and Sublimity could not produce 
 these works alone; other organs must come in to sup- 
 ply the material and execution. When we say that 
 Ideality and Sublimity are necessary to a great orator, 
 we do not mean that they are all that constitutes an 
 orator, but that they are powerful elements in suc- 
 cessful oratory. It is, therefore, unfair on the part of 
 Bain to say that Phrenology offers the organ of Ideal- 
 ity as an explanation of what constitutes an orator. 
 No one organ, in general, is capable of explaining 
 all that belongs to arts, so wide in their scope as the 
 arts of poetry and oratory, but one or two organs 
 may shape the direction or may color the whole bent 
 of an individual's powers when employed in any 
 one of these arts. To discover special fundamental 
 powers for each of the fine-arts would only lead to 
 the greatest piece of patchwork possible to be con- 
 ceived or imagined, and it is strange that Bain should 
 ever have entertained a notion that there might be a 
 special sense of harmony for each of the fine-arts. A 
 separate cerebral center which takes cognizance of 
 proportion and harmony might be granted, but it 
 would be under protest, for it might be proved by 
 self-introspection that such a sense was an element 
 in every innate power of the human constitution, or it 
 might be said it was a purely intellectual element, 
 perhaps a characteristic of the faculty of Comparison. 
 But a general sense of harmony would not be objec- 
 tionable, whereas a special sense for each of the fine- 
 arts would be a far greater patchwork, more full of 
 7 
 
I4 6 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 confused cross-divisions than ever emanated from a 
 phrenologist's brain. If we examine this feeling of 
 proportion and harmony displayed in the fine-arts, 
 we can analyze its elements, and show that no matter 
 what department, whether music, oratory, sculpture, 
 painting, or drawing, they all have the same charac- 
 teristics. The basis of all is nature. A work of art 
 is out of proportion when it departs in contour from 
 the natural object. If a painting depends upon shad- 
 ows, light and heavy in combination, so does music 
 depend upon alternate notes of different compass and 
 volume. In a poem the versification, in order to be 
 harmonious, must have a succession of accented and 
 unaccented syllables, and the grand and fascinating 
 melody of prose or verse recited by an actor or orator, 
 depends upon a harmonious succession of emphasis 
 and variation of voice — light and heavy, lively or 
 solemn, gay or swelling, and all the variety of inflec- 
 tion. But throughout all these, that which consti- 
 tutes harmony is the correct portrait of nature. 
 
 Now, I will leave it to the reader whether special 
 fundamental powers must be established for each of 
 the Fine-Arts or a general sense of harmony, or wheth- 
 er the present phrenological analysis is sufficient to 
 account for all the sensibilities experienced in the 
 contemplation of the Fine-Arts; and if some more 
 organs must be added to the phrenological scheme, 
 we shall welcome them. But remember, in all his 
 endeavors to produce a system of Phrenology by the 
 self-introspective method only, Bain has not been al- 
 ways successful. He leaves the Fine-Art question 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. j^y 
 
 nearly as he found it, without adding much by way 
 of demonstrated fact or clearer definition. He is 
 more successful, however, in his discussion of a gen- 
 eral faculty of Memory. He asserts, and George 
 Combe favors the same idea, that there is a power 
 of retentiveness which differs in individuals. This 
 we have observed ourselves : there is a difference in the 
 single element of memory, among school-boys, for in- 
 stance. Boys apparently with the same endowments 
 have good memories for almost everything. They 
 may show special aptitudes for some studies, but 
 they seem to be able to learn almost everything. 
 These scholars are regarded as brilliant, and generally 
 stand at the head of their class, and graduate with 
 honor; but it often happens that they do not become 
 remarkable in after-life. Whereas some students who 
 have received low standard because they did not have 
 this general memory, have far outstripped their com- 
 panions in active life. There is also a difference which 
 is of the same nature between men of genius and men 
 of learning. There is a class of men who are not 
 able to take ideas verbatim ; when they repeat it is 
 colored more or less by thoughts and phraseology of 
 their own. When asked to give the contents of a 
 book they have been reading, they give the substance 
 colored over by their own original reflections. The 
 man of learning, on the other hand, seems almost in- 
 capable of reproduction. He requires his commenta- 
 ries, dictionaries, his book of synonymes, and reference 
 books constantly beside him, and his production is a 
 patchwork of other men's thoughts and cribbed quo- 
 
1 48 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 tations. Whether we can trace these differences to 
 constitutional endowment is a question. The tem- 
 peraments may have much to do with these differ- 
 ences. Thus, for instance, the Motive Temperament 
 is not so productive of originality of thought. Men 
 of that development are more prone to acquire knowl- 
 edge than to think for themselves. They are capable 
 of following out the details of a plan devised by 
 somebody else. They are men for the field, and be- 
 come mere machines under the direction of superior 
 minds. The Mental Temperament we know can ac- 
 quire knowledge better than any other, and those 
 students who show remarkable capacity for almost 
 everything may have the Mental Temperament well 
 developed. 
 
 But it is to be regretted that Prof. Bain has not 
 anywhere stated the exact phrenological make-up of 
 the students who showed various powers, some more 
 retentive than others. In the absence of the exact 
 phrenological status of such cases, it would be idle to 
 seek a solution. Perhaps the solution exists in some 
 of the already known principles of Phrenology ; but 
 as the cases have not come under phrenological in- 
 spection, it is difficult to discuss the question. Bain 
 is not explicit, but speaks of the students he observed 
 as a whole. 1, for my part, in all my school career, 
 have never met a class of students whose phrenolog- 
 ical make-up was about the same for all, and yet 
 some have displayed remarkable powers of retentive- 
 ness, and others not. There are hardly two persons 
 phrenologically alike in every respect. It would 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 149 
 
 have been more satisfactory if Bain had given us a 
 prospectus of the cases he had observed, then we 
 would be able to judge and probably explain the 
 seeming discrepancies. Still, however, I am persuaded 
 that there is a characteristic power of retentiveness 
 displayed by some which seems to be out of propor- 
 tion to their development ; but the problem is not 
 incapable of solution— it only requires a little patient 
 investigation of the facts. With respect to genius 
 and application, there is a vast difference between 
 some minds. This difference may be accounted for 
 in part by methods of study. There are two ways of 
 acquiring truth : (1) By learning every fact or prin- 
 ciple in detail. (2) By seizing upon the vital prin- 
 ciples and working out the details for one's self. 
 
 The first principle is characteristic of the man of 
 learning, the second of the man of genius. Those 
 who pursue the first method study with avidity ; they 
 delight in acquiring other men's thoughts ; they em- 
 ploy all their time in such acquisitions, and rarely 
 stop to think or make original reflections on the mat- 
 ter acquired. They are apt in class-room, and gain 
 the esteem of their professors because they have ac- 
 quired the information desired. These students are 
 generally favorites with school committees and all the 
 ornamental paraphernalia of colleges. 
 
 Those who study after the second method do not 
 display brilliancy in acquisition, but they are far more 
 original. They know less, but are a great deal wiser 
 than the first class. They are not popular with their 
 professors, because they do not give the information 
 
i5o 
 
 BOW TO STUDY CHARACTER : 0R t 
 
 exactly as is wanted, but they oftentimes bring more 
 honor upon the school when they enter upon public 
 life than the others, because they have acquired the 
 power of original thought. 
 
 Now, it requires time for both of these processes ; 
 it stands in reason, if a person gives himself up to the 
 acquisition of other men's thoughts, he can not have 
 time for original reflection ; so, on the other hand, if 
 a person is engrossed with original reflections, he can 
 not acquire the task before him. Students who be- 
 long to the second class will be regarded as less 
 brilliant than those of the first class ; whereas it is a 
 brilliancy which differs in kind, not in degree. The 
 second are really the most gifted after all. This 
 would explain in part what Bain has noticed. And 
 all that we have stated is borne out by fact. It is 
 seldom that the same mind is capable of excelling in 
 both fields ; there have been some noble exceptions, 
 but they are few. The general law is, that if a per- 
 son spends his time in acquiring other men's thoughts 
 he will not have time to develop his own. 
 
 The best way to study is to strike out a golden 
 mean between these two methods. Study other 
 men's thoughts only to get the principles, not the 
 details ; to stimulate your own thought, not to slav- 
 ishly copy theirs. This process may be longer than 
 the other, but it will be more satisfactory in the end. 
 
 The closing remarks by Prof. Bain on the Omis- 
 sions of Phrenology are hardly applicable to that 
 science as studied to-day. The assertion that Phre- 
 nology makes no allowance for a person's acquisition, 
 
THE TR UE BA SIS. \ 5 1 
 
 is not by any means correct. There is nothing 
 inherent in the nature of the science prohibiting such 
 an estimate. Indeed, phrenologists do assert that 
 education does make a vast difference in the mental 
 aptitudes of men. Educated faculties are always su- 
 perior to uneducated. Nor is the power and activity 
 gained by faculties, through training, beyond estima- 
 tion, as Bain asserts. There are indications w r hich 
 show pretty accurately whether certain mental pow- 
 ers have been educated or not. 
 
 Bain ought to remember in this connection the 
 physiological fact, that training develops in two ways, 
 by increasing the bulk of the muscle or organ exer- 
 cised, or the quality of its texture. And we can esti- 
 mate the probable extent of training by the increased 
 size or texture of such muscles or organs. So it is 
 with the training of cerebral centers, they increase in 
 size or fineness of quality by exercise, and this increase 
 is not altogether hidden from sight ; movements in 
 the cerebrum affect the contour of the skull. The 
 bony encasement directly over an organ swells out or 
 becomes sharper in outline after years of exercise 
 of that organ. We are seldom at a loss to select 
 out those who have been educated from those who 
 have not, by the sharpness of the general outline of 
 skull and face. We have noticed students who have 
 come into Harvard in their Freshman year, and have 
 undertaken one line of studies — for instance, those 
 sciences which call for the employment of the observ- 
 ing faculties exclusively — that the organs called the 
 knowing, or observing faculties, have perceptibly in- 
 
I 5 2 HOW TO STUD Y CHARA CTER ; OR, 
 
 creased and become sharper in outline. But whatevei 
 the reason may be, we can generally separate the edu- 
 cated from the uneducated by their personal appear- 
 ance. We could not, however, tell the extent or 
 scope of one's acquisitions, but we ought not to ex- 
 pect such a capacity from the science of Phrenology. 
 Phrenology is not a sort of second sight, it is a real 
 science guided by natural principles, and if she failed 
 to measure accurately the extent of one's acquired 
 knowledge, it would not be anything wonderful. No 
 human science is possessed of such a power, neither 
 metaphysical nor experimental philosophy ; how, then, 
 should the absence of such a capacity be held out as 
 an objection to Phrenology? All that Phrenology 
 ought to be expected to do in such cases, would be 
 to institute inquiries of the persons examined as to 
 the extent of their education, and draw up an anal- 
 ysis of their character, giving due allowance for such 
 acquisitions. We must say in closing this subject, 
 that we have followed Bain carefully, and noted 
 each of the omissions in the science of Phrenology 
 which he points out, without finding a single principle 
 which would invalidate any of the vital truths of 
 Phrenology. Phrenology as a science does not stand 
 or fall upon what she has accepted or omitted. Omis- 
 sions and hasty acceptances are characteristic of all 
 sciences in their infancy. If she has received as 
 proved one or more fundamental powers of the hu- 
 man mind which may be proved as not fundamental, 
 then she can give up such powers without detriment 
 at all to her position as a science of the human mind. 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 153 
 
 If, on the other hand, she has omitted any fundamen- 
 tal faculty from her diagnosis of character, such omis- 
 sion is no more fatal to her than to any of her sister 
 sciences ; she can fill up the vacancy when good proof 
 is given that the omitted power is a real fundamental 
 element. The attempt, therefore, to break down Phre- 
 nology as a science of mind and character, by pointing 
 out certain cross-divisions in her classification or 
 omissions of fundamental powers, is an effort dis- 
 playing extreme narrowness of conception, and un- 
 worthy of a scientific and philosophic mind. 
 
 bain's own system. 
 
