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Article PHYSIOGNOMICAL SKETCHES. ← Page 3 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Physiognomical Sketches.
in the world , not even excepting Lavater himself , and a— -here I thought he deserved one of my best double-distilled bows , and so I honoured him with an angle of nine degrees to the perpendicular to the plane of the horizon . Yes , sir , saj's he , with a huge degree of self-complacence , it is even so . Now Lavater chiefly confined his studies to the analogy there is betwixt what a man appears to be , and what he reall y is ; pf his abilities and character in generaland of pathognomyor the
, , knowledge of the passions . But I have soared infinitely beyond him , and have , to my inexpressible joy , culled flowers from fields where no other mortal has . dared to tread . The most ignorant are physiognomists , though they know it not . Each „ wprd , each gesture , shows the man . 'Tis just as easy , too , to judge of a person ' s station in life as it is evident , yesincontrovertibly evidentthat there is the
, , same connection betwixt a man and his employment as there is betwixt his body and that something within his body—the mind . When a stranger comes to your house , I dare say you will immediately form some idea what he is .- Such a one , you'll say , looks like a tradesman ; another like a farmer ; this a butcher ; that a taylor ; and so on . Is it not so ? speakman ? ReallysirI repliedyou
, , , , amaze me . Nay , further , resum'd his worship , I am confident there is a similar connection betwixt a p reacher and his congregation , or a tradesman and his shopman . Shew me the one , and pull my ears if I do not describe the other . ( Splutter o ' nails ! thought I , this is an odd lingo . Faith , Ned , I wish the qualifications of my . governor would
descend down to me in this same sympathetic manner ) . But , says he , as experiments are the ground-works of all scientific discoveries , I'll give you o . ne , and prove irrefragably the truth of what I have advanced . For instance , here are three of your friends , totally unknown by me . Despise me as a simpleton if I do not tell the oceupation of each by only investigating his looks . Nay , I'll bet you a bottle—donesaid I ; for as he was likely to afford much
enter-, tainment , I had no desire to discourage him . Then eying the first very attentively , till the poor fellow was horridly out of countenance , This gentleman , says he , is a—though , let me see—the furrows on that forehead show study—those eyes a deep penetration on abstruse subjects—the tip of the nose , and a retreating chin , discovers much real knowledge without ostentation . Why , sir , he is a lawyer .
Wonderful ! I exclaimed , and you , sir , says he to the second , clapping him upon the shoulder like a Philistine , j'ou , sir , I shall pronounce a—a military gentleman . This is indeed astonishing , said I , your penetration infinitel y transcends even the very great ' expectations I had form'd of it . And as to this other friend , adds the physiognomistI shall not hesitate to call a—ay—Othe joy of my
, , heart!—why , sir , you must be an author . I am myself an author , and have gained immortal honour . The most acute observers in the kingdom have . paid me that tribute . Do give me your hand my clear brother author , I cannot but feel a cordial friendship for you . Can I have the pleasure of speaking a word with you in the adjoining
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Physiognomical Sketches.
in the world , not even excepting Lavater himself , and a— -here I thought he deserved one of my best double-distilled bows , and so I honoured him with an angle of nine degrees to the perpendicular to the plane of the horizon . Yes , sir , saj's he , with a huge degree of self-complacence , it is even so . Now Lavater chiefly confined his studies to the analogy there is betwixt what a man appears to be , and what he reall y is ; pf his abilities and character in generaland of pathognomyor the
, , knowledge of the passions . But I have soared infinitely beyond him , and have , to my inexpressible joy , culled flowers from fields where no other mortal has . dared to tread . The most ignorant are physiognomists , though they know it not . Each „ wprd , each gesture , shows the man . 'Tis just as easy , too , to judge of a person ' s station in life as it is evident , yesincontrovertibly evidentthat there is the
, , same connection betwixt a man and his employment as there is betwixt his body and that something within his body—the mind . When a stranger comes to your house , I dare say you will immediately form some idea what he is .- Such a one , you'll say , looks like a tradesman ; another like a farmer ; this a butcher ; that a taylor ; and so on . Is it not so ? speakman ? ReallysirI repliedyou
, , , , amaze me . Nay , further , resum'd his worship , I am confident there is a similar connection betwixt a p reacher and his congregation , or a tradesman and his shopman . Shew me the one , and pull my ears if I do not describe the other . ( Splutter o ' nails ! thought I , this is an odd lingo . Faith , Ned , I wish the qualifications of my . governor would
descend down to me in this same sympathetic manner ) . But , says he , as experiments are the ground-works of all scientific discoveries , I'll give you o . ne , and prove irrefragably the truth of what I have advanced . For instance , here are three of your friends , totally unknown by me . Despise me as a simpleton if I do not tell the oceupation of each by only investigating his looks . Nay , I'll bet you a bottle—donesaid I ; for as he was likely to afford much
enter-, tainment , I had no desire to discourage him . Then eying the first very attentively , till the poor fellow was horridly out of countenance , This gentleman , says he , is a—though , let me see—the furrows on that forehead show study—those eyes a deep penetration on abstruse subjects—the tip of the nose , and a retreating chin , discovers much real knowledge without ostentation . Why , sir , he is a lawyer .
Wonderful ! I exclaimed , and you , sir , says he to the second , clapping him upon the shoulder like a Philistine , j'ou , sir , I shall pronounce a—a military gentleman . This is indeed astonishing , said I , your penetration infinitel y transcends even the very great ' expectations I had form'd of it . And as to this other friend , adds the physiognomistI shall not hesitate to call a—ay—Othe joy of my
, , heart!—why , sir , you must be an author . I am myself an author , and have gained immortal honour . The most acute observers in the kingdom have . paid me that tribute . Do give me your hand my clear brother author , I cannot but feel a cordial friendship for you . Can I have the pleasure of speaking a word with you in the adjoining