Inherent character gushes out through every organ of the body and every avenue of the soul. Broad-built people love ease, are rather dull, and take good care of number one. In the nature of things, length of form facilitates action. Such are always in motion, speak too fast to be emphatic, and have no lazy bones in their body. Excitability is indicated by sharpness. From time immemorial a sharp nose has been considered a sign of a scolding disposition; but it is equally so of intensity in the other feelings. In accordance with the general law that shape and character correspond, well-proportioned persons have not only harmony of features but well-balanced minds. Whereas those, some of whose features stand right out and others fall in, have ill-balanced characters as well as an uneven appearance. Walking, laughing, the mode of shaking hands, and the intonations of the voice, are all expressive of human peculiarities. In short, Nature compels all her productions to manifest character as diversified as correct. The art of judging of character from the external appearance, especially from the countenance, is founded upon the belief, which has long and generally prevailed, that there is an intimate connection between the features and expression of the face and the qualities and habits of the mind. All are conscious of drawing conclusions in this way with more or less confidence, and of acting upon them in the affairs of life to a certain extent. But women are generally allowed to excel in quick insight into character—to perceive motives at a glance—to be natural physiognomists: some of the greatest philosophers that ever lived, have been prepared to trust their first impressions. We find this rare and valuable sense—this short-hand reasoning—exemplified in the conversations and writings of ladies, producing, even in the absence of original genius or of profound penetration, a sense of perfect security, as we follow their gentle guidance. Indeed, they seem to read the characters of all they meet, and especially of the opposite sex, intuitively, and their verdict may be considered oracular and without appeal. “Ye’ll no mind me, sir,” said Mrs. Macgregor to Mr. Godwin the lawyer, in that touching story, “The Little Rift,” which appeared in _Good Words_, for 1860, “but I mind ye weel, tho’ lang it is syne ye made my bit will, and there’s mony a line on your face the day that wasna’ there then. But oh, sir! there’s the same kindly glint o’ the e’e still, and I never was mista’en in my reading o’ ony man’s face yet; I hae just an awfu’ insight. It was given me to see fra the very first, that the major was a dour man, dour! dour!”