 We will now take up Bain's own system and see 
 if he has succeeded any better in his analysis of mind 
 and character than the phrenologists. He divides 
 the mind into threefold divisions — emotion, volition, 
 and intellect. We have no objection to take these 
 as general conceptions, embracing under each fun- 
 damental powers. His treatment of spontaneous 
 energy, though it embraces much which comes under 
 the discussion of the temperaments in phrenological 
 works, yet presents many valuable thoughts worthy 
 to be embraced in a book on the science of character. 
 There are points where we would disagree with him, 
 but we can not discuss them in detail. Bain, in an 
 early part of his work on the study of character, ob- 
 jected to what he called the clumsy device of the 
 temperaments borrowed from Physiology by Phre- 
 nology. We agree with him that the old classification 
 of the temperaments was a rather cumbersome affair ; 
 7* 
 
j 54 H0W T0 STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 but we regret to say that we can not accept his classi- 
 fication, because not founded upon a physiological 
 basis. Temperaments have relation to the physical 
 body. They are names given to certain states of the 
 physical constitution, and should therefore have a 
 name affixed to them, indicating what particular 
 state or condition of the constitution they signify. 
 Now the case with Bain is this : he has no clearly 
 defined temperament but one, and that one he calls 
 the emotional temperament. Under the term "spon- 
 taneous energy" he seems to include the muscular and 
 mental systems, although he nowhere explicitly calls 
 them temperaments. We will therefore refrain from 
 any criticism on his subject of spontaneous energy. 
 But when Bain denominates a certain state or condi- 
 tion of constitution by the name emotional tempera- 
 ment, he commits a very negligent and unscientific 
 error in scientific classification. Temperaments are 
 certain states or conditions of the. body, as I have 
 said before, and therefore should have a physical 
 basis. The various organs of the human body should 
 be made the basis, and not any emotional product of 
 these organs. There are three grand divisions of the 
 human constitution — nerves and brain matter, bones 
 and muscles, stomach and lungs. The preponderance 
 of one or more of these organs shapes the tempera- 
 ment. Thus a person in whom the bones and mus- 
 cles predominate will have a different build or con- 
 stitution from one whose lungs or brain are in the 
 ascendant. A classification of temperaments made 
 on the actual constituents of the physical body is far 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 155 
 
 more accurate than one made upon any product of 
 these constituents ; so the classification of the tem- 
 peraments, as set forth by later phrenologists, is far 
 more accurate than that which Bain sets forth. The 
 temperament which Professor Bain calls the emotional 
 temperament, is far better classified under the name 
 vital. Emotion is only a product of temperament, 
 and is not a physical element of the constitution, and, 
 in fact, it might be said that emotion belonged in a 
 certain measure to all the temperaments — to the 
 mental and motive. The vital is the more emotional 
 temperament, not because there is a physical element 
 of emotion in it, but because the conditions are more 
 favorable to the development of emotion. The lack 
 of accuracy and definite statement on account of this 
 unfortunate classification on the part of Bain is per- 
 ceptible throughout his whole chapter on the emo- 
 tional temperament. He is treating a characteristic 
 of a temperament as a temperament itself, and hence 
 he fails to grasp all that should be included under a 
 temperament. 
 
 His chapter on special emotions or tastes will 
 now occupy us. All his remarks on the pleasures 
 of muscular exercise, sex, and organic sensibility are 
 well worthy of consideration ; so also are those on 
 taste, smell, touch, hearing, and sight. 
 
 Under the head of special emotions Bain discusses 
 what he considers an elementary fundamental power 
 of the human mind under the designation of tender 
 emotion. In an earlier part of his book he is dis- 
 posed to regard Adhesiveness, Philoprogenitiveness, 
 
I 56 HOW TO STUDY CHA RA CTER ; OR, 
 
 Benevolence, and even part of the function of Ama- 
 tiveness as included under the designation, tender 
 emotion, as one distinct innate faculty of the consti- 
 tution. If Bain had merely suggested the term ten- 
 der emotion as a sort of generic term under which 
 we could group the functions of all these organs for 
 convenience of statement, because they may be 
 shown to possess one element in common, namely, 
 tender affection, we should be disposed to adopt the 
 term ; but to group together three or more distinct 
 functions of the mind under such a loose, vague, and 
 general concept as tender emotion, and call it a single 
 innate faculty, is hardly compatible with accurate 
 classification of philosophy or science, and least of all 
 is it germane to the exact demands of phrenological 
 classification. When phrenologists arranged and 
 perfected their nomenclature, they sought to assign 
 names to each innate power designative of their 
 function. In all their classification, as it appeared 
 perfected by George Combe and others, there is not 
 to be found so vague and general a term as that em- 
 ployed by Bain, " tender emotion." To take a world- 
 wide term like emotion and circumscribe its meaning 
 by another still more wide in its application, is a piece 
 of patchwork which Phrenology has not been guilty 
 of. Take these terms as they present themselves, and 
 what meaning do they convey ? Emotion, in the first 
 place, is a general concept ; it is like the terms mem- 
 ory, conception, perception (which, by the way, the 
 self-introspective school also kindly supplied as funda- 
 mental powers), capable of being resolved into innu- 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 157 
 
 merable kinds of emotion. There is the emotion 
 of Amativeness, Friendship, Veneration, Self-esteem, 
 Approbation, Hope, etc. We have a distinct idea of 
 an emotion which springs from the function of a defi- 
 nite organ like Philoprogenitiveness or Amativeness ; 
 but what in the name of philosophical classification does 
 the term tender emotion convey? There is nothing 
 specific about the term at all. The quality of tender- 
 ness may enter as an element into any one of the 
 functions of the primitive organs. There is even an 
 element, tenderness, in Ideality — a beautiful picture 
 will awaken a tender feeling ; and Bain must admit 
 that in the function of his organ of Sympathy there 
 is an element of tenderness. To circumscribe the field 
 of affections by such a wide, loose term as tender emo- 
 tion is a gross error in classification, unpardonable in a 
 philosopher like Bain, who has laboriously endeavored 
 to pull down the phrenological classification. This term 
 of Bain's is not an advance in accuracy of statement, 
 but is rather a retrogression ; it is a going back to the 
 vague generalities of the old metaphysical school. 
 What we want in a diagnosis of character is individ- 
 ual terms of specific application. Nobody in analyz- 
 ing character could tell by the term tender emotion 
 whether the person was affectionate toward his wife, 
 children, friends, humanity, or an inanimate object. 
 
 The distinct elements of character which Bain has 
 grouped under this vague term are of such importance 
 that a correct and accurate exposition of a person's 
 character could not be given without a degree of cir- 
 cumlocution entirely unnecessary ; and, besides, if 
 
^8 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 these powers are but one faculty, by what method 
 shall we ascertain whether a person is philanthropic, 
 amative, parental, conjugal, or social? Five distinct 
 types of character are necessarily cut off from all 
 adequate means of ascertainment, if Bain is correct. 
 In self-conscious reflection there may be an element 
 which joins all these functions — an element, for in- 
 stance, of tender emotion ; but are there not separate 
 individual characteristic elements in each which colors 
 the emotion and makes each an innate power? Surely 
 the feeling stirred up by the love for children is dif- 
 ferent from the amative, the benevolent, or the social 
 feeling. When I love my friend, I am not experienc- 
 ing my love for children ; and when I love my wife, I 
 have not a feeling of sociability merely. Nor can 
 association, reciprocal relation, or any such inventions 
 of the metaphysical school account for the innate 
 characteristic element which separates each of these 
 emotions. The selfish hope of gaining benefit may 
 make men cling to each other in their business rela- 
 tions, but does this produce friendship-love, pure and 
 simple ? Does it not often happen that those whom 
 we love can render us no assistance at all ? When a 
 friend is dead, does the survivor who loved him feel 
 a thrill of joy whenever his name is mentioned because 
 he will gain some benefit from him ? Bain's concep- 
 tion of reciprocal relation may account for a sort of 
 business friendship, but never for that undying adher- 
 ence to friends through weal or woe. The poem called 
 " Palemon and Arcite " could never have been pro- 
 duced if its author had entertained the same low 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 159 
 
 estimate of friendship which Bain entertains ; and the 
 beautiful description of Saul and Jonathan, who were 
 lovely and pleasant in their lives and in death they 
 were not divided, would utterly lose its charm and 
 beauty if we could entertain for a moment that their 
 love for each other was simply one of mutual benefit. 
 Self-disinterested love of friends is a noble senti- 
 ment in our constitution, and has displayed itself in 
 all ages. History supplies many examples. When 
 Flora Macdonald accompanied the exiled Prince 
 Charles Stuart through all his painful marches and 
 tenderly watched him amid dangers and suffering, 
 was she gaining anything as reward for all her devo- 
 tion* to a fallen cause? The friendship element is 
 different from the benevolent. In the first there is 
 a feeling of joy and loyalty, in the second of pity 
 merely. I love my friend with a gladsome heart, but 
 pity a suffering human being with a thrill of sadness. 
 A mother loves her children with a sort of parental 
 pride ; there is no element of pity, it is a feeling of 
 joy and exultation. Philoprogenitiveness I have dis- 
 cussed before, and therefore I will not dwell upon it. 
 Benevolence we proved to be an innate power and 
 capable of performing all the functions characteristic 
 of Bain's organ of Sympathy. Adhesiveness there is 
 every reason, even by the self-introspective method, 
 for regarding as a distinct power of the mind. Dis- 
 interested love for one in preference to all is an ele- 
 ment in Adhesiveness. Benevolence loves all, and 
 more especially the unfortunate. Adhesiveness is a 
 factor, but not a product of sociability. When we 
 
l6o BOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 consider observed facts according to phrenological in- 
 vestigation, Bain's organ of tender emotion separates 
 itself into the distinct functions of Adhesiveness, 
 Philoprogenitiveness, and Benevolence. There is 
 every reason for supposing these are distinct facul- 
 ties, because they are found developed in different 
 degrees in different persons. Cases are reported 
 where persons on the death of their friend have re- 
 fused to be comforted, and have finally died with 
 grief at the loss. Cases of disinterested friendship 
 are numerous. 
 
 Under the term Irascibility, Bain describes the 
 essential function of the phrenological organ of De- 
 structiveness, and regards the faculty as innate. 
 There is no necessity to dwell upon it. 
 
 CONCESSIONS OF BAIN. 
 
 Professor Bain in his book on the " Study of Char- 
 acter " makes many concessions to Phrenology which 
 are highly creditable to that science. Some of these 
 we will briefly state : 
 
 (i). " The phrenologists proved by an accumulation 
 of unquestionable evidence the real connection exist- 
 ing between brain and mind. All other systems of 
 investigating the mind, metaphysical, physiological, 
 and anatomical, having failed to show the relation- 
 ship existing between natural organs and the mind." 
 
 (2). " They brought into prominence, as an important 
 element of ascertaining the power of any given func- 
 tion of the mind, the doctrine that size, all other 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. x 6l 
 
 things being equal, is the measure of power which 
 they established by innumerable proofs." 
 
 (3). "All theorists previous to Phrenology could 
 not prove their principles by appeals to observed 
 facts ; they could not show a relationship existing 
 between cerebral organs and the function of the ele- 
 mentary powers they had analyzed in their own con- 
 sciousness. Phrenology not only showed herself 
 capable of doing this, but she became the first and 
 only science of character." * 
 
 The value of cerebral development, as indicating 
 the seat of the faculties of mind, is acknowledged by 
 Bain, and for this reason he is willing to regard Phre- 
 nology as not only a science and art of character, but 
 also a science of mind. This ought to be a sufficient 
 answer to those who maintain that Phrenology is but 
 an art. If a philosopher of such high reputation as 
 Professor Bain, after an extensive and critical survey 
 of Phrenology, makes such a concession, it ought 
 surely to weigh as strong evidence in the minds of 
 those who are prejudiced against Phrenology. 
 
 (4). " If it can be proved that each fundamental 
 power in the human constitution has it own compart- 
 ment or cerebral center in the brain, then such funda- 
 mental powers are proved to be innate beyond dis- 
 pute." f 
 
 Now, is not this a remarkable concession ? It 
 grants the whole position of Phrenology, but I am 
 sorry to say that Bain loses sight of this principle, 
 
 * Bain's " Study of Character." t Ibid, 
 
l§2 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 the truth of which he admits in the subsequent dis- 
 cussion of the phrenological organs. 
 
