University, to the effect that the Turks do not express affirmation by a
shake of the head, but by a bow or grave nod, negation being expressed by a
backward nod. From the striking effect produced by looking at a landscape
with the head inverted, or by looking at its reflection, Chauncey Wright
was led to the lateral movement of the head, which is characteristic of
critical inspection--eg. of a picture. He thinks that in this way a
gesture of deliberative assent arose which may have been confused with our
ordinary sign of negation. He thus attempts to account for the
contradictions between Lieber's statement that a Turk or Greek expresses
"yes" by a shake of the head, and the opposite opinion of Prof. Sophocles,
and lastly, Mr. Lowell's assertion that in Italy our negative shake of the
head is used in affirmation (see "Expression of the Emotions," Edition II.,
page 289).) We have a looking-glass in the drawing-room opposite the
flower-garden, and I have often been struck how extremely pretty and
strange the flower garden and surrounding bushes appear when thus viewed.
Your letter will be very useful to me for a new edition of my Expression
book; but this will not be for a long time, if ever, as the publisher was
misled by the very large sale at first, and printed far too many copies.

I daresay you intend to publish your views in some essay, and I think you
ought to do so, for you might make an interesting and instructive
discussion.

I have been half killing myself of late with microscopical work on plants.
I begin to think that they are more wonderful than animals.

P.S., January 29th, 1875.--You will see that by a stupid mistake in the
address this letter has just been returned to me. It is by no means worth
forwarding, but I cannot bear that you should think me so ungracious and
ungrateful as not to have thanked you for your long letter.