PHYSIOGNOMY AND CRANIO LOGY.

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confessed, that vice generally stamps her votaries with in-delible marks which we cannot mistake at a glance; but thisremark can only, perhaps, apply to the confirmed enemiesof virtue, whose actions are so uniformly vicious that verylittle propriety occurs in their conduct.

“ The following anecdote, as related by Lavater , mayserve partially to illustrate the before-made observations, show-ing that the features, or more correctly, the membraneousligaments of the face, are affected by the turn of the mind; andif that is not one part of the position which the physiognomistmeans to establish, we do not know where to find it. Aninnocent young lady of high birth, educated in the retire-ment of the country, happened one evening to be passinga mirror with a candle in her hand, immediately after even-ing prayers ; she had in the other hand a bible, which shelaid upon a table : her eye in passing the glass showed herher own form; she instantly averted her eyes and retired. Asucceeding winter had passed in the amusements and dissi-pation of a gay metropolis; she happened to pass the same glassin a state of mind forgetful of her former religious impres-sions ; she now conceived her features deprived of that fas-cinating grace, which a serene and happy state of mindinspires: alarmed at the change, she flew to a sofa, eja-culated sentences of penitence, and formed resolutions forfuture amendment.”

Character of the Forehead. — Lavater appears to havebeen the first who attended to the peculiarities of the po-sition and outlines of the forehead, which he considered themost important part presented for the study of the physi-ognomist. This he divides into three classes; these heterms perpendicular, projecting, and retreating, each pos-sessing a number of variations: the principal, however,are rectilinear, half round, half rectilinear, flowing into eachother ; half round, half rectilinear, interrupted ; curve lined,simple; the curve lined, double and triple.

A long forehead denotes much capacity of compre-hension and less activity.

Lavater begins his remarks on the face with the forehead.According to him, and experience confirms his remarks,the general form, arch, obliquity, and position of the skullof the forehead, denote degrees of thought, sensibility,mental vigour, and the various propensities and aptitudes ofthe mind of man; at the same time the skin, bone, wrinkles,itc. explain the state of the mind of the individual atthe moment of observation, and of the passing impressionswhich influence it; the shape of the bones affording