Wichita eagle., 1888-01-31
MEN ARE GROWING TALLER.
Influences Which Tend 70 ElonCation OF
the Masculine Spinal Column.

Influences Which Tend 70 EIongation OF
the Masculine Spinal Column.
Mr. Edward Atkinson, of Boston, finds
time while conducting an extensive busi-
ness to collect information on great Va
riety of subjects. He has lately ascer-
tanned, by means of circulars addressed to
leading tailors, the makers of ready made
clothing. and the manufacturers OF I'M
derclothes. that the men of this country
are growing taller, decade by decade. He
thinks that we shall eventually become q
nation of giants. AS yet he has elabora-
ted no theory to account for this steady
increase in height. Some psychologists,
however, have suggested that it is due to
the large consumption Of meat in this
country. They state that people who,
like the Chinese and HindoOS, subsist al
most entirely on grain and fruit are in
variably short in stature, while flesh con-
sumers, like the North American Indians,
are generally quite tall.
1t is likely that diet may have some
thing to do in influencing the height that
men attain. But it is obvious that there
are other causes that exert much greater
influence. There are a great many in
ducements held out in this country for
men to become tall. Nearly every boy
desires to gain admission to the military
or naval academy, and each learns as soon
as he can read that it is necessary to reach
a certain standard of height in order to be
eligible. Men must also stand a certain
number of feet and inches in their stock
ings before they can attain positions on
the police force in most cities. AS premi-
ums are offered for becoming tall, it IS by
no means wonderful that men and boys
should seek to add to their stature By TAX
ing thought or taking anything that will
produce the desired result
The Introduction of the three story and
mansard roof bonnet, with n roost for
birds or vase of flowers on the ridge
pole, has been most important agent in
elongating the spinal column Of men.
The man who invests So in tickets for
the purpose of taking his best girl to the
theatre finds that he can see nothing on
the stage unless he happens to be very
tall. In the case of spectacular produc-
tions this is specially aggravating. AS
consequence men who attend theatres and
operas make use Of every means that Will
enable them to become tall In some
fashionable churches the male worshiper
of medium height has no opportunity to
see the minister or the pretty soprano
singer. The Tower of Babel bonnets,
surmOunted by fowls of the air" and
''lilies of the field" entirely obstruct his
view.
The street car also exerts great influ-
ence in causing men to become tall. They
generally give the seats to the women,
and are obliged to stand during the entire
trip. AS soon as boy is IL years old,
his endeavors to reach the strap attached
to the top rail commence. He perseveres
in his attempt until he succeeds in ac-
complishirg the difficult feat. He learns
to stretch his body out in the same way
that an earth worm does in order to reach
certain place. After he has availed
himself of all his powers of self elonga-
ton, agencies that are not voluntary are
brought TO work on his body. Side pres
sure is made to bear on it as it is on bar
of iron that is TO be drawn out into wire.
1t also receives numerous blows every
time the car wheels pass over an obstruc-
ton, and these produce the same effect on
his body that the blows Of q hammer do
on piece Of soft iron.-Chicago Times.