Gaining his ends by flattery, cajolery, and various more or less innocent little deceptions are the only social handicaps of this type.
Emotional Assets
His unfailing optimism is the most marked emotional quality of this type. Nothing can be so dark that the fat person doesn't find a silver edge[Pg 76] somewhere. So in disaster we always send for our fat friends. In the presence of an amply-proportioned individual everything looks brighter. Hope springs eternal in human breasts but the springs are stronger in the plump folks than in the rest of us.
Money spending is also a marked feature of the fat man. His emotions are out-going, never "in-growing." A stingy fat man is unknown.
Emotional Liabilities
A tendency to become spoiled, to pout, and to take out his resentments in babyish ways are the emotional weaknesses of this type. These, as you will note, are the natural reactions of childhood, from which he never fully emerges.
Business Assets
The ability to make people like him is the greatest business and professional asset of this type, and one every other type might well emulate. One average-minded fat man near the door of a business establishment will make more customers in a month by his geniality, joviality and sociableness than a dozen brilliant thinkers will in a year. Every business that deals directly with the public should have at least one fat person in it.[Pg 77]
Business Liabilities
A habit of evading responsibility and of "getting out from under" constitutes the inclination most harmful to the business or profes-
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sional ambitions of this type. Again it is the child in him trying to escape the task set for it and at the same time to avoid punishment.
Domestic Strength
Love of home is a distinguishing domestic trait of all fat people. The fat man's provision for his family is usually as complete as his circumstances will permit and he often stretches it a point.
As parents fat men and women are almost too easy-going for their own future happiness, for they "spoil" their children. But they are more loved by their children than any other type. Being so nearly children themselves they make equals of their children, enter into their games and live their lives with them.
Domestic Weakness
Dependence on others, the tendency of allowing one's self to be supported by brothers or sisters or wife, is the chief domestic weakness of fat people. They should begin early in life to depend upon them[Pg 78]selves and make it a practice to carry their share of family responsibilities.
Should Aim At
Developing more of his mental powers with a view to using his head to lessen the manual work he so dislikes, and cultivating an interest in the more mature side of the world in which he lives should be two of the aims of all extremely fat people.
Should Avoid
"Letting down," soft snaps and temptations to evade responsibility should be avoided by the fat. Elbert Hubbard said, "Blessed is the man who is not looking for a soft snap, for he is the only one who shall find it." This explains why the fat man, unless brainy, seldom lands one.
Strongest Points
Optimism, hospitality and harmony are the strongest points in the fat man's nature. Upon them many a man has built a successful life. Without them no individual of any type can hope to be happy.
His popularity and all-around compatibility give the fat man advantages over other types which fairly compensate for the weak cogs in his machinery.[Pg 79]
Weakest Points
Self-indulgence of all kinds, over-eating, over-sleeping, under-exercising and the evasion of responsibilities are the weakest points of this type. Despite his many strong points his life is often wrecked on these rocks. He so constantly tends to taking the easy way out. Day by day he gives up chances for ultimate success for the baubles of immediate ease.
He is the most likable of all the types but his indolence sometimes strains even the love of his family to the breaking point.
How to Deal with this Type Socially
Feed him, give him comfortable chairs--the largest you have--and don't drag him into long discussions of any kind. This is the recipe for winning the fat man when you meet him socially.
And whatever you do, don't tell him your troubles! The fat man hates trouble, smothers his own, and you only make him ill at ease when you regale him with yours.
Don't walk him any more than is absolutely necessary. Let him go home early if he starts. He enjoys his sleep and doesn't like to have it interfered with.
Make your conversation deal with concrete per[Pg 80]sonal things and events. Stay away from highbrow subjects. The best places to eat and the best shows of the week are safe subjects to introduce when with very fat people.
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How to Deal with this Type in Business
Don't give him hard manual tasks. If you want this kind of work done get some one other than an extremely fat man to do it. If you hire a fat man blame yourself for the result.
Give your fat employee a chance to deal with people in a not-too-serious way, but hold him strictly to the keeping of his records, reports and working hours. If this fat person is a dealer, a merchant or a tradesman keep him to his word. Start out by letting him know you expect the delivery of just what he promises. Don't let him "jolly" you into relinquishing what is rightfully yours. And keep in mind always that the fat person is usually good at heart.
[Pg 81]
Remember, the chief distinguishing marks of the Alimentive in the order of their importance are ROUNDED
OUTLINES, IMMATURE FEATURES
and DIMPLED HANDS. A person
who has these is largely of the Alimentive type, no matter what other types
may be included in his makeup.
[Pg 82]
[Pg 83] CHAPTER II
The Thoracic Type
"The Thriller"
ndividuals in whom the circulatory system (heart, arteries and blood vessels) and the respiratory system (lungs, nose and chest) are more highly developed than any other systems, have been named the Thoracics.
This name comes from the fact that the heart and lungs (which constitute the most important organs of these two closely-allied systems) are housed in the thorax--that little room made by your ribs for the protection of these vital organs.
Physical Resilience
A general elasticity of structure, a suggestion of sinews and physical resilience characterizes this type.
The Florid-Faced, High-Chested Individual
What is known as a "red face," when accompanied by a high chest, always signifies large thoracic tendencies. The high color which in an adult[Pg 84] comes and goes is a sure indication of a well developed circulatory system, since high color is caused by the rapid pumping of blood to the tiny blood vessels of the face.
People with little blood, weak hearts or deficient circulation are not florid and must be much overheated or excited to show vivid
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color in their cheeks.
Betray Their Feelings
On the other hand, the slightest displeasure, enjoyment, surprise or exertion brings the blood rushing to the face and neck of him who has a large, well-developed blood-system. How many times you have heard such a one say: "I am so embarrassed! I flush at every little thing! How I envy the rest of you who come in from a long walk looking so cool!"
The Man of Great Chest Expansion
The largest part of this man's body is around the chest. (See Chart 3) His chest is high for the reason that he has larger lungs than the average.