22. DR. NEILL (CREAM), THE LAMBETH POISONER.
As I have already suggested, one or more bad signs may often be seen in the faces of persons who are good rather than bad, kind rather than brutal, honourable rather than treacherous. In such instances, the bad point is dominated by the good ones, and it may indeed be converted into a useful quality. For example, the animal brutality of a murderer may become in a good face the resolute energy of the man of action.
23. HENRY BENSON, SWINDLER AND FORGER.
But where you see many bad signs collected in one face, and when you feel a certain instinctive aversion for a face, even though your reason or your supposed self-interest gives you no warning, then I say let your instinct have its way, and take the warning that Nature is holding up to you as a danger-signal.
This reliance upon instinct works both ways, moreover. It is equally foolish to distrust all men, as the cynics do, as it is to trust all men, as the imprudent do. In giving these necessarily scanty notes upon faces which contain some of Nature's most obvious danger-signals, my purpose is to warn people off the bad faces, and at the same time to encourage a belief in good faces; but in both instances, I suggest, let instinct be your guide, for in this matter instinct is often a far surer guide than reason.
Note.—These photographs have been specially taken from the models in Madame Tussaud's Exhibition. In expressing my thanks to Mr. John Tussaud for the facilities thus given, I must also express admiration of the art which produces these life-like models.—J. H. S.