THE MIND'S MIRROR. 253 



mental phases and states. Leaving metaphysical definitions as but 

 little fitted to elucidate and aid a popular study, we may feasibly 

 enough define an " emotion " as consisting of the particular changes 

 which peculiar states of mind produce upon the mind and body. 

 Such a definition, simple though it appear to be, really extends as 

 far as any mere definition can in the endeavour to present a broad 

 idea of what " emotions " imply and mean. By some authors, the 

 " emotion " is interpreted as the mental state which gives rise to the 

 bodily disturbance. But such a mode of treating the term is simply 

 equivalent to an attempt to define the shadow and ignore the sub- 

 stance. Says Dr. Tuke, whose authority in all matters relative to 

 the relation betwixt mind and body we must gratefully acknowledge, 

 " Every one is conscious of a difference between a purely intellectual 

 operation of the mind and that state of feeling or sentiment which, 

 also internal and mental, is equally removed from (though generally 

 involving) a bodily sensation, whether of pleasure or pain ; and 

 which, from its occasioning suffering, is often termed Passion ; which 

 likewise, because it moves our very depths, now with delight, now 

 with anguish, is expressively called Emotion a true commotion of 

 the mind, and not of the mind only, but of the body." And in a 

 footnote, Dr. Tuke is careful to remind us that " it is very certain, 

 however, that our notion of what constitutes an emotion is largely 

 derived from its physical accompaniments, both subjective and ob- 

 jective." That is to say. the nature of the mental act which is by 

 some authors exclusively named the emotion may be, and generally 

 is, imperfectly understood by us ; and the name is given rather to 

 the obvious effects of the mind's action on the face and body, than to 

 the mental action which is the cause of these visible effects. Such a 

 result is but to be looked for so long as the mental acts are contained 

 and performed within a veritable arcanum of modern science. The 

 emotion renders us conscious "subjectively," or within ourselves, of 

 the mental states which cause the outward postures of body or phases 

 of face. "The modem student," says Mr. Fiske, in a charming volume, 1 

 " has learned that consciousness has a background as well as a fore- 

 ground, that a number of mental processes go on within us of which 

 we cannot always render a full and satisfactory account." And whilst 

 the source of the common emotions of everyday life is no doubt to 

 be found in the ordinary sensations which originate from our contact 

 with the outer world, there are other emotions which arise from the 

 '* background of consciousness," and which are manifested in us as 

 actively and typically as are the common feelings of the hour which 

 we can plainly enough account for. 



To descend from theory to example in this case is an easy task. 

 The blush which has been called into the cheek by a remark made 



1 Darwinism and other Essays. 



