MISCELLANY.

MY MENTAL HABITATION.

THE aid rendered by Phrenology in even all the little affairs of life, and the texts which it furnishes from which to present truth in all its phases, surpass all other sciences and subjects combined. This is admirably exemplified in the following beautiful composition by a member of the Worcester High School, read at their annual examination, and pronounced the best, because woven out of phrenological material.

WORCESTER, July 9, 1847.

MR. EDITOR: The following piece of composition, by a young lady of the Worcester High School, which was produced on the occasion of the annual examination, I cut from the Christian Citizen. I think your readers will be satisfied, on a perusal of the article, that the praise was not unmerited, and led to believe that the young authoress has long been in the study of her Mental Habitation; and if it meets your views, please give it a place in your Journal. A. B.

MY MENTAL HABITATION.

I had been for several hours vainly endeavoring to bring my scattered thoughts into a channel, which might result in some ideas, from which to frame a composition. My attention was at length arrested by a low murmuring, which seemed to proceed from the chambers of my mental habitation. My organs had been aroused by my late efforts, and were kindly offering me advice.

Haven't you finished your composition yet? said Combativeness; why, how slow you are! Go on and write. Don't stop to look at every word. I could compose one while you are thinking of a subject.

Caution interrupted this uncomplimentary speech, by saying that he thought it better to delay writing until I was in a better mood for it, lest, by being too hasty, I should spoil a good composition.

Approbativeness agreed with the last speaker, and begged that I would not be offended; but suggested that, unless I was sure of having a production that would elicit much praise, I had better not write at all.

Self-Esteem now stalked forward with an air of so much importance, that I commanded him to remain silent.

Destructiveness, who had worked himself into quite a passion, wondered why I waited; he believed now, the fault was with Language; it was always the way, that when there was writing to be done, that person was never ready to perform his part of the labor.

Do not be too hard upon poor Language, said Benevolence; he works harder to perform his part than all the rest of us.

You might borrow a composition, said Secretiveness; it would save us all much trouble, and none ever need know it. For shame! said Conscientious

ness; would you palm off the production of another for your own? Secretiveness, thus repulsed, retired, amidst the laughter of Mirthfulness. Continuity and Firmness advised me to persevere, and complete a subject once begun.

Don't write much, said Acquisitiveness; it will take too much paper. Yes, chimed in Alimentiveness; people may be tired and want their supper. Inhabitiveness thought "the pleasure of home" would be an excellent subject. Ideality suggested something elegant, refined, and rather poetic. Sublimity

urged the grand and beautiful in nature. Order hoped that I would preserve my sheet from blots, and arrange my ideas systematically.

Veneration now appeared, attended by Faith and Hope; and the assembly was instantly hushed into silence. He advised me to refrain from every thing light and frivolous, and to choose some sacred subject, as prayer. Faith suggested confidence in God. Hope encouraged me to proceed, and pictured to me the satisfaction I should win, when success crowned my efforts.

I listened attentively to all this advice, and came to the conclusion, that since they had manifested such a desire to render me assistance in my need, it was no more than a simple performance of duty to enter their abode, and examine, separately, the capabilities and tendences of the different organs, that I might select from the higher also, those who should guide and control wisely the inferior and more selfish occupants of my mental habitation.

I appointed Conscience, Reason, and Benevolence, chief officers. These I directed to act in concert, and each consult the others on all occasions; to be faithful in the discharge of duty, and oblige the other organs to listen to their dictates, and obey them. I gave Mirthfulness into the charge of Veneration. Hope, I desired to be much with Caution. Faith was to exert an elevating and purifying influence over all.

I charged Veneration never to let the fire of devotion grow dead upon its altar, but, assisted by Faith and Hope, to keep the inner sanctuary pure, a beautiful repository of holy aspirations. Having given these directions, I entrusted the key to Conscientiousness, and left them, resolving that my visits there should be more frequent, for nowhere could I spend an hour more profitably than in gaining a thorough knowledge of the dwellers of my mental habitation.

E. E. M.

TRUTH AND EDITORS.

