Speaker 1: I expression. Next in order in our list of instruments
of mentative expression is the eye, that most wonderful of
all the human organs, and which is as much an
instrument for all the expression of mentative force as it
is an instrument for receiving the sense impression of sight.
Let us consider it in its former aspect, the eye
as a suggestive instrument. In the first place, the eye
is one of the most potent and effective instruments of suggestion.
Although I have not included it in that class, the
expression of the eye will induce mental conditions in others
along the lines of suggestion, and those who understand and
have mastered this art of using the eyes have at
their disposal a wonderful instrument of suggestive influence. Those of
us who have ever met a very magnetic man or
a charming, any fascinating woman, have carried away with us
a lively recollection of the expression of the eyes of
such a person. Actors and public speakers, as well as
those whose business it is to meet and impress people,
often make a close study of eye impression in order
to produce a heightened effect along these lines. While this
phase of the subject belongs more properly to the various
schools of expression in various parts of the country. It
may be worthwhile to pause a moment and examine some
of the leading principles of this art of eye expression,
considered without reference to the phase of minative energy. Exercises
in eye expression begin by studying your eyes in a mirror.
You will see that in the center of the eyeball
there is a black spot. This is called the pupil
of the eye. The larger circle surrounding the pupil is
called the iris. The white of the eye surrounds the iris.
The upper eyelid moving over the eyeball produces a variety
of expressions, each giving to the face a totally different
appearance expression of suggestive meaning. We all recognize the meaning
of these different expressions, but very few of us understand
the mechanism producing the expression. Standing before your mirror, study
these various expressions. The following exercises may help you. Eyelid exercises. One,
hold the upper eyelid in such a position that its
edge rests halfway between the pupil and top of the iris.
This gives an expression of calmness. Two, rest the edge
of the upper eyelid at the top of the pupil.
This gives an expression of indifference. Three, the edge of
the eyelid resting at the top of the iris gives
an expression of strong interest. Four the edge of the
eyelid resting halfway over the pupil gives an eend expression
of deep thought. Five the edge of the eyelid resting
just above the edge of the iris, and thus showing
a narrow strip of white between the edge of the
lid and the edge of the iris, gives an expression
of emotional activity. Six The above position exaggerated so as
to show as much of the white as possible between
the edge of the iris and the edge of the lid,
will give an expression of emotional excitement. How to practice
the exercises? Teachers of the art of expression instruct their
pupils to practice the above expressions and positions. They find
that with a little practice, nearly everyone may easily acquire
the art of expression in the first four exercises, but
that the last two are more difficult of acquirement. The
last exercise, emotional excitement, especially, is found to be quite
difficult at attainment, and teachers claim that but a small
percentage are able to produce the expression without considerable practice.
Practice these movements until you can reproduce them without the
aid of the mirror, just as a man may learn
to shave without a mirror by constant practice before one.
The exercises will not only enable you to express the
different mental states easily and freely, but will also tend
to strengthen the muscles and nerves of the eyes themselves.
Providing that you proceed gradually and do not overtask the
eyes at the beginning. Do not scall or contract the
brows in the practices. A few minutes at a time
is all that you should use in practicing the seventh exercise.
When you have mastered the above exercises, especially numbers five
and six, you may try the following, which is the
most difficult of all seven. Rest the eyelid in the
position of strong interest number three, and then, at the
same time lift the edge of the underlid to the
lower edge of the pupil. This position gives the expression
of close scrutiny the power of expression. You will be
surprised at the added power of expression that the careful
practice of the above exercises will give you. You will
be able to manifest more suggestive feeling and will induce
emotional states of feeling in others. A little practice will
give you such convincing proof of this that you will
not need urging to further perfect yourself in them. The
expressions of emotional activity and emotional excitement especially will produce
a startling result if used on appropriate occasions when you
wish to exhibit the appearance of the deepest emotional excitement
and force development exercises. The following development exercises are highly
recommended by teaching who have devoted years of study and
practice along these lines. One open the eyes quite widely,
but not so widely as to strain them, and hold
them in that position for a few seconds, gazing into
your mirror, which must be directly in front of you,
on a level with your eyes. While gazing, open them
a trifle wider still without straining, and throw an intense
expression into them. Do not move the eyebrows, but allow
them to remain normal. Two. Resume the above position, and
then change to the expression of strong interest. See previous exercises,
looking at yourself in the glass just as you would
and looking at another person with that expression. Three resume
position one and then gradually change to the expression of
emotional activity See previous exercises gazing at yourself in the mirror.
Four Resume position one, and then gradually changed to the
expression of emotional excitement See previous exercises gazing at yourself
in the mirror. Five Resume position one, and then gradually
change to the expression of close scrutiny See previous exercises
gazing at yourself in the mirror. In the above exercises,
you must act as if the reflection of yourself in
the mirror were in reality another person whom you wished
to influence. The better you act this south, the better
your results will be. Six. Practice the expression of strong
interest on persons to whom you are listening until you
feel that you have awakened a response in them. I
may add that the expression of deep interest consists of
but the same expression heightened by more feeling behind it,
and the expression of loving interest is the same, only
more so. This more feeling may be either real or
soon oomed, as in the case of the good actor.
Seven Practice the expression of close scrutiny upon other persons
upon appropriate occasions in which you desire to appear as
taking a deep critical interest in some proposition, undertaking, theory,
et cetera. Many persons have built up a reputation for
being good listeners and keen observers by this practice. I
mention it for what it may be worth to you.
I am merely giving you the rules of the game,
not necessarily advising you to play it.