TOLD BY THE FACE

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 35, 4 November 1922, Page 17

TOLD BY THE FACE

THE REVEALER OF SECRETS. When Lavater, tho founder of physiogononly, declared that "faces are as easy to read as books and infinitely mOre truthful,” ho spoke with tho enthusiasm of the pioneer. Faces can lie, though it is difficult to deceive th© keen observer and almost impossible to maintain the lie for long. If faces did not occasionally he we should not be cursed with the whole race of charlatans and rogues. .But in the main La'vater was right; the fr.ee is the index and th© mirror of the mind behind it, and for the face to present a false picture of the mind—false in every particular—is as unnatural as it is for the camera, to present a false picture of the object in front of it. No matter how skilful the * a may be, there is generally some telltale muscle that “gives the show away” to a keen observer, states a “Doctor” in a London paper. go much is the face normally the mirror of the mind that with frequent repetition a picture of the mind becomes permancritly moulded on the tho attributes of certain occupations which demand, particular habits of mind stamp themselves on the features in time. . There is a characteristic face of the doctor, the ‘family butler, the naval officer, the solicitor, and I behove there is now in development the tace of the chauffeur, though not all who follow those pursuits possess ths characteristic faces of them. \ There are sound., anatomical and physiological reasons for the belief that the face is the Index of the mind. Expression is created by about a scoro of little muscles, mostly paired, that are grouped arotind the eyes, nose, and mouth. . ■ These muscles have no other tunction whatever beyond that-of expression. They are controlled and set m action by one special nerve—the facial nerve—-which arises from a, special centre in the brain, and. the impulse that originates from that centre arises in its turn from the higher centres of tho brain which wo call tho mind. It will therefore be scon that to set all this mechanism in action to produce a false picture is no easv matter, and .there is generally a flaw in the picture somewhere. ’ ■ ■ Watch tlio whole of a man’s face when you suspect a false picture of his thoughts. • It will generally bo found that Romo comer of' it is not under complete control. The picture is false in som« little detail.

The new earrings of Spanish design ato as largo as a five-shilling pieco and aro composed of pearls set round a diamond; another diamond forms the top qf the barring. Very gay, and effective, too, are the tassel earrings made of little strings of gems, which flash and sparkle at every movement of tho wearer. Long earrings are m demand, and women are searching the curio'shops for antique treasures that dangle halfway to the shoulder.