To confide in our fellow-men, and believe what they utter, is as natural to man as breathing. But for this elementary principle of mind-doubtless the function of a distinct faculty located among the moral organs no knowledge, no news, no discoveries, could be promulgated among mankind; but all said to us, not previously known, would be unceremoniously repudiated. Especially is it natural to place confidence in PUBLIC and learned men, leaders, and such like a fact which imposes heavy responsibilities on those who lead off the public mind in politics, literature, and morals. Still more are EDITORS borne down with these responsibilities. How natural for all to receive as true whatever is seen in PRINT, and how exceedingly difficult for readers to divest themselves of this confiding feeling.

--

Nor should caterers for the public EVER trifle with this sacred trust, voluntarily assumed, in and by the fact of their writing for the press. For such to disseminate error, is a perfect outrage upon human nature. For them to put forth what they do not KNOW to be as represented, is wicked. much care be exercised to promulgate nothing but TRUTH.

Nor can too

These remarks apply to all editors, political, literary, and promiscuous, but to none as forcibly as to religious. They especially should guard most assiduously against the promulgation of error. To what do men look up with as much deference as to their religious leaders? What impressions exert a control over opinion, conduct, and mind, to compare with those wielded by this class of public men? What a mighty influence for evil a single religious editor can wield; and the more so, in case his circulation is large. Besides, how incongruous for a professed follower of Christ to either work evil or disseminate

Editor B.

error? Does the Bible ever shrink from "declaring the WHOLE truth, whether men will hear or whether they will forbear?" For a Christian leader to follow in the popular wake, and make a gain of religion by a time-serving truckling to public opinion—what is more weak or wicked? For miscellaneous editors to do this is most reprehensible, yet for pretended CHRISTIAN editors to cater to the vox populi, is most despicable. Yet how many do it. An illustration. "Fascination," written by a zealous religionist, Dr. Newman, was taken to Mr. B., editor of the E-, with the request to notice it. Editor B. was intimately acquainted with Dr. N., and knew him to be thoroughly "orthodox," according to the faith of editor B., and even an enthusiastic defender of the "New School" Congregational doctrines advocated by his paper. When editor B. observed the imprint, "Fowlers & Wells," he apostrophised, "What! you let that infidel firm publish your books? Shame on you for having any thing to do with these heretics!" "But," replied Dr. N., "you yourself, according to your own previous admissions to me, believe in Phrenology." replied, energetically, "No matter what I believe, sir; the PEOPLE don't." Call you such mean and wicked suppression of truth, and truckling to "the people," Christianity? I call it virtual blasphemy. It is a point blank denial of God, by repudiating his works. Has that human being one claim to be considered even a man, much less a Christian, who will utter such a heathenism? What should more effectually rouse the virtuous indignation of every moral man, religious and worldling? And what must the irreligious think of Christianity, when its great guns thus profane the holy sanctuary of eternal truth? Nor is editor B. "solitary and alone." Editor P., of the Observer, is his illustrious coadjutor; and their sub-leaders all over the land are following in their "illustrious" footsteps. This, in connection with conservative bigotry, shows why the religious press of our country is down with such triple vengeance upon Phrenology. They study the PEOPLE"-that is, THEIR "people"-their antiquated elders and deacons, and conspicuous, but old-fashioned laymen; and folding up and stifling their own inner convictions of truth, they serve up to "my people" what "my people love to have set before them," and chucklingly pocket the spoils. Out upon such sanctimonious hypocrisy! Is it any wonder that infidels are multiplying thus apace? Rather infidels than such pseudo Christians! How long shall these things be?

Not long; no longer than till men shake off the trammels and cease to follow leaders. Let such lying editors lead their blind but zealous followers into all error, instead of "all truth," but let those who have mind, use it. Would to God my countrymen were truly independent; would shake off blind subserviency to ALL leaders, as such-political, scientific, religious, miscellaneous - and do their own thinking. Be freemen in this the most important sense of that term, and stand on your own foundations. Do not let me lead you in Phrenology, or your minister or editor in morals; but investigate and decide for your own selves.

And men ARE doing this faster than editor B. thinks for. Sooner than he supposes, he and his paper, though the third largest in circulation in our city, will be weighed in the balance, and put where he now puts his own convictions of phrenological truth- no matter" where, so that it is only out of sight.