 (5). "The phrenological analysis obtained by its 
 method of investigation revolutionized the analysis 
 of mind as then advocated by philosophy." 
 
 (6). " If Phrenology is true, she has brought to a 
 rapid and certain conclusion the tedious and unpro- 
 ductive labors of the other inquirers. Upon a method 
 of a diagnosis they have built a science of character, 
 and on that a science of mind." 
 
 (7). " It may be admitted that the connection thus 
 shown to exist between the size of a certain part of 
 the skull, and an excessive manifestation (say) of fear, 
 might be usefully employed in aiding us to regulate 
 our intercourse with our fellow-men, to select indi- 
 viduals for particular offices, to choose professions for 
 young people, to shape appropriately our instructions 
 and discipline in the education of children, and, in a 
 word, to appreciate the character of both ourselves 
 and others."* 
 
 MR. SAMUEL BAILEY AS QUOTED BY BAIN. 
 Bailey, as quoted by Bain, proceeds to narrow the 
 province of Phrenology to the simple method of in- 
 specting the brain. The classification of the faculties 
 and the description of their various states of activity 
 he regards as not within the province of Phrenology, 
 but of the self-introspective school. But this is 
 entirely unwarrantable; there is no reason why a 
 peculiarity of a science should be seized upon as the 
 
 * Bain's " Study of Character." 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 163 
 
 only principle of that science. When facts are ob- 
 served, the human mind has the privilege to reflect 
 upon them, and this privilege we claim does not be- 
 long to any school of philosophy whatever. That 
 Bailey (and Bain agrees with him) should strip Phre- 
 nology of the power of reflecting, weighing, and 
 judging the evidence presented by the observation 
 and senses, has no real ground of procedure, except 
 the manifest zeal of Bailey to make out as good a 
 field as possible for the metaphysical school. Phre- 
 nologists do not ignore the value of the reflective 
 faculties in the investigation of truth. They em- 
 ployed them in originating the terms and definitions 
 of the phrenological classification, and also in sifting 
 the evidence presented to them by experiment and 
 observation. What they protested against was not 
 the self-introspective or metaphysical process of in- 
 vestigating mind when founded upon facts presented 
 by observation, but a peculiar doctrine emphasized 
 by that school that the mind could only be studied 
 by self-introspection. They claimed that mental phe- 
 nomena were subject to observation as well as reflec- 
 tion. The phrenological school, so far from ignoring 
 self-conscious investigation, oftentimes makes use of 
 its methods. 
 
 (8). " Phrenology emphasized the importance of 
 studying the nervous structure in connection with 
 mental characteristics. It brought to light many 
 curious facts in human nature, and showed by numer- 
 ous examples that there are original differences in the 
 constitutional qualities of individuals and races." 
 
1 64 HOW TO STUD Y CHAR A CTER ; OR, 
 
 (9). " Although it is true all these facts might have 
 been observed without reference to the brain, or its 
 configuration, or its exterior covering, still to Phre- 
 nology, as actually prosecuted, must be awarded the 
 merit of strongly directing the attention to many of 
 them, and also of hastening, confirming, and dissemi- 
 nating views regarding the constitution of human na- 
 ture, which, notwithstanding they were once warmly 
 contested, and are yet not universally received, the 
 philosophical observer, without such assistance, would 
 doubtless have finally reached."* 
 
 This last statement is very questionable. The 
 philosophic mind has not made much advance in 
 analyzing the elementary or innate powers of the 
 human constitution even since the days of Gall. 
 The analysis of mind by modern schools of thought, 
 while it embraces many of the faculties as found in 
 phrenological classification, has still numerous ele- 
 ments in it which are not distinct fundamental 
 powers, but simply general conceptions ; in fact, the 
 self-introspective school has displayed remarkable 
 skill in ascertaining general terms or processes of the 
 mind, but it has failed to see the individual ele- 
 ments underlying these general terms. Still, any sys- 
 tem claiming to be a complete science of the mind 
 can not dispense with the self-introspective method. 
 There are laws, habits, relations, etc., which, while 
 they do not create innate powers, nevertheless ex- 
 plain how the fundamental powers act. Such laws 
 
 * Bain's " Study of Character.' 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 165 
 
 as association, habit, and most important of all, Bain's 
 three general processes of the mind, called by him 
 Discrimination, Retentiveness, and Similarity, ought 
 to be embodied in the science of mind, as throwing 
 light upon the general activity of the separate organs. 
 There is no reason why Phrenology should not per- 
 fect herself by drawing not only from psychology, but 
 also from physiology and experimental philosophy, 
 demonstrated principles relative to the human mind. 
 
 When Phrenology first began her labors, she pre- 
 sented the most liberal field of investigation possible 
 at the time, nor has she receded in modern times 
 from that all-embracing spirit. Her investigations 
 are still conducted upon the broad principles of 
 psychology, physiology, and physiognomy. The only 
 difference is this : the science of mind, like all other 
 sciences, has branched out into many departments. 
 Men of special talent rule each of these departments. 
 There are great scholars in the psychological and also 
 in the experimental schools. These schools, in their 
 ignorance of phrenological principles, sometimes pre- 
 sent a hostile front to Phrenology ; but, after all, if 
 Phrenology is true to the principles of her great 
 founders, she can receive truth from all of these 
 schools without losing a particle of honor. As the 
 case now stands, she is still the only science of the 
 mind which makes an approximate endeavor to em- 
 brace the three great elements of investigation, the 
 triad of all sciences : experiment, observation, and re- 
 flection. 
 
 But the most important concession made by Pro- 
 
l66 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 fessor Bain to Phrenology is expressed in a foot-note 
 on page 298 of his book on the " Study of Char- 
 acter." This foot-note is the more valuable be- 
 cause it is not given as a concession, but as a remark. 
 Bain has been discussing at considerable length the 
 intellectual element of disinterestedness, and finds 
 himself involved in a rather difficult situation. The 
 most subtile distinctions have been made by him 
 without arriving at any definite conclusion, and it 
 would seem in a fit of perplexity he subjoins the fol- 
 lowing note : "In a former chapter I conceded to 
 Phrenology the likelihood of regarding the tender- 
 hearted disposition, when generalized to the utmost, 
 as an ultimate fact of the constitution, for which a 
 local habitation might reasonably be looked for in the 
 brain. In a matter where the psychological analysis is 
 subtile and obscure, and where the sentiment is one of 
 great prominence in the mind, the well-established con- 
 currence of a cerebral development, with instances of 
 the quality in a high degree, ought not to be rashly set 
 aside." 
 
 These words sound like a virtual surrender of the 
 whole point at issue. In the first part of his book, 
 Bain strongly asserts that the self-conscious method 
 of investigation is capable in itself of supplying a 
 complete and perfect analysis of the human mind ; 
 and he declares emphatically that he will not subject 
 himself to a process of investigation so laborious as 
 that of Phrenology, however correct it may be. What 
 does he mean now by this foot-note ? It occurs al- 
 most at the close of his book, after he has waded 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 6/ 
 
 through a long, painful, metaphysical discussion of 
 what are and what are not primitive functions. Has 
 he indeed discovered the insufficiency of the self-con- 
 scious method to make a clear and definite analysis 
 of the human mind, or does he wish to escape from 
 its subtilty and obscurity by an appeal to observed 
 facts? Both motives are evident from a considera- 
 tion of the meaning of the note. Bain has, indeed, 
 reached the ultima thule of the metaphysical school ; 
 he has experienced its perplexities, and volunteers a 
 piece of solid advice to his metaphysical brethren : 
 u In a matter where the psychological analysis is sub- 
 tile and obscure, and where the sentiment is one of 
 great prominence in the mind." Mark this : Bain ac- 
 knowledges that the psychological analysis may be 
 subtile and obscure, even where the sentiment dis- 
 cussed is one of great prominence in the mind. Was 
 there ever an acknowledgment so crushingly and over- 
 whelmingly negative of any method of investigation ? 
 If the psychological analysis is obscure even where 
 there is light, how utterly muddy it must be where 
 there is no light. If the self-introspective method 
 has reached a point where subtilty and obscurity 
 stay all further progress, even when the subject of 
 its investigation is not only present, but of great 
 prominence, how, in the name of common-sense, can 
 it lay claim to be an efficient process in the closer 
 states of analysis ? But Bain does not stop here ; he 
 presents a method of escape from this obscurity ; and 
 what do you think that method is ? Why, when the 
 psychological (Bain's own method) has failed you are 
 
1 68 HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER ; OR, 
 
 to employ Gall's method, the phrenological method. 
 Here are his very words : " In such cases the well- 
 established concurrence of a cerebral development, 
 with instances of the quality in a high degree, ought 
 not to be rashly set aside." Now, there are two great 
 aspects of this admission which are peculiarly inter- 
 esting and remarkable. In the first place, the meta- 
 physical method may become obscure, — there are 
 truths of analysis which it can not fathom ; and 
 secondly, the phrenological system of investigation, 
 previously condemned as an insufficient method, is 
 now recommended, not only as a guide to analysis, 
 but as capable of deciding the most obscure and deli- 
 cate questions in the analysis of the mind. Was there 
 ever such a surrender of principles involved ? Bain, 
 has, indeed, forgotten his resolution to evolve a 
 mental analysis from the depths of the metaphysical 
 consciousness, and begins to see a gleam of hope 
 shining through the labyrinth of perplexing subtil- 
 ties, and that ray is the discarded phrenological 
 method of investigation. Now, it is a just inference, 
 from the concession made in this note of Professor 
 Bain, that if the phrenological method of investigat- 
 ing the mind can be employed successfully to estab- 
 lish obscure points of analysis, it ought to be even 
 more successful where there is no obscurity. 
 
 It may be thought that in this essay I should meet 
 the various objections to Phrenology which from time 
 to time have been urged against it, but this would be 
 an endless task. The objections against this science 
 generally spring from those who are ignorant of its 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 169 
 
 principles or who have become acquainted with Phre- 
 nology through its opponents and have therefore 
 obtained a stock of misrepresentations, false quota- 
 tions, and hackneyed, puerile, and contemptible ob- 
 jections. I can not answer such objections in detail ; 
 suffice it to say, that the founders of Phrenology were 
 perfectly capable of looking out for all the little side 
 issues of the science. Let no one suppose, however, 
 that I have not seen the objections urged against 
 Phrenology by such men as Dalton, Carpenter, -Bas- 
 tian, and Lewes — the objections of these men are all 
 easily met ; some of them are the product of sheer 
 ignorance or mere misrepresentation. Dalton has 
 withdrawn his objection. Sir William Hamilton is 
 supposed to have annihilated Phrenology. Well, I 
 have no doubt but that Sir William would have an- 
 nihilated Phrenology if he could, but nevertheless 
 Hamilton is dead and Phrenology is still alive, and I 
 venture to say that all the William Hamiltons that 
 ever lived could not annihilate Phrenology. It is not 
 necessary to discuss Hamilton's objections, since the 
 points at issue between the phrenologists and Hamil- 
 ton were long ago decided in favor of the former by 
 modern physiology and anatomy. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 The object of this essay has been to discover, if 
 possible, the true basis for a science of Mind and 
 Character. We laid down as prerequisites, in inves- 
 tigating the mind, certain definite principles which 
 we considered capable of embracing man's entire 
 8 
 
iy HOW TO STUDY CHARACTER; OR, 
 
 constitution. We examined the claims of the three 
 great branches of mental science — Metaphysics, now 
 called Psychology (perhaps, because under its old 
 name it received so many wounds from Phrenology 
 that it is wisdom to beget, at least, a new name), 
 Experimental Philosophy, and Phrenology. After a 
 careful consideration of the claims of each, we gave 
 in our adherence to Phrenology — not because we con- 
 sider that science complete, not because there are no 
 imperfections in her classification, not because she 
 has made an exhaustive analysis of mind and charac- 
 ter, or has accomplished a complete enumeration of 
 all the mental processes, general and specific, but be- 
 cause she is really the only science which has fulfilled, 
 as far as possible, the principles which we regard as 
 fundamental to a science of mind and character. We 
 are not blind to the valuable light thrown upon the 
 mind by the modern school of psychology, and should 
 strongly urge upon phrenologists the necessity of in- 
 corporating in their science of mind what is clearly 
 demonstrated by this school. It is a revelation of 
 history, no matter how inconceivable it may be to 
 the minds of some, that Phrenology has excelled 
 psychology even in that for which the latter always 
 prided herself — the capacity to make close, hair-split- 
 ting distinctions. The establishment of primitive 
 powers — and psychology acknowledges many of those 
 powers to be, indeed, innate in the constitution — was 
 chiefly the work of Phrenology. The Scottish school 
 of metaphysics, comprising such men as Dugald 
 Stewart and Brown, did make some approach toward 
 
