34 CHELTENHAM COLLEGE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
READING CHARACTER IN THE FACE. 
=—7N DECEMBER sth, the Rev. J. H. Kirkby, M.A., of 
“| €©=Radley College, very kindly came over to give us 
a most interesting lecture on “ Reading character 
in the Face,” of which the following is a resumé : 
Lavater, the authority on the science of Physiog- 
nomy, which seeks to estimate a man’s ee 
from indications in his face, or person, was Pastor of Zurich, 
Switzerland. He was of a quite retiring disposition, by no means 
wanting in ability or force of character, when circumstances stirred 
him to effort. He had artistic gifts, and was a man of taste and 
cultivation. He died from a wound given him bya violent French 
soldier during the troubles which succeeded the French Revolution 
in 1801. 
A few of the general principles from which Lavater drew his 
conclusions follow: Distinction must be drawn between the hard 
parts of the head and the soft. The former remain unchanged by 
a man’s habits, the latter are moulded as time goes on by the mode 
of life. The bony parts give information as to the disposition in- 
herited, the softer fleshy parts as to the use that has been made of 
the natural endowments. Features marked by straight or nearly 
straight lines, suggest hardness or strength of character; softly 
curved and flowing lines indicate softness, effeminacy. The face 
must be considered as divided into three parts, defined by the 
forehead, the nose and thence to the point of the chin. The fore- 
head is significant of the mental intellectual. powers, the nose of 
taste and capability of culture, the lowest part of the more animal 
tendencies, such as courage, determination, and sensual propensity. 
Space forbids us here to follow Mr. Kirkby in his description of 
the varying shapes of each feature, and to point out the conclu- 
sions as to character which each variation suggests. A set of 
portraits taken chiefly from Lavater’s book was used in illustration 
of the lecture and the conclusions regarding them to be drawn 
from Lavater’s principles were compared with the known character 
of each person. 
At the conclusion of the Lecture a cordial vote of thanks was 
proposed by the Principal and carried unanimously. 