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CONSCIENTIOUSNESS.

The following is a beautiful illustration of Conscientiousness, fully developed, and of the old adage, that honesty is the best policy.

How simple and beautifully has Abd-el-Kadir, of Ghilon, impressed us with the love of truth in a story of his childhood. After stating the vision which made him entreat of his mother to go to Bagdad, and devote himself to God, he thus proceeds:

I informed her of what I had seen, and she wept; then taking out eighty dinars, she told me I had a brother, half of that was all my inheritance; she made me swear, when she gave it to me, never to tell a lie, and afterward bade me farewell, exclaiming "Go, my son, I consign thee to God; we shall not meet until the day of Judgment."

I went on well, till I came near Hamandnai, when our Kafillah was plundered by sixty horsemen. One fellow asked me what I had got?" "Forty dinars," said I, "are sewed under my garments." The fellow laughed, thinking, no doubt, I was joking with him. "What have you got?" said another; I gave him the same answer. When they were dividing the spoil, I was called to an eminence where the chief stood.

"What property have you got, my little fellow?" said he.

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'I have told two of your people already," I replied; "I have forty dinars sewed in my garments."

He ordered them to be ripped open, and found my money.

"And how came you," said he, in surprise, "to declare so openly, what had been so carefully concealed?"

"Because, I replied, "I will not be false to my mother, to whom I have promised I never will tell a lic!"

"Child," said the robber, "hast thou such a sense of duty to thy mother at thy years, and am I insensible at my age, of the duty I owe to my God? Give me thy hand, innocent boy," he continued, "that I may swear repentance upon it." He did so. His followers were all alike struck with the scene. "You have been our leader in guilt," said they to their chief; be the same in the path of virtue." And they instantly, at his order, made restitution of their spoil, and vowed repentance on his hand.-History of Persia.

We clip the following from the New York Weekly Tribune, of March 1st: APPRENTICES WANTED.-Four able-bodied young men, from sixteen to eighteen years of age, can have an opportunity, by applying to the subscriber, of learning the art of Moulding in Sand for Iron Castings. They will be required to serve four years, and board in my own family. They must pass a phrenological examination, and be approved by Messrs. Fowler & Wells, 131 Nassau street, N. Y. My business is believed to be a healthy one. They will be allowed the privilege of access to a good Library, the reading of at least six weekly newspapers, and attendance on a Lyceum. The common wages for journeymen in this business are from $16 to $35 per month and board. JONATHAN LEONARD.

LORD BYRON'S HEAD.

The author of "Pen-and-Ink Sketches" of Poets, Preachers, and Politicians, which is reviewed in the Athenæum of 29th August, 1846, states that he saw in the house of Sir Edward Knatchbull, the dead body of Lord Byron, when brought to London, in 1824. "The head of the poet," says he, "was covered with short, crisp, curling locks, slightly streaked with grey hairs, especially over the temples, which were ample and free from hair, as we see in the portraits. The face had nothing of the appearance of death about it; it was neither sunken nor discolored in the least, but of a dead, marble whiteness; the expression was that of stern quietude. The forehead was high and broad; indeed, the whole head was extremely large."

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.

Under this head our readers may look for a brief notice of new publications. We cannot devote our pages to an extensive review of any work, but simply announce the fact of their publication.

THE EYE: Or, the Physiology and Anatomy of the Organ of Vision; containing Rules for the Preservation, Improvement, and Restoration of Sight. With Remarks on Near Sight and Aged Sight, on Optics, and the use and abuse of Spectacles, etc., etc. By JAMES W. POWELL, M. D.

The above is the title of an excellent work. It is based on l'hysiological Science, and contains much valuable advice, relating not only to the Eye, but to a variety of other subjects. The author takes strong ground against the use of tobacco, and other stimulants. Bathing, exercise, diet, and physical education, are briefly considered; and, as a whole, we cordially recommend it to our friends and the public generally. Octavo, pp. 140. Mailable. Price 50 cents.

THE AMERICAN DRAWING-BOOK: A Manual for the Amateur, and Basis of Study for the Professional Artist: especially adapted to the use of public and private Schools, as well as home instruction. By J. G. CHAPMAN, N. A.

