Matrimony, or, Phrenology and physiology applied to the selection of congenial companions for life : including directions to the married for living affectionately and happily / by O.S. Fowler.

  • Fowler, O. S. (Orson Squire), 1809-1887.
Date:
1880
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Matrimony, or, Phrenology and physiology applied to the selection of congenial companions for life : including directions to the married for living affectionately and happily / by O.S. Fowler. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    tenderness of love, will love a woman possessing these qualities, and on account of this quality. Is not this proposition founded in a laid of mind ? Who can controvert or essentially modify it ? To you whoso experience enables you to judge feelingly in regard to this matter, I make my appeal for its correctness. This point being established, it follows that whoever regards par® ticular forms of the head, or certain phrenological developments, as indications of those qualities of mind admired, will fall in love with one having these developments just as deeply and effectually as with one having a pretty face, handsome figure, &c., when they are admired^ and for precisely the same reason—namely, because they are admired. Why should this not be the case? My position, that love follows admira¬ tion, embodies the entire experience of mankind, and is invulnerable; and the consequent inference, that those who admire an excellent head will surely fall in love with it, is conclusive. Whatever, therefore, a young man or woman admires most, whether personal beauty, a sweet smile, a talent for music, or poetry, or painting, or high intellectual or moral attainments, or kindness, or industry, or frugality, or wit, or strong common sense, or a well-formed head, as indicating a superior mind or excellent feelings, will be fallen in love with first. To this rule there can be no exception. By applying it you can guide your love in any channel pointed out by intellect or sanctioned by the moral sentiments. This principle is to your love what the helm is to a ship, and intellect should be the pilot. Let your intellect and higher sentiments rectify your standardoi admiration and esteem, and this will effectually govern your love, and gurae it into the peaceful haven of connubial bliss. Allow me to add that my own experience accords entirely with this principle, besides fully confirming the preceding, namely, that of selecting a companion by the developments. I say, with emphasis, and from experience, that I would place more confidence in a good phreno¬ logical head, in connection with a good physical organization and training, than in ten years’ acquaintance and courtship added to all the recommendations that can be produced. They never vary, never deceive ! while the latter may be only outside appearances. How often have they deceived the most cautious ? So often—so egre- giously—that choosing, a companion has been appropriately compared to buying a ticket in a lottery. You may draw a prize, but the chances are ten to one that you will draw a blank. In hundreds of instances have I seen the course here proposed, of courting and marrying by the developments followed, and in as many instances have been called on professionally to decide on the fitness and the adaptation of the parties to each other, and never saw one to terminate any other than happily. I stake my reputation as a Phrenologist on the success of this direction properly applied, and am entirely willing to abide any evil consequences resulting from its failure. But, continues our objector, though you show us how to make our choice, and then how to get in love with the object chosen, yet it is quite as important that you show us how to get the object of our choice in love with us. I reply, that in case the affections of the. other party are not previously engaged, very little difficulty need be apprehended about engaging them ; for both young men and young women are apt to get in love quite easy enough without effort. In fact, the great difficulty consists in keeping them from loving till they are fully matured and prepared for marriage. And now, good reader, let us pause and review the ground already gone over. The three points thus far presented are * 1. THE POWER OP THE DOMESTIC FACULTIES OVER THE HAPPINESS OR MISERY OP MANKIND. I 2. THE NECESSITY OP HAVING A COMPANION SIMILAR TO YOURSELF.