 — 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. ^1 
 
 establishing primitive faculties, but their work in this 
 direction bears no comparison to the achievements 
 of Phrenology. The psychological school, on the 
 other hand, has shown a power of analysis, more 
 especially since the advent of Phrenology, of the gen- 
 eral processes of mind. Their laws of association, 
 habit, and more especially Bain's intellectual proc- 
 esses called Discrimination, Retentiveness, and Simi- 
 larity, throw much light upon the subject of how the 
 individual organs act, but they do not reveal primi- 
 tive functions. It is a curious fact that the meta- 
 physical faculty has made discoveries almost exclu- 
 sively in the generalizing domain, not in the specific. 
 In its scope of operation, it seems better able to de- 
 tect the general or universal rather than the specific 
 or individual. Observation and experiment, on the 
 other hand, take hold of the individual ; hence all 
 sciences have approached perfection in details in pro- 
 portion as they have subjected themselves to obser- 
 vation or experiment. The phrenological school, on 
 the other hand, has employed both observation, ex- 
 periment, and psychology, and hence her great success 
 in analyzing the mind and character. While Phre- 
 nology keeps in view the three grand methods of 
 studying man — psychological, physiological, and physi- 
 ognomical — she will continue to be the true basis for 
 the science of mind and character. There can be no 
 narrowness in her development, for she is at liberty 
 to embrace truth from every region of investigation. 
 Her founders, while holding tenaciously to all that was 
 peculiar to her, yet seized as her legitimate property 
 
1 72 HOW TO STUD Y CHARA CTER ; OR, 
 
 all that was proven by the metaphysical or experi- 
 mental methods. If her supporters continue to do 
 the same, there can be no fears for the future of 
 Phrenology. A science so wide in its scope is bound 
 to command attention, if not of specialists, at least of 
 the intelligent public. 
 
 In the building up of a complete science of mind, 
 Phrenology may have to give up some things, and she 
 may have to embrace truths from the psychological 
 and experimental schools, but she will not lose her dis- 
 tinctive character. Suppose, for instance, that the 
 metaphysical school supplies her with general terms 
 and descriptions of mental processes which are mat- 
 ters of self-introspection, she will only be enriched 
 by the process ; and suppose that the experimental 
 school supplies a more minute knowledge of brain 
 structure, such knowledge can not possibly eclipse 
 her honor. The investigations carried on by this 
 school at the present time into the structure of the 
 individual cells composing the convolutions of the 
 brain, which are the seats of the functions discovered 
 by Phrenology, can not overthrow Phrenology, but 
 will give a more minute knowledge of the cerebral 
 structure. If by experiment it can be proved that 
 each cell responds to a certain distinct feeling, and 
 that cells of the same or generic feelings are grouped 
 together in bunches or centers, this would be but a 
 confirmation of the great truth promulgated by Phre- 
 nology, that mental functions depend upon cerebral 
 centers for their manifestation. Now, after these 
 cells are grouped together in convolutions, clearly 
 
THE TRUE BASIS. 
 
 173 
 
 the only method of observing them in the human 
 mind is by the phrenological method. The only way 
 to make a practical application of an analysis of the 
 human mind to acquire a knowledge of character, is 
 by the phrenological method. After the last item 
 has been added to the knowledge of brain or body 
 by the psychological or experimental school, the only 
 way to apply this perfected knowledge to the human 
 subject, in order to build up a science of character, 
 is by the phrenological method, and if that method 
 proves a failure, then we can never hope to behold a 
 science of character. But there is nothing to indi- 
 cate a failure on the part of Phrenology ; so far, she 
 is the only science of character, and her history in 
 that respect is one of triumph. That the science of 
 mind and character may soon reach its perfection is 
 my earnest wish. 
 
WORKS PUBLISHED BY 
 FOWLER & WELLS CO., New York. 
 
 PHRENOLOGY AND PHYSIOGNOMY. 
 
 American Phrenological Journal and 
 Science of Health.— Devoted to Eth- 
 nology, Physiology, Phrenology, Physiog- 
 nomy, Psychology, Sociology, Biography, 
 Education, Literature, etc., with Measures 
 to Reform, Elevate, and Improve Man- 
 kind Physically, Mentally, and Spiritually. 
 Monthly, $2 a year ; 20 cents a number. 
 
 Sell (Sir Charles).— Expression : its 
 Anatomy and Philosophy. With the 
 original Notes and Illustrations by the 
 author, and additional Notes and Illustra- 
 tions by Samuel R. Wells. $1.25. 
 
 Boardman (Andrew.M.D.)— Defence 
 of Phrenology ; Containing an Essay 
 on the Nature and Value of Phrenological 
 Evidence ; A Vindication of Phrenology 
 against the Attack of its opponents. $1.25^ 
 
 Bray (Charles). — The Education of 
 the Feelings and Affections. Edited, 
 with Notes and Illustrations, by Nelson 
 Sizer. Cloth, $1.50. 
 
 This work gives ill and definite directions 
 for the cultivation or restraining of all the 
 faculties relating to the feelings or affections. 
 
 Combe (George). — A System of 
 Phrenology ; With One Hundred En- 
 gravings. Cloth, $1.50. 
 
 Constitution of Man ; Consider- 
 ed in Relation to external objects. The 
 only authorized American edition ; with 
 twenty engravings, and a portrait of the 
 author. $1.50. 
 The " Constitution of Man " is a work with 
 
 which every teacher and every pupil should be 
 
 acquainted. 
 
 Lectures on Phrenology; with 
 
 Notes, an Essay on the Phrenological 
 Mode of Investigation, and an Historical 
 Sketch, by A. Boardman, M.D. $1.50. 
 
 These are the Iscturcs delivered by George 
 Combe in America. 
 
 —Moral Philosophy ; or, the Duties 
 of Man considered in his Individual, Do- 
 mestic, and Social Capacities. $1.50. 
 
 Uniform Edition, 4 vols., extra cloth, $5.00. 
 
 Library Edition, 4 vols., $10. 
 
 On Education. — Papers on Edu- 
 cational Subjects. One vol. 8vo, Edin- 
 burgh Edition. Cloth, $5.00. 
 This volume consists of valuable Essays 
 
 written by Mr. Combe, and should be found in 
 
 the library of every teacher. 
 
 The Life of. By Charles Gib- 
 bon. 2 volumes, 8vo, with two portraits. 
 London Edition. $5.00. 
 These two works are not published in this 
 
 country, but we can furnish from our stock, or 
 
 import to order. 
 
 Capen (Nahum, LL.D.) — Reminis- 
 cences of Dr. Spurzheim and George 
 Combe, and a Review of the Science of 
 Phrenology from the period of its discov- 
 ery by Dr. Gall to the time of the visit 
 of George Combe to the United States, 
 with a new portrait of Dr. Spurzheim. 
 i2mo, extra cloth, $1.50. 
 Drayton (H. S., A.M.), and McNeil 
 (James, A.M.)— Brain and Mind; or, 
 Mental Science Considered in Accordance 
 with the Principles of Phrenology and in 
 Relation to Modern Physiology. 111. $1.50. 
 This is the latest and best work published. 
 It constitutes a complete text-book of Phrenol- 
 ogy, is profusely illustrated, and well adapted 
 to the use of students. 
 
 Drayton (H. S., A.M.)— The Indi- 
 cations of Character, as manifested 
 in the general shape of the head and the 
 form of the face. Illustrated. 25 cents. 
 
 How to Study Phrenology. — 
 
 With Suggestions to Students, Lists of 
 Best Works, Constitutions for Societies, 
 etc. i2mo, paper, 10 cents. 
 
 Fowler (O. S.)— Education and Seif- 
 Improvement Complete ; Comprising 
 " Physiology, Animal and Mental," "Self- 
 Culture and Perfection of Character," 
 " Memory and Intellectual Improvement." 
 One large vol. Illustrated. $3.50. 
 
 Self-Culture and Perfection of 
 
 Character ; Including the Management 
 of Children and Youth. $1.25. 
 One of the best of the author's works. 
 
 Physiology, Animal and Mental: 
 
 Applied to the Preservation and Restora- 
 tion of Health of Body and Pow«r of 
 Mind. $1.25. 
 
 Sent by Mail, post-paid. Fowler & Wells Co., 753 Broadway, N.Y. 
 
WORKS ON PHRENOLOGY. 
 
 Fowler (O. S.)— Memory and In- 
 
 TELLECTUAL IMPROVEMENT, applied to 
 
 Self-Education and Juvenile Instruction. 
 $1.25. The best work on the subject. 
 
 Maternity ; or, the Bearing and 
 
 Nursing of Children, including Femaie 
 Education and Beauty. $1.25. 
 
 Matrimony ; or, Phrenology and 
 
 Physiology applied to the Selection of 
 Congenial Companions for Life, includ- 
 ing Directions to the Married for living 
 together Affectionately and Happily. 50c. 
 
 Love and Parentage. Applied to 
 
 the Improvement of Offspring ; including 
 Directions to Lovers and the Married, 
 concerning the strongest ties and the most 
 sacred relations of life. 50 cents. 
 
 Hereditary Descent ; Its Laws 
 
 and Facts applied to Human Improve- 
 ment. Illustrated. $1.25. 
 
 Amativeness ; or, Evils and Rem- 
 edies of Excessive and Perverted Sexual- 
 ity ; including Warning and Advice to 
 the Married and Single. 25 cents. 
 
 Phrenology Proved, Illustrated, 
 
 and Applied. Embracing an Analysis 
 of the Primary Mental Powers in their 
 Various Degrees of Development, and 
 location of the Phrenological Organs. 
 The Mental Phenomena produced by 
 their combined action, and the location 
 of the faculties amply illustrated. By the 
 Fowler Brothers. $1.50. 
 
 Self-Instructor in Phrenology 
 
 and Physiology. With over One 
 Hundred Engravings and a Chart for 
 Phrenologists, for the Recording of Phren- 
 ological Development. By the Fowler 
 Brothers. Paper, 50 cts. ; cloth, 75 cts. 
 
 Synopsis of Phrenology, and 
 
 Charts for Describing the Phrenological 
 Developments, for the us« of Lecturers 
 and Examiners. Paper, 10 cents. 
 
 Fowler (L.N.) — Marriage, its His- 
 tory and Ceremonies, with a Phren- 
 ological and Physiological Exposition of 
 the Functions and Qualifications for 
 Happy Marriages. Illustrated, $1.25. 
 
 Redfield's Comparative Physiogno- 
 MY ; or, Resemblances Between Men and 
 Animals. Illustrated. $3.00. 
 
 Sent by Mat/ t post-paid. FOWLER & 
 
 Sizer (Nelson). — Choice of Pursuits: 
 
 or, What to Do and Why. Describing 
 Seventy-five Trades and Professions, and 
 the Temperaments and Talents required 
 *or each. With Portraits and Biographies 
 of many successful Thinkers and Work- 
 ers. $1.75. 
 
 How to Teach According to 
 
 Temperament and Mental Develop- 
 ment ; or, Phrenology in the School-room 
 and the Family. Illustrated. $1.50. 
 
 Forty Years in Phrenology ; em 
 
 bracing Recollections of History, Anec- 
 dote and Experience. $1.50. 
 
 Thoughts on Domestc Life ; or, 
 
 Marriage Vindicated and Free Love Ex' 
 posed. 25 cents. 
 
