Phrenological Character of Mr. John J. Harris. FOWLER (L. N.).
Given by L. N. Fowler, Practical Phrenologist, 107 Fleet Street, London.
Manuscript in ink on single side of 22ff.
8vo. [205 x 129 x 4 mm]. In wrappers, attached with two studs at the head, the front with woodcut title with portrait busts of Gall, Spurzhiem and Combe, completed in manuscript, the rear with advertisements for Fowler and Standard Works For Sale. (Loss around the edges and foxed).
London: 11th February 1880.
The wrappers are thin and fragile, and have suffered some loss around the edges and there is some spotting inside, but it has survived quite well.
Phrenology is a process that involves observing and feeling the indentations and shapes in a skull to determine an individual's psychological attributes.
"Prof." Lorenzo Niles Fowler (1811-96) was the son of a New York farmer, and set up a phrenological establishment in the city in 1836. His brother, Orson, did the same in Philadelphia and the two of them expanded into publishing reprints of phrenological classics. Fowler travelled to England with his wife and daughter in 1860 and lectured widely, appearing at the International Exhibition of 1862. The following year he founded the Fowler Institute at Ludgate Circus, and in 1886 he established and presided over the British Phrenological Association. He read many heads, including Walt Whitman and Mark Twain, and advised: "Do not fail to have a Full Written description of character and abilities when you can. It will serve your highest interests as a practical guide through life".
Mr. John J. Harris took his advice, and in a written report of c.1100 words he was informed: "You are organised in a high key".... "Your brain is large, your mind comprehensive, & you are adapted to a wholesale business. Your weakest vital organization is that of digestion, & that has been rendered so partly by overwork".... "You must secure as much recreation & general change of air, diet, & labour as possible".... "You are anxious to acquire property, to do business, & to succeed. You are liable to become too worldly & to devote yourself too exclusively to business".... "If you should devote yourself to religion, you would be one of the zealous kind".... "You are disposed to encourage reforms, improvements, & advancements in intellectual & moral culture".... "You have strong imagination, are fond of beauty, style, perfection, ornament, oratory, display, fashion, & polish".... "You have a mechanical & artistic eye. You can keep the centre of balance in walking & riding, & with ordinary practice, could make a good marksman".... "You could have made a good speaker".... "You are direct in your style of saying things. Sometimes you are not sufficiently mindful of the how you say them, or the when & where".... "But you are not given to joking".... "Your greatest fault of all is a want of due restraint, caution, forethought, circumspection, harmony & consistency of mental action"..... "Your appetite is naturally strong, & unless you are quite guarded, you will find yourself eating too much, for you are somewhat like the Paddy" ... "You are not much of a ladies' man" .... "Learn to take life easier, & you will live all the longer".
Stock no. ebc6795