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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    HOW TO GET IN LOVE. f§2 with artificial smiles ; the gentleman arrayed in his best broadcloth, and the lady dressed in the tip of the fashion, and corsetted too tight to breathe freely or appear naturally ; fine sayings, well spiced with flat¬ tery, cut and dried beforehand ; faults all hid, and virtues set in the fore-ground ; and every thing whitewashed for the season. And, what is even worse, the night season is usually chosen ; whereas this, the most momentous and eventful business in our lives, should be trans¬ acted in open daylight, when both parties are fully themselves, and have all their faculties in vigorous exercise. One main object of court¬ ship should be, to become acquainted, especiallywith each other’s faults ; for, if the parties marry, they are sure to find out these bad qualities ; but it will then be too late. In trying to cheat the other party by con¬ cealing your faults, you are only cheating yourselves; for how can those love you whom you have deceived? And how can you live happily toge¬ ther when you both find yourselves taken in by each other 1 Hence you should freely disclose your faults : vour virtues will exhibit themselves. Besides, persons in love are quite liable enough to be blind to the faults of their sweethearts, without any attempts to keep these faults con¬ cealed. The great danger—the main point to be guarded against—is a relapse, a re-action after marriage ; which will be effectually prevented by both disclosing their faults before marriage. But even in case your intended should follow this almost universal custom of practising deception, a knowledge of Phrenology, with one scrutinizing glance, strips the character of all artificial deceptions that can be thrown around it, and furnishes an unerring index of character, •talents, tastes, sentiments, pre-dispositions, &c.; for the developments can neither be inflated nor depressed to suit the occasion, but are fixed scad permanent signs of the naked character, just as it will be found to be on acquaintance. This science, therefore, is an invaluable directory to candidates for marriage. If it were studied and applied, there would be no more need of making a bad choice, or of mistaking a poor hus¬ band or wife for a good one, than of mistaking a thistle for a rose. But if you have not sufficient time to study the science so as to apply it with the requisite certainty for yourself, you can employ the services of an experienced practical Phrenologist, or if this cannot be done, a comparison of charts, carefully prepared by him, may answer. At this course, you smile in ridicule ; but what is there in it at all absurd, or even improper 1 Is it improper to ascertain the qualities of each other ! Certainly not; whereas it is ridiculous to marry a stranger, or even one of whose qualities you know but little. Does this absurdity then con¬ sist in the proposed means of obtaining this kowledge 1 In what else can it consist 1 The only reason for smiling at this proposed method is, that it is novel, which evinces the folly, not of this method, but of the laughter. Let such laugh on ; for they laugh only at themselves ; but let those who would avail themselves of an assistant superior to all others observe the heads of their intended, and marry phrenologically. And let matrimony, instead of being treated lightly, and as a matter of merriment, which is usually the case, be regarded as it really is—the most momentous business of our lives. If to this it be objected that Cupid is blind, and that though. I have told how to select a suitable companion, I have not shown how to get in love with the one selected ; I reply, FIRST, RECTIFY YOUR STANDARD OF ESTEEM AND ADMIRATION. If Cupid has always been blind, he has always blindly followed admiration. We fall in love with whatever we admire and esteem, and with that only. The young man who admires a delicate hand or hand¬ some figure, a pretty foot and ancle, or a fine set of teeth, a small waist, or fine bust, a beautiful face, or genteel manners, mostly will fall in love with one possessing the admired quality, and because she possesses it. But he who admires moral purity, or superior talents, or piety, or