Page:Language of the Eye.djvu/79

Rh Inediti, commencing,—"Costóro volentio proporci delle immagini da venerasi.")

The intelligent Combe insists, that the exercise of particular attributes of mind produce a more or less development of certain parts of the head; and that even the expression of the countenance would depend more upon the habitual exercise of certain virtues and vices, than upon original and natural physical materia. There is certainly much in this view which encourages the exercise of noble and exalting principles, rendering even the outside of this wonderful being somewhat susceptible to its owner for expression of beauty and dignity. The renowned John Casper Lavater has left an expansive record of his deep and sincere study of the human countenance, and various are the philosophers who have subscribed to many of his axioms; yet, we may say, all men may be physiognomists; indeed, all men are so in a degree, and must ever depend on their judgment of expression of the countenance of their fellow-men as their first, and often their only guide, in many of the most important transactions of life. It is needless to insist that the senator, the judge, the advocate, the man of war, the merchant, the lover, and the loved, do all, more or less, depend on their judgment of the human countenance, ere they treat and contract. What price would they give to bear about them some certain talisman, some unfailing guide? Alas! such cannot be purchased by the riches of Peru, or the diamonds of Golconda. We tender some suggestions, to aid in that very important inquisition, which we are often required to make and determine. It is our duty to repeat there is no part of the countenance so communicative as the eyes; their motion, colour, shape, size, &c., are all worthy of remark; and, at the same time, we must be allowed to make a few suggestions as to the eye-brow, which occasionally exercises considerable influence in expression, and