 Spurzheim (J. G. , M.D.)— Education; 
 its Elementary Principles Found- 
 ed on the Nature of Man. With an 
 Appendix by S. R. Wells, containing a , 
 Description of the Temperaments and a 
 Brief Analysis of the Phrenological Facul- 
 ties. Illustrated. $1.50. 
 
 Natural Laws of Man. — A Phi- 
 losophical Catechism. Sixth Edition. En- 
 larged and improved. 50 cents. 
 
 Weaver (Rev. G. S.) — Lectures on 
 Mental Science. According »o the 
 Philosophy of Phrenology. Delivered be- 
 fore the Anthropological Society. Illus- 
 trated. $1.25. 
 
 Wells (Samuel R.) — New Physiog- 
 NOMY ; or, Signs of Character, as mani- 
 fested through Temperament and Exter- 
 nal Forms, and especially in the " Human 
 Face Divine." With more than One 
 Thousand Illustrations. In one iarao 
 volume, 768 pages, muslin, $5.00; in 
 heavy calf, marbled edges, $S.oo ; Turkey 
 morocco, full gilt, $10. 
 
 "The treatise of Mr. Wells, which is admira- 
 bly printed and profusely illustrated, is probably 
 the most complete hand-book upon the subject 
 in the language." — N. Y. Tribune. 
 
 Phrenological Bust.— Showing the 
 latest classification and exact location of 
 the Organs of the Brain. It is divided so 
 as to show each individual Organs on one 
 side ; with all the groups — Social, Execu- 
 tive, Intellectual, and Moral— properly clas- 
 sified, on the other side. <There*iuK two 
 sizes ; the largest, not mailable, price $1. 
 The smaller, 50 cents. 
 
 Wells Co., 753 Broadway, N. Y. 
 
PHRENOLOGY AND PHYSIOGNOMY. 
 
 Wells (S. R.)-How to Read Char- 
 
 acter. — A New Illustrated Hand-book of 
 Phrenology and Physiognomy, for Stu- 
 dents and Examiners, with a Chart for re- 
 cording- the sizes of the different Organs 
 of the Brain in the Delineation of Char- 
 acter ; with upwards of 170 Engravings. 
 Paper, $i.co ; Cloth, $1.25. 
 
 Wedlock ; or, The Right Relations 
 
 of the Sexes. Disclosing the Laws of 
 Conjugal Selections, and showing Who 
 May Marry. $1.50 ; gilt, $2.00. 
 
 New Descriptive Chart, for the 
 
 Use of Examiners in the Delineation of 
 Character. 25 cents ; cloth, 50 cents. 
 
 Harmony of Phrenology and the 
 Bible, including the Definitions. 10 cts. 
 
 A Catechism of Phrenology. Illus- 
 trating the Principles of the Science. 25c. 
 
 How to Study Character ; or, The 
 True Basis of the Science of Mind. 50c. 
 
 The Phrenological Miscellany; or, 
 Illustrated Annuals of Phrenology and 
 Physiognomy, from 1865 to 1S73 combin- 
 ed in 1 volume, the nine containing over 
 400 illustrations, many portraits and biog- 
 raphies of distinguished personages, to- 
 gether with articles on " How to Study 
 Phrenology," " Resemblance to Parents," 
 "Bashfulness," "Diffidenca," " Stammer- 
 ing," etc., an elaborate article on "The 
 Marriage of Cousins," "Jealousy, its 
 Cause and Cure." 450 pages, $1.50. 
 
 Phrenology and the Scriptures. — 
 Showing the Harmony between Phrenol- 
 ogy and the Bible. By Rev. J. PiERPONT. 
 Paper, 15 cts. 
 
 The Annuals of Phrenology and 
 Health Almanac for 1874, '75, '76, '77, 
 '78, '79, '80, '81, '82, '83, in one vol. $1. 
 
 Symbolical Head and Phreno- 
 
 LOGICAL Map. On fine tinted paper, 10c. 
 
 Phrenology, its History and Impor- 
 tant Principles. >""y T. Turner, ioc. 
 
 There is an increasing interest in the facts relating to Magnetism, etc., and we present 
 below a list of Works on this subject. 
 
 Practical Instructions in Animal 
 Magnetism. By J. P. F. Deleuze. Trans- 
 lated by Thomas C T Iartshorn. New and 
 Revised edition, witn an appendix of notes 
 by the Translator, and Letters from Emi- 
 nent Physicians, and others. $2.00. 
 
 History of Salem Witchcraft. — A 
 
 review of Charles W. Upham's great 
 Work from the Edinburgh Review, with 
 Notes ; by Samuel R. Wells, contain- 
 ing, also, The Planchette Mystery, Spirit- 
 ualism, by Mrs. Harriet Beecher 
 Stowe, and Dr. Doddridge's Dream. $1. 
 
 Fascination ; or, the Philosophy of 
 
 Charming. Illustrating the Principles 
 of Life in connection with Spirit and Mat- 
 ter. By J. B. Newman, M.D. $1.00. 
 
 , Six Lectures on the Philosophy of 
 
 Mesmerism, delivered in Marlboro' Chap- 
 el, Boston. By Dr. JOHN BOVEE DODS. 
 Paper, 50 cents. 
 
 The Philosophy of Electrical Psy- 
 CHOLOGY, in a course of Twelve Lectures. 
 By the same author. i2mo, cloth, $1.35. 
 
 The Library of Mesmerism and 
 
 Psychology.— Comprising the Philoso- 
 phy of Mesmerism, Clairvoyance, Mental 
 Electricity. — Fascination, or the Power of 
 Charming. Illustrating the Principles 
 of Life in connection with Spirit and 
 Matter. — The Macrocosm, or the Universe 
 Without : being an unfolding of the plan 
 of Creation, and the Correspondence of 
 Truths. — The Philosophy of Electrical 
 Psychology ; the Doctrine of Impressions ; 
 including the connection between Mind 
 and Matter ; also, the Treatment of Dis- 
 eases. — Psychology ; or, the Science of the 
 Soul, considered Physiologically and Philo- 
 sophically ; with an Appendix containing 
 Notes of Mesmeric and Psychical experi- 
 ence, and illustrations of the Brain and 
 Nervous System. 1 vol. $3.50. 
 
 How to Magnetize ; or, Magnetism 
 and Clairvoyance. — A Practical Treat- 
 ise on the Choice, Management and 
 Capabilities of Subjects, with Instructions 
 on the Method of Procedure. By James 
 Victor Wilson. i8mo, paper, 25 cts. 
 
 The Key to Ghostism. By Rev. 
 Thomas Mitchel. $1.50. 
 
 Sent by Mai/, post-paid. 
 
 Fowler & Wells Co., 753 Broadway, N. Y. 
 
HEALTH BOOKS. 
 
 This List comprises the Best Works on Hygiene, Health, Etc. 
 
 Combe (Andrew, M.D.) — Principles 
 applied to the Preservation of Health and 
 to the Improvement of Physical and 
 Mental Education. Illustrated. Cloth. 
 $1.50. 
 
 Management of Infancy, Physi- 
 ological and Moral Treatment. With 
 Notes and a Supplementary Chapter, 
 $1.25. 
 
 Dodds (Susanna W., M.D.)— Health 
 in the Household ; or, Hygienic Cook- 
 ery. i2mo, extra cloth, $2.00. 
 
 Fairchild(M. Augusta, M.D.)— How 
 to be Well; or, Common-Sense Med- 
 ical Hygiene. A book for the People, 
 giving Directions for the Treatment and 
 Cure of Acute Diseases without the use of 
 Drug Medicines ; also, General Hints on 
 Health. £1.00. 
 
 Graham (Sylvester). — Science of 
 Human Life, Lectures on the. With 
 a copious Index and Biographical Sketch 
 of the Author. Illustrated, $3.00. 
 
 Chastity. — Lectures to Young 
 
 Men. Intended also for the Serious Con- 
 sideration of Parents and Guardians. 
 i2mo. Paper, 50 cents. 
 
 Gully (J. M., M.D.) — Water-Cure 
 in Chronic Diseases. An Exposition 
 of the Causes, Progress, and Termination 
 of various Chronic Diseases of the Di- 
 gestive Organs, Lungs, Nerves, Limbs, 
 and Skin, and of their Treatment by 
 Water and other Hygienic means. $1.50. 
 For Girls ; A Special Physiology, or 
 Supplement to the Study of General Phy- 
 siology. By Mrs. E. R. Shepherd. $1.00. 
 Page (C. E., M.D.)— How to Feed 
 the Baby to make her Healthy and Hap- 
 py. i2tno. Third edition, revised and 
 enlarged. Paper, 50 cents; extra cloth, 
 75 cents. 
 
 This is the most important work ever publish- 
 ed on the subject of infant dietetics. 
 
 The Natural Cure of Consump- 
 
 tion, Constipation, Bright's Disease, Neu- 
 ralgia, Rheumatism, "Colds" (Fevers), 
 etc. How these Disorders Originate, and 
 How to Prevent Them. i2mo, cloth, $1.00. 
 
 Sent by Mail, post-paid. 
 
 Horses : their Feed and their Feet. 
 —A Manual of Horse Hygiene. Invaluable 
 to the veteran or the novice, pointing out 
 the true sources of disease, and how to pre- 
 vent and counteract them. By C. E. 
 Page, M.D. Paper 50 cts., cloth 75 cts. 
 
 Diseases of Modern Life. By Ben- 
 jamin Ward Richardson, M.D., M.A., 
 F.R.S. 520 pages, $1.50. 
 
 The Health Miscellany. An impor- 
 tant Collection of Health Papers. . Nearly 
 100 octavo pages. 25 cents. 
 
 Gully (J. M., M.D.) and Wilson 
 (James, M. D.)— Practice of the 
 Water-Cure, with Authenticated Evi- 
 dence of its Efficacy and Safety. Con- 
 taining a Detailed Account of the various 
 Processes used in the Water Treatment, 
 a Sketch of the History and Progress of 
 the Water-Cure. 50 cents. 
 
 Jacques (D. H., M.D.)— The Tem- 
 peraments; or, Varieties of Physical 
 Constitution in Man, considered in their 
 relation to Mental Character and Practical 
 Affairs of Life. With an Introduction 
 by H. S. Drayton, A.M., Editor of the 
 Phrenological Journal. 150 Portraits 
 and other Illustrations. $1.50. 
 
 How to Grow Handsome, or 
 
 Hints toward Physical Perfection, and 
 the Philosophy of Human Beauty, show- 
 ing How to Acquire and Retam Bodily 
 Symmetry, Health, and Vigor, secure 
 Long Life, and Avoid the Infirmities and 
 Deformities of Age. New Edition. $1.00. 
 
 Johnson (Edward, M.D.)— Domes- 
 Tic Practice of Hydropathy, with 
 Fifteen Engraved Illustrations of impor- 
 tant subjects, from Drawings by Dr. How- 
 ard Johnson. $1.50. 
 
 White (Wm., M.D.)— Medical Elec- 
 
 tricity.— A Manual for Students, show- 
 ing the most Scientific and Rational Ap- 
 plication to all forms of Diseases, of the 
 different Combinations of Electricity, 
 Galvanism, Electro-Magnetism, Magneto- 
 Electricity, and Human Magnetism. 
 
 I2Q10, $2.00. 
 
 Transmission ; or, Variations of Char- 
 acter Through the Mother. By Georg- 
 
 IANA B. KlRBY. 25 ClS. , cloth, 50 Cts. 
 
 Fowler & Wells Co., 753 Broadway, NY. 
 
WORKS ON HEALTH AND HYGIENE. 
 
 Peck (J. L.;— The Human Feet.— 
 Their Shape, Dress, and Proper Care. 
 Showing their Natural, Perfect Shape 
 and Construction, their present Deformed 
 Condition, and how Flat Feet, Distorted 
 Toes, and other Defects are to be Prevent- 
 ed or Corrected. Illustrated. $1.00. 
 
 The Diseases of Modern Life. By 
 B. W. Richardson, M.D. Ex. clo , $1.50. 
 
 Pendleton (Hester, Mrs.) — The 
 Parents' Guide ; or, Human Develop- 
 ment through Pre-Natal Influences and 
 Inherited Tendencies. Revised Ed. $1.25. 
 
