July 21, 1911] 



SCIENCE 



93 



■when we analyze our metliods of determina- 

 tion we find them for the most part based on 

 nothing but vague impressions. Many, if not 

 most of our personal judgments are of this 

 sort; when inquired into they are as absurd 

 and with as little foundation as are the ideas 

 contained in the older works on physiognomy. 



There usually has been, as Mantegazza 

 recognizes, a confusion of two separate fac- 

 tors in the determination of character from 

 a face; the mold or cast of the features and 

 their expression. These two are distinct and 

 should be so regarded. Although the latter 

 may in time mold or modify the former to a 

 large degree, many of the parts of the face 

 come very little under its influence, and ex- 

 cept for the changes which expression and 

 physiological conditions bring about in the 

 course of time, I am inclined to totally ignore 

 all judgments of character from facial mold 

 alone. As yet it seems to me we have not the 

 least safe evidence for regarding this or that 

 type of eye, nose, mouth or chin as indi- 

 cating one or another sort of character, only 

 in so far as the life and disposition of the 

 individual has modified them through expres- 

 sion. The one feature which may show some- 

 thing of the character independent of ex- 

 pression has already been mentioned in the 

 forehead, but the bones of the skull and the 

 sinuses within them are so variable that 

 nothing but the most general conclusions can 

 be drawn even here. We often find faces of 

 a low type associated with a defective indi- 

 vidual and there may be some relation be- 

 tween defective physical and psychical condi- 

 tions, but just what the connection is, re- 

 mains to be learned. 



Several of the causes which have led us to 

 consider this or that mold of feature as indic- 

 ative of special characteristics of the indi- 

 vidual are the following: 



1. The resemblance to lower animals and 

 the inference that man has the character of 

 the animal in whose face we see a likeness. 

 Much was made of this in the older works 

 upon physiognomy and it becomes absurd 

 when we consider for instance, that one with 

 a face like a lion has the character we ascribe 



to that beast, or a face like a crow indicates 

 the prying nature so commonly known in pets 

 of this species. Yet are we to-day, generally 

 speaking, much better than this when we 

 ascribe to a man whose face reminds us of a 

 fox, a fox-like nature? Or when a man with 

 a bulldog-like mouth and chin is accredited 

 with a character which savors of this ani- 

 mal's qualities? 



2. The resemblance in another of features 

 from one or several individuals whose char- 

 acter we know. Such comparisons are very 

 common. It is difficult to determine how far 

 every one is thus influenced. 



3. The fixed resemblance in contour of face 

 or feature to certain transitory expressional 

 states which we have come to associate with 

 emotional conditions. 



To many, a long nose gently depressed at 

 the tip indicates a benignant character. 

 This, I think, is because in certain types of 

 noses we have seen the tip slightly depressed 

 in smiling and the long nose with the slight 

 depression gives the appearance of a con- 

 tinued gentle smile, while it may or may not 

 indicate a benignant character, depending 

 upon how much expression has modified the 

 feature. 



In case the end of the nose is more flat- 

 tened, we very often get the idea of a cruel 

 or cynical individual, because in a sneer or 

 grin, the tip is sometimes greatly depressed. 



Those in whom the corners of the mouth 

 turn up a little, or in whom the lips are 

 moulded so as to convey that appearance, give 

 us the resemblance to a smile which we as- 

 sociate with cheerfulness. And one in whom 

 the corners of the mouth are formed in such 

 a way as to make them appear to turn down, 

 so much resemble the expression of grief or 

 sorrow that we think of the individual as 

 possessing a melancholy disposition. 



Another illustration. Those in whom the 

 eyes are deep under heavy eye brows are said 

 to be thoughtful because during mental con- 

 centration we are apt to draw the eye brows 

 down and together. Many other examples 

 might be given. 



4. Physiological conditions. 



