Every fact presented in this volume in regard to cranial and temperamental indications of character is part of the system discovered and promulgated by Dr. Franz Josef Gall and his immediate co-workers and followers.
As a result of the visits of Spurzheim and Combe to the United States, a school was founded in New York called the American Institute of Phrenology, for the purpose of disseminating the Gallian Doctrine. Horace Mann,. Dr. Howe, Horace Greeley, Henry Ward Beecher and other advanced thinkers were among its patrons and trustees. The writer was graduated from this school in 1895.
The devoted and able efforts of its staff of instructors were supplemented by a remarkable collection of casts, busts and skulls together with a voluminous library pertaining to the subjects taught. I esteem it a privilege at this time to acknowledge a profound indebtedness to the founders and faculty of this institution.
The matter contained in the purely physiognomical portion of the book has been gleaned from every available source during a practical experience of almost thirty years as a character analyst and vocational adviser. It has been my earnest desire to present the most practical and trustworthy of this material, in a concise and applicable form, for the use of all who desire to increase their efficiency and enhance their services to the race by the unfailing method of acquiring self understanding and man-wisdom through a study of human character and motives.
NIy plan of placing each illustration directly adjacent to the subject matter does away with the annoyance and interruption of consecutive thought which always results from the necessity of looking up the illustration referred to, in some other part of the book. For the same reason a loose leaf symbolical head has been included in order that it may be carried to any part of the book for reference. In order to keep the volume within a reasonable price, I have thought it best to dispense with all but the absolutely essential illustrations: but would suggest that each reader gather from magazines and newspapers a collection of portraits and study each in the light of the rules herein laid down.
In applying these rules for the study of character, it is essential that three factors be always taken into consideration:
First. That no one feature or formation can be depended upon to tell the whole story. Counteracting influences must always be taken into account. Prof. Angel once remarked to his class in psychology that "a man may have ten signs of degeneracy and still be a good citizen." Unfortunate characteristics should be regarded - not as finalities - but as a challenge to conquer and correct the undesirable traits.
Second. In estimating character, a constructive and helpful attitude of mind is essential. lever forget that a negative or disparaging suggestion may discourage effort, slow down ambition and diminish self confidence.
Third. Test each rule carefully and form no conclusions until every circumstance and factor have been minutely considered.