 Pereira (Jonathan, M.D., F.R.S.)— 
 Food and Diet. With observations on 
 the Dietetical Regimen, suited for Dis- 
 ordered States of the Digestive Organs, 
 and an account of the Dietaries of some of 
 the Principal Metropolitan and other Es- 
 tablishments for Paupers, Lunatics, Crim- 
 inals, Children, the Sick, etc. Edited by 
 Charles A. Lee, M.D. $1.40. 
 
 Shew (Joel, M.D.)— The Family 
 Physician.— A Ready Prescriber and 
 Hygienic Adviser. With Reference to 
 the Nature, Causes, Prevention, and 
 Treatment of Diseases, Accidents, and 
 Casualties of every kind. With a Glossary 
 and copious Index. Illustrated with nearly 
 Three Hundred Engravings. $3.00. 
 
 Letters to Women on Midwifery 
 
 and Diseases of Women.— A Descrip- 
 tive and Practical Work, giving Treat- 
 ment in Menstruation and its Disorders, 
 Chlorosis, Leucorrhea, Fluor Albus, Pro- 
 lapsus Uteri, Hysteria, Spinal Diseases, 
 and other weaknesses of Females, Preg- 
 nancy and its Diseases, Abortion, Uterine 
 Hemorrhage, and the General Manage- 
 ment of Childbirth, Nursing, ecc. $1.50. 
 
 Pregnancy and Childbirth, with 
 
 Cases showing the remarkable Effects of 
 Water Treatment in Mitigating the Pains 
 and Perils of the Parturient State. 50 cts. 
 
 Tobacco : its Physical, Intellectual, 
 
 and Moral Effects on the Human System. 
 
 By Dr. Alcott. New and revised ed., with 
 
 notes and additions, by N. Sizer. 25 cts. 
 
 Sent by Mat/, post-paid. Fowler & 
 
 Shew (Joel, M.D.)— Children, their 
 Hydropathic Management in Health and 
 Disease. A Descriptive and Practical 
 Work, designed as a Guide for Families 
 and Physicians. $1.50. 
 
 Sober and Temperate Life. — The 
 Discourses and Letters of Louis Cornaro 
 on a Sober and Temperate Life. 50 cts. 
 
 Taylor (G. H., M.D.)— The Move- 
 
 ment Cure. The History and Philoso- 
 phy of this System of Medical Treatment, 
 with Examples of Single Movements, The 
 Principles of Massage, and Directions for 
 their Use in various Forms of Chronic 
 Diseases. New and Enlarged Ed. $1.50. 
 
 Massage. Giving the Principles 
 
 and Directions for its Application in all 
 Forms of Chronic Diseases. 121110, $1.50. 
 
 The Science of a New Life. By 
 John Cowan, M.D. Extra cloth, $3.00. 
 
 Mothers and Daughters. — A Manual 
 of Hygiene for Women. By Mrs. E. G. 
 Cook, M.D. $1.50. 
 
 Philosophy of the Water-Cure. By 
 John Balbirnie, M.D. 50 cents. 
 
 Chronic Diseases. — Especially the 
 Nervous Diseases of Women. 25 cents. 
 
 Consumption, its Prevention and 
 Cure by the Movement Cure. 25 cents. 
 
 Notes on Beauty, Vigor, and Devel- 
 OPMENT ; or, How to Acquire Plumpness 
 of Form, Strength of Limb, and Beauty 
 of Complexion. Illustrated. 10 cents. 
 
 Tea and Coffee.— Their Physical, 
 Intellectual, and Moral Effects on the 
 Human System. By Dr. Alcott. New 
 and revised edition, with notes and ad- 
 ditions by Nelson Sizer. 25 cents. 
 
 Heredity. — Responsibility and Par- 
 entage. By Rev. S. H. Piatt. 10 cts. 
 
 Special List. — We have in addition 
 to the above, Private Medical Works and 
 Treatises. This Special List will be seat 
 on receipt of stamp. 
 
 Wells Co., 753 Broadway, N.Y. 
 
WORKS ON HYGIENE BY R T. TRAi^L, M.D. 
 
 Hydropathic Encyclopedia. — A Sys- 
 tem of Hydropathy and Hygiene. Era- 
 bracing Outlines of Anatomy, Illus'ed ; 
 Physiology of the Human Body ; Hygi- 
 enic Agencies, and the Preservation of 
 Health ; Dietetics and Hydropathic Cook- 
 ery ; Theory and Practice of Water- Treat- 
 ment ; Special Pathology and Hydro- 
 Therapeutics, including- the Nature, 
 Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment of all 
 known Diseases ; Application of Hydrop- 
 athy to Midwifery and the Nursery, with 
 nearly One Thousand Pages, including a 
 Glossary. Designed as a guide to Families 
 and Students. With numerous Illus. 2 
 vols, in one. $4. 
 
 (Jterine Diseases & Displacements. 
 
 A Practical Treatise on the Various Dis- 
 eases, Malpositions, and Structural De- 
 rangements of the Uterus and its Append- 
 ages. Fifty-three Colored Plates. $5. 
 
 The Hygienic Hand-Book. — Intend- 
 ed as a Practical Guide for the Sick- 
 Room. Arranged alphabetically. $1.50. 
 
 Illustrated Family Gymnasium- 
 Containing the most improved methods 
 of applying Gymnastic, Calisthenic, Kine- 
 sipathic and Vocal Exercises to the Devel- 
 opment of the Bodily Organs, the invigor- 
 ation of their functions," the preservation 
 of Health, and the Cure of Diseases and 
 Deformities. With illustrations. $1.50. 
 The Hydropathic Cook-Book, with 
 Recipes for Cooking on Hygienic Princi- 
 ples. Containing also, a Philosophical 
 Exposition of the Relations of Food to 
 Health ; the Chemical Elements and 
 Proximate Constitution of Alimentary 
 Principles; the Nutritive Properties of 
 all kinds of Aliments ; the Relative Value 
 of Vegetable and Animal Substances ; 
 the Selection and Preservation of Dietetic 
 Material, etc. $i.«J5. 
 
 Fruits and Farinacea the Proper 
 Food of Man.— Being an attempt to 
 prove by History, Anatomy, Physiology, 
 and Chemistry that the Original, Natural, 
 and Best Diet of Man is derived from the 
 Vegetable Kingdom. By John SMITH. 
 With Nores by Trall. $1.50. 
 
 DigesLion and Dyspepsia. — A Com- 
 plete fciplanation of the Physiology o( 
 the Digestive Processes, with the Symo- 
 toms and Treatment of Dyspepsia and 
 other Disorders. Illustrated. $1.00. 
 
 Sent by Mail, postpaid. FOWLER & 
 
 The Mother's Hygienic Hand-Book 
 for the Normal Development and Train- 
 ing of Women and Children, and the 
 Treatment of their Diseases. $1.00. 
 
 Popular Physiology. — A Familiar 
 Exposition of the Structures, Functions, 
 and Relations of the Human System and 
 the Preservation of Health. $1.25. 
 
 The True Temperance Platform. — 
 An Exposition of the Fallacy of Alcoholic 
 Medication, being the substance of ad- 
 dresses delivered in the Queen's Concert 
 Rooms, London. Paper, 50 cents. 
 
 The Alcoholic Controversy. — A Re- 
 view of the Westminster Review on the 
 Physiological Errors of Teetotalism. 50 c. 
 
 The Human Voice. — Its Anatomy, 
 Physiology, Pathology, Therapeutics, 
 and Training, with Rules of Order for 
 Lyceums. 50 cents ; cloth, 75 cents. 
 
 The True Healing Art ; or, Hygienic 
 
 vs. Drug Medication. An Address 
 delivered before the Smithsonian Institute, 
 Washington, D. C. Paper, 25 cents ; 
 cloth, 50 cents. 
 
 Water-Cure for the Million.— The 
 
 processes of Water-Cure Explained, Pop- 
 ular Errors Exposed, Hygienic and Drug 
 Medication Contrasted. Rules for Bath- 
 ing, Dieting, Exercising, Recipes for 
 Cooking, etc., etc. Directions for Home 
 Treatment. Paper, 25 cts. ; cloth, 75 cts. 
 
 Hygeian Home Cook-Book ; or, 
 
 Healthful and Palatable Food 
 without Condiments. A Book of 
 Recipes. Paper, 25 cts. ; cloth, 50 cts. 
 
 Accidents and Emergencies, a guide 
 containing Directions for the Treatment 
 in Bleeding, Cuts, Sprains, Ruptures, 
 Dislocations, Burns and Scalds, Bites of 
 Mad Dogs, Choking, Poisons, Fits, Sun- 
 strokes, Drowning, etc, By Alfred Smee, 
 with Notes and additions by R. T. Trail, 
 M.D. New and revised edition. 25 cts. 
 
 Diseases of Throat and Lungs. — 
 Including Diphtheria and Proper Treat- 
 ment. 25 cents. 
 
 The Bath. — Its History and Uses in 
 Health and Disease. Paper 25c; clo., 50c. 
 
 A Health Catechism. — Questions 
 and Answers. With Illustrations, xo cts. 
 
 Wells Co., 753 Broadway, N. Y. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS WORKS. 
 
 Hand-books for Home Improve- 
 ment (Educational) ; comprising, 
 "How to Write," "How to Talk," 
 "How to Behave," and "How to do 
 Business." One i2mo vol., $2.00. 
 
 How to Write : a Pocket Manual of 
 Composition and Letter-Writing. 75 cts. 
 
 How to Talk: a Pocket Manual of 
 Conversation and Debate, with more than 
 Five Hundred Common Mistakes in 
 Speaking Corrected. 75 cents. 
 
 How to Behave : a Pocket Manual 
 of Republican Etiquette and Guide to 
 Correct Personal Habits, with Rules for 
 Debating Societies and Deliberative 
 Assemblies. 75 cents. 
 
 How to Do Business : a Pocket 
 Manual of Practical Affairs, and a Guide 
 to Success in Life, with a Collection of 
 Legal and Commercial Forms. 75c. 
 
 How to Read. — What and Why ; or, 
 Hints in Choosing the Best Books, with 
 Classified List of Best Works in Biogra- 
 phy, Criticism, Fine Arts, History, Nov- 
 els, Poetry, Science, Religion, Foreign 
 Languages, etc. ByA.V. Petit. Clo.,$i. 
 
 How to Sing ; or, the Voice and How 
 to Use it. By W. H. Daniell. 50c ; 75c. 
 
 How to Conduct a Public Meeting ; 
 or, The Chairman's Guide for Conduct- 
 ing Meetings, Public and Private. 15 ctr. 
 
 Hopes and Helps for the Young of 
 Both Sexes.— Relating to the Forma- 
 tion of Character, Choice of Avocation, 
 Health, Amusement, Music, Conversa- 
 tion, Social Affections, Courtship and 
 Marriage. By Weaver. $1.25. 
 
 Aims and Aids for Girls and Young 
 
 WoMEiV, on the various Duties of Life. 
 Including Physical, Intellectual, and Moral 
 Development, Dress, Beauty, Fashion, 
 Employment, Education, the Home Re- 
 lations, their Duties to Young Men, Mar- 
 riage, Womanhood and Happiness. $1.25. 
 
 Ways of Life, showing the Right 
 Way and the Wrong Way. Contrasting 
 the High Way and the Low Way ; the 
 True Way and the False Way ; the Up- 
 ward Way and the Downward Way ; the 
 Way of Honor and of Dishonor. 75 cts. 
 
 The Christian Household.— Embrac- 
 ing the Husband, Wife, Father, Mother, 
 Child, Brother and Sister. $1.00. 
 
 Weaver's Works for the Young, 
 
 Comprising " Hopes and Helps for the 
 Young of Both Sexes," "Aims and Aids 
 for Girls and Young Women," "Ways 
 of Life ; or, the Right Way and the 
 Wrong Way." One vol. i2mo. $2.50. 
 
 The Right Word in the Right Place. 
 
 — A New Pocket Dictionary and Reference 
 Book. Embracing extensive Collections 
 of Synonyms, Technical Terms, Abbre- 
 viations, Foreign Phrases, Chapters on 
 Writing for the Press, Punctuation, Proof- 
 Reading, and other Information. 75 cts. 
 