We cannot too strongly urge young people to acquaint themselves with this valuable art. By the aid of the work, and a few moments' practice each day, every one may learn to draw correctly. We fully coincide with the views of W. C. BRYANT, Editor of the New York Evening Post, who says-"I have examined, with great pleasure, Chapman's American Drawing-Book. The execution of the work, in every respect, has struck me with an agreeable surprise. The method appears to me admirable: the directions are clear, ample, and, I think, extremely judicious; while the engraved illustrations are as beautiful in design and execution, as they are calculated to be useful to the learner. It is the best book on Drawing I ever saw; and I have heard artists, whose opinion is of infinitely more value than mine, say the same thing. I think the public will owe Mr. Chapman a great obligation for employing his fine talents in the production of a book which promises to be of so much general utility." This work is particularly adapted to those who wish to learn to draw heads, as it contains full instructions on this important point. Mailable. Price 50 cents.

MESMER AND SWEDENBORG: Or, the Relation of the Developments of Mesmerism to the Doctrines and Disclosures of Swedenborg. By GEORGE BUSH. Second edition. Mailable. Price 624 cents. This work has already passed through one edition, and a second called for. The reputation and high literary acquirements of Professor Bush are too well known, both in Europe and America, to require further notice from us. The following is from the table of contents:

Swedenborg's own State psychologically viewed-The more obvious Mental Phenomena of Mesmerism-Transfer of Thought-Phantasy-Spheres-Memory-Magnetic Vision-ClairvoyanceMagnetic Hearing-Repugnance to Names-Truthfulness-Conclusion-Revelations of A. J. DavisThe Seeress of Prevorst-Distinction of Soul, Body, and Spirit-The Nerve-Spirit-The Sun Circle and the Life Circle-Separate Functions of the Soul and Spirit-The Language of Spirits-On SpiritSeeing-Growth of Infants in the other Life-State of the Heathen in the other Life-The Forms of Spirits Spirits seen by a Spiritual Eye-The Illuminated Eye-Swedish Document on Animal Magnetism-Trance of Rev. William Tennent.

RELICS FROM THE WRECK OF a former WorLD: Or, Splinters gathered on the Shores of a Tur bulent Planet: proving, to a demonstration, the vast antiquity of the Earth, and the existence of Animal Life of the most fantastic Shapes, and the most elegant Colors, rivalling those of the Rainbow, millions of years before the appearance of man. With an Appendix on the Scenery in a patch of Infinite Space. To which is added, Accounts of the most wonderful bodies and substances that have fallen from heaven in all ages of the world; with an Analysis of each. Illustrated. This is one of the most curious of books. The following, from the preface, together with the title above, will give a tolerably correct view of the contents of the work. "It is intended to furnish a general view of the leading appearances of PHYSICAL NATURE-the Economy of the Heavens and the Earth-deduced from Milner's Gallery of Nature,' Mantel's Medals of Creation,' and other authentic sources. Geology and Astronomy are, in truth, Sciences whose discoveries have realized the wildest imaginings of the Poet, and whose REALITIES infinitely surpass, in grandeur and sublimity, the most imposing fictions of romance." The work contains a Memoir of Galileo, which will be found intensely interesting. Mailable. Price 25 cents.

GUARDIAN SPIRITS: A Case of Vision into the Spiritual World. Translated from the German of H. Werner, with parallels from Emanuel Swedenborg. By A. E. FORD.

This is a remarkable case of Magnetic experiment merging into what may be termed a spiritual revelation of many of the facts and laws of the ulterior sphere of human existence. It illustrates, in a very interesting manner, the Scriptural doctrine of tutelary angels, and the peculiar mode in which they perform their offices of mercy toward the children of men on earth. While the Psychological disclosures are exceedingly striking, the moral tone of the book is admirable. It goes decidedly to prove that our future destiny is governed by the observance or infraction of the fundamental laws of being which are operative in the present world. The perusal can scarcely fail to leave the reader both wiser and better. Price 50 cents.

The above works may be ordered from the Journal office, and received by mail