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  HOW TO READ
  HUMAN NATURE:

  ITS INNER STATES AND
  OUTER FORMS

  By WILLIAM WALKER ATKINSON


  WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS


  L. N. FOWLER & CO.
  7, Imperial Arcade, Ludgate Circus
  London, E. C., England

  1916
  THE ELIZABETH TOWNE CO.
  HOLYOKE, MASS.




  COPYRIGHT 1913
  BY
  ELIZABETH TOWNE




  HOW TO READ
  HUMAN NATURE




CONTENTS


  Chapter                               Page
       I. Inner State and Outer Form       9
      II. The Inner Phase: Character      29
     III. The Outer Form: Personality     38
      IV. The Temperaments                47
       V. The Mental Qualities            68
      VI. The Egoistic Qualities          76
     VII. The Motive Qualities            81
    VIII. The Vitative Qualities          89
      IX. The Emotive Qualities           93
       X. The Applicative Qualities      100
      XI. The Modificative Qualities     107
     XII. The Relative Qualities         114
    XIII. The Perceptive Qualities       122
     XIV. The Reflective Qualities       139
      XV. The Religio-Moral Qualities    148
     XVI. Faces                          156
    XVII. Chins and Mouths               169
   XVIII. Eyes, Ears, and Noses          177
     XIX. Miscellaneous Signs            186




CHAPTER I

INNER STATE AND OUTER FORM


"Human Nature" is a term most frequently used and yet but little
understood. The average person knows in a general way what he and others
mean when this term is employed, but very few are able to give an
off-hand definition of the term or to state what in their opinion
constitutes the real essence of the thought expressed by the familiar
phrase. We are of the opinion that the first step in the process of
correct understanding of any subject is that of acquaintance with its
principal terms, and, so, we shall begin our consideration of the
subject of Human Nature by an examination of the term used to express
the idea itself.

"Human," of course, means "of or pertaining to man or mankind."
Therefore, Human Nature means the _nature_ of man or mankind. "Nature,"
in this usage, means: "The natural disposition of mind of any person;
temper; personal character; individual constitution; the peculiar
mental characteristics and attributes which serve to distinguish one
person from another."

Thus we see that the essence of the _nature_ of men, or of a particular
human being, is the _mind_, the mental qualities, characteristics,
properties and attributes. Human Nature is then a phase of psychology
and subject to the laws, principles and methods of study, examination
and consideration of that particular branch of science.

But while the general subject of psychology includes the consideration
of the inner workings of the mind, the processes of thought, the nature
of feeling, and the operation of the will, the special subject of Human
Nature is concerned only with the question of character, disposition,
temperament, personal attributes, etc., of the individuals making up the
race of man. Psychology is general--Human Nature is particular.
Psychology is more or less abstract--Human Nature is concrete.
Psychology deals with laws, causes and principles--Human Nature deals
with effects, manifestations, and expressions.

Human Nature expresses itself in two general phases, i.e., (1) the
phase of Inner States; and (2) the phase of Outer Forms. These two
phases, however, are not separate or opposed to each other, but are
complementary aspects of the same thing. There is always an action and
reaction between the Inner State and the Outer Form--between the Inner
Feeling and the Outer Expression. If we know the particular Inner State
we may infer the appropriate Outer Form; and if we know the Outer Form
we may infer the Inner State.

That the Inner State affects the Outer Form is a fact generally
acknowledged by men, for it is in strict accordance with the general
experience of the race. We know that certain mental states will result
in imparting to the countenance certain lines and expressions
appropriate thereto; certain peculiarities of carriage and manner, voice
and demeanor. The facial characteristics, manner, walk, voice and
gestures of the miser will be recognized as entirely different from that
of the generous person; those of the coward differ materially from those
of the brave man; those of the vain are distinguished from those of the
modest. We know that certain mental attitudes will produce the
corresponding physical expressions of a smile, a frown, an open hand, a
clenched fist, an erect spine or bowed shoulders, respectively. We also
know that certain feelings will cause the eye to sparkle or grow dim,
the voice to become resonant and positive or to become husky and weak;
according to the nature of the feelings.

Prof. Wm. James says: "What kind of emotion of fear would be left if the
feeling neither of trembling lips nor of weakened limbs, neither of
goose-flesh nor of visceral stir