 How to Learn Short-Hand ; or, The 
 
 Stenographic Instructor. An Improved 
 System of Short-hand Writing arranged 
 specially for the use of those desirous of 
 acquiring the art without the aid of a 
 teacher. By Arthur M. Baker. 25 cents. 
 Phonographic Note - Book. — For 
 Students and Reporters. Double or Sin- 
 gle ruled. 15 cents. 
 
 The Emphatic Diaglott, Containing 
 the Original Greek Text of The New 
 Testament, with an Interlineary Word- 
 for-Word English Translation ; a New 
 Emphatic Version based on the Interline- 
 ary Translation, on the Readings of the 
 Vatican Manuscript (No. 1,200 in the Vat- 
 ican Library). By Benjamin Wilson. 
 884 pp., $4.00 ; extra fine binding $5.00. 
 
 A Bachelor's Talks about Married 
 Life and Things Adjacent. By Rev. 
 William Aikman, D.D. i2tno, extra 
 cloth, $1.50. Ready November 1. 
 
 History of Woman Suffrage. — Illus- 
 trated with Steel Engravings. Edited by 
 Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. An- 
 thony, Matilda Joslyn Gage. Complete 
 in Three Octavo Volumes. Price per Vol- 
 ume, Cloth, $5.00. Sheep, $6.50. 
 
 Life at Home ; or, The Family and 
 its Members. Including Husbands and 
 Wives, Parents, Children, Brothers, Sis- 
 ters, Employers and Employed, The Altar 
 in the House, etc. By Rev. William 
 Aikman, D.D. ismo, $1.50 ; full gilt $2. 
 
 A New Theory of the Origin of 
 Species. By Benj. G. Ferris. $1.50. 
 
 Man in Genesis and in Geology r or, 
 the Biblical Account of Man's Creation 
 tested by Scientific Theories of his Origin 
 and Antiquity. By Joseph P, Thompson, 
 D.D., LL.D. $1.00. 
 
 Sent by Mail, post-paid. Fowler & Wells Co., 753 Broadway, N.Y. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS WORKS. 
 
 The Conversion of St. Paul.— By 
 Geo. Jarvis Geer, D.D. In three Parts, 
 ist. Its Relation to Unbelief. 2d. Its 
 False Uses and True. 3d. Its Relation to 
 the Church. $1.00. 
 
 The Temperance Reformation. — Its 
 
 History from the first Temperance Soci- 
 ety in the United States to the Adoption 
 of the Maine Liquor Law. $1.50. 
 
 Man and Woman, Considered in 
 their Relations to each other and to the 
 World. By H. C. Pedder. Cloth, $1. 
 
 JEsop's Fables.— With Seventy Splen- 
 did Illustrations. One vol. i2mo, fancy 
 cloth, gilt edges, $1. People's Edition, 
 bound in boards, 25 cents. 
 
 Pope's Essay on Man, with Illustra 
 tions and Notes by S. R. Wells. i2mo, 
 tinted paper, fancy cloth, full gilt, price $1. 
 People's Edition, bound in boards, 25c. 
 
 Gems of Goldsmith: "The Travel- 
 er," "The Deserted Village," " The Her- 
 mit." With notes and Original Illustra- 
 tions, and Biographical Sketch of the 
 great author. One vol., fancy cloth, full 
 gilt, $1. People's Ed., bound in boards, 25c. 
 
 The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. 
 
 In Seven Parts. By Samuel T. Coleridge. 
 With new Illustrations by Chapman . One 
 vol., fancy cloth, full gilt, $1. People's 
 Ed., bound in boards, 25 cents. 
 
 Footprints of Life ; or, Faith and Na- 
 
 ture Reconciled. — A Poem in Three 
 Parts. The Body ; The Soul ; The Deity. 
 Philip Harvey, M.D. $1.25. 
 
 How to Paint. — A Complete Compen- 
 dium of the Art. Designed for the use 
 of Tradesmen, Mechanics, Merchants and 
 Farmers, and a Guide to the Profession- 
 al Painter, Containing a plain Common- 
 sense statement of the Methods employed 
 by Painters to produce satisfactory results 
 in Plain and Fancy Painting of every De- 
 scription, including Gilding, Bronzing, 
 Staining, Graining, Marbling, Varnish- 
 ing, Polishing, Kalsomining, Paper Hang- 
 ing, Striping, Lettering, Copying and 
 Ornamenting, with Formulas for Mixing 
 Paint in Oil or Water. Description of 
 Various Pigments used : tools required, 
 etc. By F. B. Gardner. $1.00. 
 
 The Carriage Painter's Illustrated 
 
 Manual, containing a Treatise on the) 
 Art, Science, and Mystery of Coach, Car- 
 riage, and Car Painting. Including ihe 
 Improvements in Fine Gilding, Bronzing, 
 Staining, Varnishing, Polishing, Copying, 
 Lettering, Scrolling, and Ornamenting. 
 B/ F. B. Gardner. $1.00. 
 
 How to Keep a Store, embodying 
 the Experience of Thirty Years in Mer- 
 chandizing. By Samuel H. Terry. $1.50. 
 
 How to Raise Fruits. — A Hand-book. 
 Being a Guide to the Cultivation and 
 Management of Fruit Trees, and of 
 Grapes and Small Fruits. With Descrip- 
 tions of the Best and Most Popular Varie- 
 ties. Illustrated. By Thomas Gregg. $1. 
 
 How to be Weather-Wise. — A new 
 View of our Weather System. By I. P. 
 
 Noyes. 25 cents. 
 
 How to Live. — Saving and Wasting ; 
 or, Domestic Economy Illustrated by the 
 Life of two Families of Opposite Charac- 
 ter, Habits, and Practices, full of Useful 
 Lessons in Housekeeping, and Hints How 
 to Live, How to Have, and How to be 
 Happy, including the Story of "A Dime 
 a Day," by Solon Robinson. $1.25. 
 
 Oratory — Sacred and Secular, or the 
 Extemporaneous Speaker. Including a- 
 Chairman's Guide for conducting Public 
 Meetings according to the best Parliamen- 
 tary forms. By Wm. Pittenger. $1.25. 
 
 Homes for All ; or, the Gravel Wall. 
 
 A New, Cheap, and Superior Mode of 
 Building, adapted to Rich and Poor. 
 Showing the Superiority of the Gravel 
 Concrete over Brick, Stone and Frame 
 Houses ; Manner of Making and Deposit- 
 ing it. By O. S. Fowler. $1.25. 
 
 The Model Potato. — Proper cultiva- 
 tion and mode of cooking. 50 cents. 
 
 Traits of Representative Men. With 
 portraits. By Geo. W. Bungay. $1.50. 
 
 Capital Punishment ; or, the Proper 
 Treatment of Criminals, 10 cents. 
 "Father Matthew, the Temperance Apos- 
 tle," 10 cents. "Good Man's Legacy," 
 10 cents. Alphabet for Deaf and Dumb, 
 10 cents. 
 
 Sent by Mai/, post-paid. Fowler & Wells Co., 753 Broadway, N. Y. 
 
THE WOBUS OIF 1 NELSON SIZEB. 
 
 A Groat Book for Young People ! 
 
 "CHOICE OF PURSUITS; or, What to Do and Why," describing 
 Seventy-five Trades and Professions, and the Temperaments and Talents required 
 for each ; with Portraits and Biographies of many successful Thinkers snd Workers. 
 By Nelson Sizeii, Associate Editor of the "Phrenological Journal," Vice-Presi- 
 dent of, and Teacher in, the " American Institute of Phrenology," etc. 12mo, extra 
 Cloth, 508 pp. Price, $1.75. 
 This work fill? a place attempted by no other. Whoever has to cam a living; bv 
 
 labor of head or hand, can not afford to do without it 
 
 NOTICES OF 
 " ' Choice or Pursuits ; or, What to do 
 and Why ' is a remarkable book. The author 
 has attained a deserved eminence as a de- 
 lineator of character. We have given it a 
 careful reading and feel warranted in say- 
 ing that it is a book calculated to do a vast 
 deal of good." — Boston Commonwealth. 
 
 "The title is startling, but it is indicative 
 of the contents of the book itself ; the work 
 is a desideratum."— Inter-Ocean {Chicago.) 
 
 THE PRESS. 
 
 "It presents many judicious counsels. 
 The main purpose of the writer is to prevent 
 ndstakes in the choice of a profession. Hig 
 remarks on the different trades are often 
 highly original. The tendency of this vol- 
 ume is to increase the reader's respect for 
 human nature." — New York Tribune. 
 
 " The design of this book is to indicate 
 to every man his proper work, and to edu- 
 cate him for it."— Albany Evening Journal. 
 
 A New Book for Parents and Teachers. 
 
 "HOW TO TEACH ACCORDING TO TEITIPER ANIENT AN© 
 
 MENTAL DEVELOPMENT," or, Phrenology in the School-room and the Family. 
 
 With mauy Illustrations. 12mo, extra cloih, 351 pages. Price, $1.50. 
 
 One of the greatest difficulties in the training of children arises from not understand- 
 ing their temperament and disposition. This work points out clearly the conetitutiouaV 
 differences, and how to make the most of each. 
 
 NOTICES OF THE PRESS. 
 
 "The purpose of this work is to aid par- 
 ents and teachers to undersiand the talents 
 dispositions, and temperaments of tho^e un- 
 der tbeir guidance. This opens a new field 
 to the consideration of the teacher. The text 
 is attractive and a valuable contribution to 
 educational literature. It should be in 
 the library of every parent and teacher."— 
 New England Journal of Education. 
 
 "This is an entirely new feature ~n a 
 book intended for the use of teachers, and 
 must prove of great advantage to them. 
 The text is written in a manner which 
 must attract every vender."— The Methodise 
 
 "No teacher should neglect to read this 
 well-written contribution to the cause of 
 education."— Christian Instructor. 
 
 " It abounds in valuable suggestions and 
 counsels derived from many years experi- 
 ence, which can not fail to be of service to 
 all who are engaged in the business of edu- 
 cation. The subject is treated in a plain, 
 familiar manner, and adapted to reading in 
 the family as well as in the study of the 
 teacher."— New York Tribune. 
 
 " There is a great deal of good sense bu. 
 the work, and all teachers will be glad to 
 welcome it."— The Commonwealth, Boston. 
 
 .A. IDTIEW BOOK FOJR, EVERTBODTI 
 
 FORTY YEARS IN PHRENOLOGY: Embracing Recollections of History, 
 Anecdote, and Experience. l'2mo, extra cloth, 413 pages. Price, $1.50. 
 In this work we have a most interesting record of the author's recollections and ex« 
 periences during more than forty years as a Practical Phrenologist. The volume ia 
 filled with history, anecdotes, and incidents, pathetic, witty, droll, and startling. Every 
 page sparkles with reality, and is packed with facts too good to be lost. This book will be 
 warmly welcomed by every reader, from the boy of twelve to the sage of eighty years. 
 
 THOUGHTS ON DOMESTIC LIFE; or, Marriage Vindicated and 
 
 Free Love Exposed. 12mo. Paper, 25 cents. 
 
 This work contains a sharp analysis of the social nature, in some respects quit* 
 original. Sent by mail, post-paid, to any address. Agents wanted. Address 
 
 FOWLER & WELLS CO,, Publishers, 753 Broadway, New York. 
 
American Institute of Phrenology. 
 
 The Annual Sessions open the First Tuesday of October each Tear. 
 
 This is the only institution in the world where a course of thorough and practical 
 nstruction in Phrenology is given, or where can he found such facilities as are possessed 
 by the American Institute of Phrenology, consisting of skulls, busts, casts, portraits, 
 inatomical preparations, skeletons, plates, models, etc. 
 
 The Course of Instruction consists of more than a hundred lectures and lessons 
 covering a term of six weeks— one lesson being given each morning, afternoon, and eve- 
 ning during the term. 
 
 General Principle?.— The philoso- 
 phy of the organic constitution, its relation 
 to mind, character, and motive. 
 
 Temperaments, as indicating qual- 
 ity and giving peculiarity to mental mani- 
 festation, also as affecting the choice of 
 occupation ; the law of harmony, and 
 heredity as connected with the marriage 
 relation ; proper temperaments for health, 
 long life, talent, virtue, and vice. 
 
