Our Public Men.

Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 14, 3 February 1894, Page 8

Our Public Men.

PHRENOLOGICALLY AND PHYSIOGNOMICALLY DELINEATED.

[By Professor R. White, President of the Wellington Phrenological Association .]

{Tinder this heading we propose in the first instance to give delineations of the characters of the members of the new Souse of Representatives. The subjects cure unhnown to the delineator.)

No. 7. —Mr. HALL-JONES (Member for Timaru). This gentleman has an organisation of very fine texture with large Mental Temperament. Personal taste, general refinement, and intellectual culture are prominent traits of his character. He has a broad, prominent chin, and wide angle of jaw, indicating warm affection and strong determination. The mouth is rather effeminate, but has a firm upper lip. The

nose is of the pure Grecian type with large nostrils, shp.wing love of the beautiful and good breathing power. He is an expert pedestrian, and as a boy would take a first place in general sports. His eyes are not large but they see a great deal which many others miss. His language is rapid, choice, and clear ; in fact he ought to be a good speaker. To begin with he would have more or less of the “ platform tremor ”on account of his fine Nervous Temperament. The ears are large with deep convolutions and love of rhythm. He has good observing power, excellent literary capacity, and considerable reasoning ability. He would be liable to be impatient of opposition and to have under provocation a brittle temper He is fond of the ideal, the perfect, the unique. In the language of the poet,: — “ He loves and worships all that’s fair, In mighty ocean, earth, and air; The grand, the beautiful, the rare,

To him are sacred ever.” He has a fine, bright, active brain, and with experience wil make a superior M.H.R.

B.—MR. E. M. SMITH (Member for New Plymouth.)

This gentleman has quite a different kind of organisation to Mr. Hall-Jones. In many respects they are antithetical. Natural refinement, literary culture, and fineness of texture are wanting in Mr. Smith, but by way of compensation for the absence of these qualities he possesses a strong, sound, energetic organisation. He has a good Vital Temperament

andfairly * large'si&otove wad Mental Temperaments, imparting regular health,- physical endurance, and considerable aotivity of

mind. He has good constructive ability, and would take an interest in the material improvements in his locality. In fact, he would make an excellent “ roads and -bridges” member. The higher phases of politics, such as formulating a national policy, the science of Government, the “ Ideal State,” &c., would not receive much consideration from him. He is more practical than theoretical and devotes himself to the immediate rather than the remote concerns of men. His head is broad in the Coronal region, indicating strong love of justice, general moral disposition, and religious sentiments. Language is large but wanting in literary polish. Memory for history, facts, and figures in detail, is not good. Power of observation is large, fitting him, with his constructive ability, for laying out work, contracting, railway construction, &c. He is not adapted to clerical or sedentary work. It would bore him awfully. He must be active at hand and head work combined, to be happy and useful.

No. 9.— Mr. ALEXANDER HOGG, (Member for Masterton.) This gentleman has a good combination of the three temperaments, giving him a well-balanced organisation. He combines the practical and the THEORETICAL, the USEFUL and the ornamental very well indeed. As shown in this photo he resembles in many respects the late Mr. Bal-

lance, or the picture of

him which I have. The likenesses are all that I have to guide me as I have never seen either of the men. Mr. Hogg has wide and fairly prominent eyes, with plenty of mouth capacity, giving him good powers of utterance. He should be a good speaker, and possess an excellent memory for facts, dates and figures. Discretion and discernment are leading traits of his character. The perceptive faculties are large, enabling him to estimate the form, size, and value of external objects generally. The literary’ organs are well developed, bringing him into contact with books, and giving him power to remember and utilise what he reads. There is good planning ability, the organ of constructiveness being large. He is executive and has plenty of business capacity. He has his impulses well under control. Steadiness of mind is a leading characteristic. He has a broad head, giving him reserve force and, determination of character. The social faculties seem well developed, and there is a kindly expression of countenance, indicating a general friendly disposition. Mr. Hogg has a good all-round organisation.