PHYSIOGNOMY. 



observations it will be necessary to exa- 

 mine the lips separately, and to ascertain 

 when they are closed, during 1 the mo- 

 ments of perfect tranquility, whether that 

 operation is performed without a forcible 

 exertion of the muscles, particularly the 

 middle of the upper and under lips, the 

 bottom of the middle line at each end ; 

 and finally, the extending of the middle 

 line on both sides. 



The character of the man is proclaim- 

 ed in the lips ; the more firm the latter, 

 the more fixed the former ; the weak and 

 irresolute man has weak lips, with rapi- 

 dity in their motion. The vicious, cring- 

 ing 1 , mean, and bad countenance is never 

 formed with lips well defined, large, and 

 justly proportioned to the other parts of 

 the face, and the line of which is equally 

 serpentine on each side ; such, though 

 they may denote a tendency to sensuali- 

 ty, belong exclusively to a character de- 

 serving of admiration in most relations of 

 life. 



A mouth, the lips of which are so thin 

 as to present, at first view, little more 

 than a line, is said to indicate apathy and 

 quiet, but industrious Avhen roused. When 

 this description of mouth is raised at the 

 extremities, vanity or vain pretensions, 

 affectation, and probably deliberate ma- 

 lice, distinguish those so formed. The 

 opposite of this kind of lips, swelled into 

 considerable size, is a mark of indolence 

 and sensuality. The " cut through, sharp 

 drawn lip," as Lavater terms some, has 

 to contend with avarice and anxiety. 

 Lips closed accurately, without exertion, 

 and handsome in their outline, belong 

 to the exercise of discretion and firmness. 

 Lips with the latter advantage, and the 

 upper projecting, are generally appro- 

 priated to the virtuous and benevolent, 

 though there are, without doubt, num- 

 berless persons of excellent characters 

 whose under lips project, but in Lava- 

 ter's opinion, the last peculiarity implies 

 a well meaning man, whose goodness 

 consists rather of cold fidelity than ardent 

 friendship. The under lip, hollowed in 

 the middle, denotes a fanciful character. 

 Let the moment be remarked, when the 

 conceit of the jocular man descends to 

 the lip, and it will be seen to be a little 

 hollow in the middle. 



The mouth remaining naturally closed, 

 invariably signifies fortitude and courage. 

 When the latter quality is in operation, 

 the mouth closes insensibly ; the natu- 

 rally open mouth makes a disposition to 

 complain ; the closed, on the contrary, 

 designates endurance. "Though phy- 

 siognomists," adds Lavater, " have as yet 



but little noticed, yet much might be said 

 concerning the lips improper, or the 

 fleshy covering of the upper teeth, on 

 which anatomists have not, to my know- 

 ledge, yet bestowed any name, and which 

 may be called the curtain, or pallium, 

 extending from the beginning of the 

 nose to the red upper lip proper. If the 

 upper lip improper be long, the proper 

 is always short ; if it be short and hollow, 

 the proper will be large and curved ; 

 another certain demonstration of the 

 conformity of the human countenance. 

 Hollow upper lips are much less com- 

 mon than flat and perpendicular; the 

 character they denote is equally uncom- 

 mon." 



The ancients who studied the phy- 

 siognomy of man, supposed that diminu- 

 tive short teeth betrayed the weakness 

 of those who possessed them ; more mo- 

 dern observers contradict this supposi- 

 tion, and declare that men of uncommon 

 strength have such, but they are rarely 

 of that pure white so necessary to pre- 

 serve the general beauty of the counte- 

 nance. Teeth of unusual length, and 

 narrow, are signs of weakness and cow- 

 ardice ; those justly proportioned to each 

 other, white and transparent, which ap- 

 pear immediately upon opening of the 

 mouth, though not projecting, and in- 

 tirely exposed to view from the insertion 

 in the gums to the opposite extremities, 

 are seldom to be met with in the jaws of 

 persons who possess unamiable propen- 

 sities ; when teeth of a different descrip- 

 tion are discovered belonging to amiable 

 and worthy characters, enquiry will ge- 

 nerally satisfy the physiognomist that his 

 conclusions on this head were just, and 

 that the blackness and derangement were 

 occasioned by disease. 



In one way the observer and admirer 

 of this art cannot possibly be mistaken, 

 for he that neglects his teeth, suffering 

 them to decay through contempt of pub- 

 lic opinion and indolence, may be safely 

 pronounced an unhappy character, with 

 many evil propensities. 



The chin alone remains to be noticed 

 in this slight survey of the human face, as 

 connected with the internal operations 

 of the soul or mind. The projecting chin 

 is said to mark something decided, and 

 the recening the reverse ; and it has been 

 asserted that the presence or absence of 

 strength is frequently demonstrated by 

 the form of this part of the countenance ; 

 it has also been remarked, that sudden 

 indent ings in the midst of the chin are 

 peculiar to men of excellent cool under- 



