Page:Personal beauty how to cultivate and preserve it in accordance with the laws of health (1870).djvu/78

 the character and abilities of the person. Under the name of phrenology, this popular notion was cultivated diligently some years ago by itinerant lecturers, but of late the business seems to have fallen off. We well remember a friend at college, now holding a prominent and responsible position as an educator, who pointed out to us with great satisfaction a small lump about the middle of his forehead, which he confidently maintained had grown there since he had addressed himself to the study of history. Since then, like others, he has lost faith in Gall and Spurzheim.

To confess the truth, we know absolutely nothing about the functions of the various parts of the brain. The least difficult theory is that the anterior third is the seat of the intellectual faculties, the middle third controls nutrition and emotion, while the posterior third governs muscular action, and the sentiments of reproduction.

No doubt the capacity of the skull, that is to say, the size of the brain, has a close connection with the mental power. But it is very far from true that a large head is a guarantee of a strong intellect. Daniel Webster had the largest head in Congress, and John Randolph the smallest, but the latter was very little inferior to the former in close, logical argument, and was much quicker at repartee and satire. Women have somewhat smaller heads than men in proportion