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Many a person has blushed intensely when accused of some crime； though completely innocent of it。 Even the thought； as the lady before referred to has observed to me； that others think that we have made an unkind or stupid remark； is amply sufficient to cause a blush； although we know all the time that we have been completely misunderstood。 An action may be meritorious or of an indifferent nature； but a sensitive person； if he suspects that others take a different view of it； will blush。 For instance； a lady by herself may give money to a beggar without a trace of a blush； but if others are present； and she doubts whether they approve； or suspects that they think her influenced by display； she will blush。 So it will be； if she offers to relieve the distress of a decayed gentlewoman； more particularly of one whom she had previously known under better circumstances； as she cannot then feel sure how her conduct will be viewed。 But such cases as these blend into shyness。
＇29｛sic； should be 30｝＇ ‘Essays on Practical Education；' by Maria and R。 L。 Edgeworth； new edit。 vol。 ii。 1822； p。 50。
_Breaches of etiquette_。The rules of _etiquette_ always refer to conduct in the presence of； or towards others。 They have no necessary connection with the moral sense； and are often meaningless。 Nevertheless as they depend on the fixed custom of our equals and superiors； whose opinion we highly regard； they are considered almost as binding as are the laws of honour to a gentleman。 Consequently the breach of the laws of etiquette； that is； any impoliteness or _gaucherie_； any impropriety； or an inappropriate remark； though quite accidental； will cause the most intense blushing of which a man is capable。 Even the recollection of such an act； after an interval of many years； will make the whole body to tingle。 So strong； also； is the power of sympathy that a sensitive person； as a lady has assured me； will sometimes blush at a flagrant breach of etiquette by a perfect stranger； though the act may in no way concern her。
_Modesty_。This is another powerful agent in exciting blushes； but the word modesty includes very different states of the mind。 It implies humility； and we often judge of this by persons being greatly pleased and blushing at slight praise； or by being annoyed at praise which seems to them too high according to their own humble standard of themselves。 Blushing here has the usual signification of regard for the opinion of others。 But modesty frequently relates to acts of indelicacy； and indelicacy is an affair of etiquette； as we clearly see with the nations that go altogether or nearly naked。 He who is modest； and blushes easily at acts of this nature； does so because they are breaches of a firmly and wisely established etiquette。 This is indeed shown by the derivation of the word _modest_ from _modus_； a measure or standard of behaviour。 A blush due to this form of modesty is； moreover； apt to be intense； because it generally relates to the opposite sex； and we have seen how in all cases our liability to blush is thus increased。 We apply the term ‘modest；' as it would appear； to those who have an humble opinion of themselves； and to those who are extremely sensitive about an indelicate word or deed； simply because in both cases blushes are readily excited； for these two frames of mind have nothing else in common。 Shyness also； from this same cause； is often mistaken for modesty in the sense of humility。
Some persons flush up； as I have observed and have been assured； at any sudden and disagreeable recollection。 The commonest cause seems to be the sudden remembrance of not having done something for another person which had been promised。 In this case it may be that the thought passes half unconsciously through the mind； 〃What will he think of me？〃 and then the flush would partake of the nature of a true blush。 But whether such flushes are in most cases due to the capillary circulation being affected； is very doubtful； for we must remember that almost every strong emotion； such as anger or great joy； acts on the heart； and causes the face to redden。
The fact that blushes may be excited in absolute solitude seems opposed to the view here taken； namely that the habit originally arose from thinking about what others think of us。 Several ladies； who are great blushers； are unanimous in regard to solitude； and some of them believe that they have blushed in the dark。 From what Mr。 Forbes has stated with respect to the Aymaras； and from my own sensations； I have no doubt that this latter statement is correct。 Shakspeare； therefore； erred when he made Juliet； who was not even by herself； say to Romeo （act ii。 sc。 2）：
Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face； Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek； For that which thou hast heard me speak to…night。〃
But when a blush is excited in solitude； the cause almost always relates to the thoughts of others about usto acts done in their presence； or suspected by them； or again when we reflect what others would have thought of us had they known of the act。 Nevertheless one or two of my informants believe that they have blushed from shame at acts in no way relating to others。 If this be so； we must attribute the result to the force of inveterate habit and association； under a state of mind closely analogous to that which ordinarily excites a blush； nor need we feel surprise at this； as even sympathy with another person who commits a flagrant breach of etiquette is believed； as we have just seen； sometimes to cause a blush。
Finally； then； I conclude that blushing；whether due to shyness to shame for a real crimeto shame from a breach of the laws of etiquetteto modesty from humilityto modesty from an indelicacydepends in all cases on the same principle； this principle being a sensitive regard for the opinion； more particularly for the depreciation of others； primarily in relation to our personal appearance； especially of our faces； and secondarily； through the force of association and habit； in relation to the opinion of others on our conduct。
_Theory of Blushing_。We have now to consider； why should the thought that others are thinking about us affect our capillary circulation？ Sir C。 Bell insists＇31＇ that blushing 〃is a provision for expression； as may be inferred from the colour extending only to the surface of the face； neck； and breast； the parts most exposed。 It is not acquired； it is from the beginning。〃 Dr。 Burgess believes that it was designed by the Creator in 〃order that the soul might have sovereign power of displaying in the cheeks the various internal emotions of the moral feelings；〃 so as to serve as a check on ourselves； and as a sign to others； that we were violating rules which ought to be held sacred。 Gratiolet merely remarks；〃Or； comme il est dans l'ordre de la nature que l'etre social le plus intelligent soit aussi le plus intelligible； cette faculte de rougeur et de paleur qui distingue l'homme； est un signe naturel de sa haute perfection。〃
The belief that blushing was SPECIALLY designed by the Creator is opposed to the general theory of evolution； which is now so largely accepted； but it forms no part of my duty here to argue on the general question。 Those who believe in design； will find it difficult to account for shyness being the most frequent and efficient of all the causes of blushing； as it makes the blusher to suffer and the beholder uncomfortable； without being of the least service to either of them。 They will also find it difficult to account for negroes and other dark…coloured races blushing； in whom a change of colour in the skin is scarcely or not at all visible。
＇31＇ Bell； ‘Anatomy of Expression；' p。 95。 Burgess； as quoted below； ibid。 p。 49。 Gratiolet； De la Phys。 p。 94。
No doubt a slight blush adds to the beauty of a maiden's face； and the Circassian women who are capable of blushing； invariably fetch a higher price in the seraolio of the Sultan than less susceptible women。＇32＇ But the firmest believer in the efficacy of sexual selection will hardly suppose that blushing was acquired as a sexual ornament。 This view would also be opposed to what has。 just been said about the dark…coloured races blushing in an invisible manner。
The hypothesis which appears to me the most probable； though it may at first seem rash； is that attention closely directed to any part of the body tends to interfere with the ordinary and tonic contraction of the small arteries of that part。 These vessels； in consequence； become at such times more or less relaxed； and are instantly filled with arterial blood。 This tendency will have been much strengthened； if frequent attention has been paid during many generations to the same part； owing to nerve…force readily flowing along accustomed channels； and by the power of inheritance。 Whenever we believe that others are depreciating or even considering our personal appearance； our attention is vividly directed to the outer and visible parts of our bodies； and of all such parts we are most sensitive about our faces； as no doubt has been the case during many past generations。 Therefore； assuming for the moment that the capillary vessels can be acted on by close attention； those of the fac