_Mr Cranium._ I perfectly agree with Mr Mac Laurel in his definition of self-love and disinterestedness: every man's actions are determined by his peculiar views, and those views are determined by the organisation of his skull. A man in whom the organ of benevolence is not developed, cannot be benevolent: he in whom it is so, cannot be otherwise. The organ of self-love is prodigiously developed in the greater number of subjects that have fallen under my observation. _Mr Escot._ Much less I presume, among savage than civilised men, who, _constant only to the love of self, and consistent only in their aim to deceive, are always actuated by the hope of personal advantage, or by the dread of personal punishment_[5.2]. _Mr Cranium._ Very probably. _Mr Escot._ You have, of course, found very copious specimens of the organs of hypocrisy, destruction, and avarice. _Mr Cranium._ Secretiveness, destructiveness, and covetiveness. You may add, if you please, that of constructiveness. _Mr Escot._ Meaning, I presume, the organ of building; which I contend to be not a natural organ of the _featherless biped_. _Mr Cranium._ Pardon me: it is here.--(_As he said these words, he produced a skull from his pocket, and placed it on the table to the great surprise of the company._)--This was the skull of Sir Christopher Wren. You observe this protuberance--(_The skull was handed round the table._) _Mr Escot._ I contend that the original unsophisticated man was by no means constructive. He lived in the open air, under a tree. _The Reverend Doctor Gaster._ The tree of life. Unquestionably. Till he had tasted the forbidden fruit. _Mr Jenkison._ At which period, probably, the organ of constructiveness was added to his anatomy, as a punishment for his transgression. _Mr Escot._ There could not have been a more severe one, since the propensity which has led him to building cities has proved the greatest curse of his existence. _Squire Headlong._ (_taking the skull._) _Memento mori._ Come, a bumper of Burgundy. _Mr Nightshade._ A very classical application, Squire Headlong. The Romans were in the practice of adhibiting skulls at their banquets, and sometimes little skeletons of silver, as a silent admonition to the guests to enjoy life while it lasted. _The Reverend Doctor Gaster._ Sound doctrine, Mr Nightshade. _Mr Escot._ I question its soundness. The use of vinous spirit has a tremendous influence in the deterioration of the human race. _Mr Foster._ I fear, indeed, it operates as a considerable check to the progress of the species towards moral and intellectual perfection. Yet many great men have been of opinion that it exalts the imagination, fires the genius, accelerates the flow of ideas, and imparts to dispositions naturally cold and deliberative that enthusiastic sublimation which is the source of greatness and energy. _Mr Nightshade._ _Laudibus arguitur vini vinosus Homerus._[5.3]