The History of Human Marriage #226566

Alexander von Humboldt observed long ago Nations attach the idea of beauty to everything which particularly characterises their own physical conformation, their natural physiognomy. Thence 'it results that, if nature have bestowed very little beard, a narrow forehead, or a brownish red skin, every individual thinks himself beautiful in pro portion as his body is destitute Of hair, his head flattened, his skin more covered with annotto,' or chica,' or some other coppery — red colour.3 This View has been accepted by several later writers 4 but, as it has been disputed by others,5 it may be well to bring together some fresh evidence, as an addition to that collected by Darwin.