212 THE ORIGIN AND FUNCTION OF MrSIC. 



arable emotions comes within the same generalization. A 

 smile, which is the commonest expression of gratified feel- 

 ing, is a contraction of certain facial muscles ; and when 

 the smile broadens into a laugh, we see a more violent and 

 more general muscular excitement produced by an intenser 

 gratification. Rubbing together of the hands, and that 

 other motion which Dickens somewhere describes as 

 " washing with impalpable soap in invisible water," have 

 like implications. Children may often be seen to "jump 

 for joy." Even in adults of excitable temperament, an 

 action approaching to it is sometimes witnessed. And 

 dancing has all the world through been regarded as natural 

 to an elevated state of mind. Many of the special emo- 

 tions show themselves in special muscular actions. The 

 gratification resulting from success, raises the head and 

 gives firmness to the gait. A hearty grasp of the hand is 

 currently taken as indicative of friendship. Under a gush 

 of afiection the mother clasps her child to her breast, feel- 

 ing as though she could squeeze it to death. And so in 

 sundry other cases. Even in that brightening of the eye 

 with which good news is received we may trace the same 

 truth ; for this appearance of greater brilliancy is due to 

 an extra contraction of the muscle which raises the eyelid, 

 and so allows more light to fall upon, and be reflected from, 

 the wet surface of the eyeball. 



The bodily indications of painful emotions are equally 

 numerous, and still more vehement. Discontent is shown 

 by raised eyebrows and wrinkled forehead ; disgust by a 

 curl of the lip ; ofience by a pout. The impatient man 

 beats a tattoo with his fingers on the table, swings his pen- 

 dent leg with increasing rapidity, gives needless pokings to 

 the fire, and presently paces with hasty strides about the 

 room. In great grief there is wringing of the hands, and 

 even tearing of the hair. An angry child stamps, or rolls 

 on its back and kicks its heels in the air ; and in manhood, 



