NOTES ON MARRIAGE.

Waikato Independent, Volume III, Issue 184, 27 January 1906, Page 6

NOTES ON MARRIAGE.

(By Senex Persona, Cambridge.)

(Continued.) A fuller description of the separate pure types of temperament may be helpful to those interested in understanding human character. It is believed by many phrenologists that temperament is conferred at conception, by the state of mind and moods prevailing in the parents at that period, yet little evidence is available to verify this hypothesis as the subject is too sacred for ordinary publicity and individual experience far too limited. So far as is known the vital temperament springs from a happy, joyous mood of the parents when actuated by mutual love that is thoroughly reciprocated; such conditions, fortunately for the offspring, seem to prevail fairly often, and most children are thus endowed with a cheerful, loving, happy disposition that takes life by the smooth handle generally, to make the best of its life experiences. The vital temperament, as its name implies, rests on its wonderful recuperative power, to replenish its vitality as fast as it is expended by food and rest. The appetite for food is invariably large, as also the function of digestion, respiration and circulation of the blood. This does not mean that a large quantity of food is consumed, but what is taken is relished, while the digestive organs extract all the nutritive elements for nourishment and renewal of the life forces. The possessors arc easily and strongly affected by senuous temptations yet are generally happy and make the best of their surroundings ; for they can enjoy the good as it comes along, and use intelligence on the physical plane to make life easier and more congenial. They, however, require considerable bodily exercise to keep healthy, for often there is an excess of vitality which makes them fat and lymphatic; they are then too lazy to use either mind or body, so become a drag and burden on friends or community. The characteristics of this temperament are enthusiasm, warmth, impulsiveness, ardour, irritability and impatience, with spasmodic restlessness ; great fondness for fresh air and all pleasures of the senses. They generally show great power of feeling or sympathy, requiring much self-control. They have more talent than is always exhibited, more mind for business than for literary pursuits, are rather selfish in looking after number one; though abounding with good feelings, hospitality and sociability.

The vital temperament imparts a versatile capacity to arrange or conduct business transactions, to buy or sell, or to set out work and superintend others who do the physical labour, while they do the planning and thinking to enable the work in hand to be efficiently performed. They are more generally distinguished for elasticity than firmness, for diligence than persistency, but with a ready comprehension and active imagination, are usually quick speakers, inclined to be hasty in argument, impatient of details and brief in generalizations, easily impressed with new ideas and predisposed to variety and general expansiveness.

An individual possessing this temperament has a strong steady pulse, can stand heat and cold, can sleep soundly and loves to keep doing, though disliking hard muscular labour; yet will pitch in with might and main, so exhausts strength quickly. Such men make able overseers, directors, bankers, commission agents, finance and land brokers, secretaries and similar avocations, being more or less capable according to the development of brain power in each. While women are adapted for cooks, housekeepers, matrons of public establishments, or as forewomen and saleswomen, or other positions that require efficient supervision. This enumeration assumes that the organs of self-esteem aud firmness are well developed, but if they are only of moderate size the possessors will strive to avoid such responsibilities and be more inclined to originate plans for others to carry out. t As previously mentioned, the natural digestive power of this temperament extracts the greatest amount of nourishfrom the food consumed, which will be more than can be profitably appropriated, so the surplus is turned to fat, causing grossness and obesity of the body, with a tendency to inflammatory diseases, as also to gout, rheumatism, stone and apoplexy, these signifying a clogging of the channels of life unfavourable to the efficiency of mind and body. When the complexion is very fair, it betokens a weakness or softness of the system, yet with a certain activity of freshness and sprightliness of movement and of thought. People whose bodies and brains are bleached white, incline to be singularly hospitable aild responsive to all that is bright and cheerful. It is worthy of note, that fair people seldom commit murders or assasinations, and never in cold blood or with premeditation. In regard to this trait of character Emerson says:—“The fair complexion is very prevalent with the Saxon race, characterised by blue eyes and an open and florid aspect; these are combined generally with decision and nerve. Hence the love of truth, the sensibility, the true fine perception and poetic construction. The fair Saxon man with open front and honest meaning, domesticated and affectionate, is not the wood out of which the cannibal or inquisitor

or assassin is made ; but he is moulded for law, lawful trade, charities and colonies. When it is considered what humanity, what resources of mental and moral power the traits of the blonde race betoken—its accession to empire marks a new and finer epoch, wherein the old mineral force shall be subjugated at last by humanity, and shall plough in the furrow henceforward. It is not a final race, once a crab always a crab, but a race with afuturc before it.”

The British people appear to be more vital than those of other nations, and are therefore more prone to sports and games. This may have given rise to the lament of Dr. Andrew Wilson in the Illustrated London News, wherein he writes :—“ As a nation we are getting to think more of our play than our work. The people to-day, as at Rome of old in its decadent time, cry out for bread and games. In no other country do we witness the same eager pursuit of pleasure.” Has not this tendency been always recorded of the British people, with their May-day sports and other festivities?