 Phrenology. — Mental development 
 explained ; the true mode of estimating 
 character ; comparative phrenology and its 
 meaning. 
 
 History of Phrenology in Eu- 
 rope and. America, and its enriching 
 influence on education, literature, domestic 
 life, government, morality, and religion. 
 
 Ethnology.— The races and tribes of 
 men, and how to judge of nativity of race ; 
 especially how to detect infallibly the skulls 
 of the several colored races. 
 
 Anatomy and Physiology.— The 
 brain and nervous system ; reciprocal influ- 
 ence of brain and body ; dissection of brain. 
 
 Objections to Phrenology, 
 whether anatomical, physiological, practi- 
 cal, or religious ; loss or injury of the brain ; 
 thickness of skull ; fatalism, materialism, 
 moral responsibility, etc. 
 
 Phrenology «nd Religion.— The 
 moral bearings of Phrenology • its relation 
 
 Choice of Occupations, and how 
 
 to put '"the right man in the right place." 
 Phrenology and Marriage.— The 
 
 right relation of the sexes; what mental 
 and temperamental qualities are adapted to 
 a happy union and healthy offspring, and 
 why. 
 
 Natural Language of the Fac- 
 ulties, and how to read character thereby. 
 
 Examination of heads explained ; 
 heads examined by each of the students, 
 who will be thoroughly trained how to 
 make examinations privately and publicly. 
 
 Hygiene.— How to take care of the 
 body as to dress, rest, recreation, food, diet, 
 right and wrong habits. 
 
 Psychology. — Under this head, mes- 
 merism and clairvoyance will be explained, 
 and the laws discussed on which they are 
 supposed to depend. 
 
 Heredity.— The law of inheritance in 
 general and in particular ; how to dete»- 
 mine which parent a person resembles. 
 
 Insanity, its laws and peculiarities ; 
 the faculties in which different persons are 
 most likely to be insane. 
 
 Idiocy, its causes and how to avoid 
 them ; proper treatment of the imbecile. 
 
 Elocution. — How to cultivate the 
 voice ; eloquence, how to attain the art. 
 
 How to JLectu re.— The best methods 
 of presenting Phrenology and Physiology 
 to the public, and how to secure success. 
 
 to religion, education, and virtue 
 
 Finally, it is the aim of the instructors to transfer to students all the knowledge of 
 Anthropology which a long experience in the practice of their profession has enabled 
 them to acquire— in a word, to qualify students to take their places in this man-improv- 
 ing field of usefulness. 
 
 TEXT-HOOKS.— Among the works most useful to be studied by those who 
 wish to master Phrenology, we recommend the following " Student's Set," which will 
 bo sent, by express, for $i0, when all are ordered at one time : 
 
 Brain and Mind ; a Text-Book. $1.50 
 
 Forty Years in Phreuology. By N. Sizer, 1 50 
 How to Kcad Character. By S. R. Wells, 1.25 
 Constitution of Man. By G. Combe, 1.50 
 
 New Physiognomy. 
 
 Choice of Pursuits. 
 
 Popular Physiology. By E. T. Trail, 1.25 
 
 Phrenological Bust. By Fowler & Wells, 1.00 
 
 By S. R. Wells, $5.00 
 By N. Sizer, 1.75 
 
 By E. 
 
 The opening exercises will be held at 2 o'clock r.M. the first Tuesday of Oct. each 
 year, and it is desirable that all students be present at the time. 
 
 Terms.— The cost of tuition for the full course, including diploma, is, fo gentlemen, 
 $100; for ladies, 975. Incidental expenses in New York, including board, need 
 Dot cost more than $35. 
 
 For any additional information, address 
 
 FOWLER & WELLS CO., 753 Broadway, New York. 
 
HOW TO 
 
 STUDY CHARACTER; 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE TRUE BASIS 
 
 FOR 
 
 THE SCIENCE OF MIND 
 
 INCLUDING A REVIEW OF 
 
 ALEXANDER BAIN'S CRITICISM OF THE PHRENOLOGICAL 
 SYSTEM. 
 
 BY / 
 V 
 THOMAS A. HYDE. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 FOWLER & WELLS CO., PUBLISHERS, 
 
 753 BROADWAY. 
 
" It ib an Illustrated Cyclopedia.' 
 
 HEW 
 
 mm m gimmwh, 
 
 As manifested in Temperament and External Forms, and especially 
 in the Human Face Divine. 
 
 By f*. R. WELLS, Editob Phrenological Journal. 
 
 Large 12mo, 763 pp. With more than 1,000 Engravings, 
 
 Illustrating Physiognomy, Anatomy, Physiology, Ethnology, Phrenol- 
 ogy, and Natural History, 
 
 A comprehensive, thorough, and practical Work, in which all that is 
 "^ Known on the subject treated is Systematized, Explained, Illustrated, and Applied. 
 Physiognomy is here shown to be no mere fanciful speculation, but a consistent and well- 
 considered system of Character-reading, based on the established truths of Physiology 
 and Phrenology, and confirmed by Ethnology, as well as by the peculiarities of individ- 
 uals. It is no abstraction, but something to be made useful ; something to be practiced 
 by everybody and in all places, and made an efficient help in that noblest of all studies— 
 the Study of Man. It is readily understood and as readily applied. The following are 
 some of the leading topics discussed and explained in this great illustrated work: 
 
 Previous Systems given, Including 
 those of all ancient and modern writers. 
 
 General Principles of Physiognomy, 
 or the Philological laws on which charac- 
 ter-reading is and must be based. 
 
 Temperaments.— The Ancient Doc- 
 trines — Spurzheim's Description — The 
 New Classification now in use here. 
 
 Practical Physiognomy. — General 
 Forms of Faces— The Eyes, the Mouth, 
 the Nose, the Chin, the Jaws and Teeth, 
 the Cheeks, the Forehead, the Hair anc 
 Beard, the Complexion, the Neck and 
 Bars, the Hands and Feet, the Voice, the 
 Walk, the Laugh, the Mode of Shaking 
 Hands, Dress, etc., with illustrations. 
 
 Bthnology.— The Races, Including the 
 Caucasian, the North American Indians, 
 the Mongolian, the Malay, and the African, 
 with their numerous subdi visions : also 
 Nationa' Tvues. each illustrated. 
 
 to the Training of Children, to Personal 
 Improvement, to Business, to Insanity and 
 Idiocy, to Health and Disease, to Classes 
 and Professions, to Personal Improvement, 
 and to Character-Reading generally. Util- 
 ity of Physiognomy, Self-Improvement. 
 
 Animal Types. — Grsdes of Intelli- 
 gence, Instinct and Reason 
 Heads and Animal Types among Men. 
 
 Grapliomancy .— Character revealed in 
 Hand- writing, with Specimens — Palmistry. 
 " Line of Life" in the human hand. 
 
 Character- Heading. — More than a 
 hundred noted Men and Women introduc- 
 ed—What Physiognomy says of them. 
 
 The Great Secret.— Row to be Healthy 
 and How to be Beautiful— Mental Cosmet- 
 ics— very interesting, very useful. 
 
 Aristotle and St. Ptul.—A Model 
 Head— Views of Life — DluHtratlve Anec- 
 dotes—Detecting a Rogue by his Face. 
 
 No one am read this Book without Interest, without real profit "Knowledge I* 
 power," and this is emphatically true of a knowledge of men— of human character. He 
 who has it is " master of the situation ;" and anybody may have it who will, and And in 
 it the " secret of success" and the road to the largest personal improvement 
 
 Price, in one large Volume, of nearly 800 pagee, and more than 1,000 engravings, on 
 tooed paper, handsomely bound in embossed muslin, $6 ; in heavy calf, marblea edges, 
 f8 ; Tui ?oy morocco, full gilt $10. Agents may do well to canvass for this work. Free 
 by poet Tease address. Fowler & Wells Co., 753 Broadway, New York. 
 
 1884 
 
Thyself." 
 
 Specially Devoted to the "Science of Man.** Contains Phrenology 
 and Physiognomy, with all the Signs of Character, and how to read 
 them ;" Ethnology, or the Natural History of Man in all his relations 
 to Lifo; Practical Articles on Physiology, Diet, Exercise and the 
 Laws of Life and Health. Portraits, Sketches and Biographies of the 
 loading Men and Women of the World, are important features. 
 Much general and useful information on the leading topics of the day is 
 given. It is intended to he the most interesting and instructive Pictorial 
 Family Magazine Published. Subscriptions may commence now. 
 
 Few works will better repay perusal la the family than this rich storehouse of Instruc- 
 tion and entertainment.— N. T. Tribune. It grows In Variety and Value. Eve. Post. 
 
 m 
 
 Terms.— A New Volume, the 76th commences with the Jan. Number. Pub- 
 lished Monthly, In octavo form, at fi a year, in advance. Sample numbers sent by first 
 post, JOcte. Clubs of ten or more, $1 .60 each per copy, and an extra copy to agent. 
 
 We are now offering the most liberal premiums ever given for dobs, for 1883- 
 ■tamp* tor list. Address, EOWLEK A WELLS, ?o3 Broadway, New York. 
 

 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 W 
 
 33 
 
 Oh 
 
 CO 
 
 CO 
 
 ?3 
 
 TO THE 
 
 FHBENOLOeiGAL JOURNAL. 
 
 This publication is widely known in America and Europe, having been before the read- 
 ing world forty years, and occupying a place in literature exclusively its own, viz : the itudv 
 of Human Nature in all its phases, including Phrenology, Physiognomy, Ethnology, Physi- 
 ology, etc., together with the '* Science of Health," and no expense will be spared to make 
 it the best publication for general circulation, tending always to make men better physically, 
 mentally, and morally. Parents should read the Journal that they may better know how to 
 govern and train their children. To each subscriber is given 
 
 THE PHRENOLOGICAL BUST. 
 
 This bust is made of Plaster of Paris, and so lettered as to show the exact location of 
 each of the Phrenological Organs. The head is nearly life-size, and very ornamental, de- 
 serving a place on the center-table or mantel, in parlor, office, or .study, and until recently 
 has sold for $2.00. This, with the illustrated key which accompanies each Bust, and the 
 articles published in the Journal on "Practical Phrenology," will enable the reader to 
 become a successful student of Human Nature. One of these heads should be in the hands 
 of all who would know * How to Rkad Character." 
 
 Te:C\m.S.— The Journal is now published at $2.00 a year (having been reduced 
 from $3.00), single numbers 20 cjRnts. When the Premiums are sent, 25 cents extra must 
 be received with each subscription to pay postage on the Journal and the expense of boxing 
 and packing the Bust, which will be sent by express, or >«o. a, a smaller size, will be sent by 
 mail, post -paid. To those who have the Bust, or prefer it, we will send the Book Premium. 
 
 Send amount in P. O. Orders, Drafts on New York, or in Registered Letters. Postage- 
 stamps will be received. -jAgknts Wanted. Send 10 cents for specimen N umber, Premium 
 List, etc <* w 
 
 Address FOWLER & WELLS CO., Publishers, 
 
 753 Broadway, New York. 
 
 MAR 11 1949 
 
■H ^#fc^ -^jfcV* V^Jfc\ 
 
 *&<* 
 
 
 :X'*-^r;X^«v,X ; ^^ 
 
 W 
 
 W 
 
 %>. -A^ V 
 
 
 '«*>* 
 
 ♦ 
 
 - .<& 
 
 <$ ^ 
 
 ^ % 
 
 
 
 
 V* <lP 
 
 cP V 
 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 # 
 
 %& 
 
 
 ^0« 
 
 V ^ 
 
 0° . 
 
 ^vd* 
 
 V 6 # 
 
 
 H q. 
 
 
 w 
 
 S ^ 
 
 V 
 
 % 
 
 ^ 
 
 V^ 
 
 ^ <*■'* ^ ^ >* r# V 
 
 * ^ "^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 0^ * 
 
 ^ 9* 
 
 
 
 -CT * * * « , <- 
 
 v. ^ 
 
 
 
 
 c ' 
 
 
 
 %# 
 
 
 >* 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 tS^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^ y 
 
 ', ^ 
 
 ^_l 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 027 324 971