THE PHRENOMETER.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 8941, 5 October 1907, Page 4

THE PHRENOMETER.

The occupation of the phrenologist is threatened. There was exhibited before a number of journalists in London recently a weird machine known as a phrenomoter which tells one’s “bumps” with deadly accuracy, and presents the victim immediately with a printed chart of hie virtues and vices. It is a weird looking machine. It is a heavy steel helmet, suspended from a movable bar,” says one account, “ above the electrical mechanism, and fitted inside with a great number of steel prongs or fingers. The victim is placed beneath the helmet, I tho steel lingers close tightly above his erauinm, a steel prong catches hold of his nasal organ with a strong and resolute grip, and there he is, looking like a murderer about to be executed.” Then the operator sets the machinery in motion, and in 30 seconds the contrivance has searched the recesses of the soul, and printed the discoveries in black and white. The cap indicates the size of the “ bump” at 28 different points. It is recorded by the Tribune that the first few gentlemen who had their characters read presented indifferent records —indeed, judging by the thing’s remarks, there were potential murderers amongst them, some thieves and many fools. But the representative of the Tribune obtained a record which must have won him immediate promotion, “ 5 FIRMNESS. The development in this faculty shows great source of constancy and perseverance. YOUR WAY COMMANDS.” This is the style in which tho record is presented. The capitals are sufficient to make a man feel an inch taller. This young man had veneration, benevolence, humour, idealty, sublimity and selfesteem —everything, [in fact, necessary for a journalist. His only failing was a lack of alimentiveness —that is, he displayed a tendency to eat from a sense of duty rather than from keen relish. If the price of the machine is at all reasonable, it should be welcomed by promoters of bazaars and similar contrivances for extracting money painlessly. As a side-show, its future ought to be golden.