Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-21
LADIES' DAY.
Papers Read i'm the Anthropological ssctio.
by Ladies'.

by Ladies'.
It was '1adies day in the meteorological
section Of the American Association for the
Advancement Of Science today and the class
room in which the session vas held was packed
full with ladies and gentlemen. the lattsr being
decidedly in the minority. The FIRST two papers
read were both by lady anthropologists and the
first was really remarkable production. II
was entitled
IAN EXPERIMENT IN HUMAN srfRPIcuLruRE"
and was presented by Anita Newcomb MCGEE
Of this city. Mrs. McGee said that it il not
generally known that carefully planned and
methodically conducted experiment in human
stirpiculture. probably the most extensive and
systematic OF modern times and civilized peo-
pie, was carried on during the years 1908 to
1879 In central New York. The originator OF
the experiment was jealous but logical en-
thusiast, the late John Humphrey Noyes; the
purpose was the promotion of sanctity; the
place and the means were the Oneida COM
munity.
In early life Noyes founded the peculiar sect
called perfectionists, which in 1913 gathered
dlscipies to the number Of eighty-seven at
oneida. Here the community Of goods and
also OF person was practiced, a system Of COM
pick marriage in which the amative and pro-
paganve functions were separated having been
established.
Until 1868 the birth rate in the community
was carefully limited. but at this date financial
success being assured and the members having
increased to $50, the experiment in stirpicul-
ture was begun. Its object was the increase OF
sanctity In succeeding generations in order that
sin, disease and finally death might be abolished.
Physique. intellect, hereditary qualities, mu-
tuai attraction. &C., were secondarly consid-
cred.
The first principle of this stirpicultu,e was
continued in and in breeding with judicious
mixture of foreign blood from time to time.
Its second principle was the careful selection
OF individuals. From 1869 to 1880 sixty chill
dren were born in pursuit Of this plan. OF
these five died at birth from unforeseen causes
depending on the mothers and one child was
acknowledged failure physically. Otherwise
the experiment was progressing admirably, the
children being given the best OF care, when an
unexpected result caused the failure OF all
Moves plans. The spirit Of monogamy. ruth
lessly kept in check before became SO strong in
consequence of the mating of one-quarter Of the
community for stirpicultural purposes that
the complex marriage system was given up In
1879. The dissolution of the Oneida commu-
NIFTY by mutual consent followed year later.
Noyes, foreseeing the end, had retired from
Oneida and died in 1886.
or the stirpicultural children only one has
since died. The others, now aged eleven to
twenty-five years. are on the whole somewhat
above the outside average in physique and in
tellect. The blood OF the children came largely
from farmers and mechanics, with a strong in
fusion from the intellectual Noyes family. 1t
Is therefore noteworthy that of the oldest six
teen boys ten are in business as clerks, foremen.
&C., one is a musician Of repute, two are stu
dents OF law and medicine, two at college and
only one following manual occupation, being
q mechanic. OF the Oldest six girls two are at
college and one is a student of the kindergarten
system.
But" Mrs. MCGEE said in conclusion, 1.-THE
main object of the experiment has not yet been
attained. Only one OF the children is perfec-
Zionist and he was born Of an uncle and niece,
both Noyeses. OF the rest but few are regular
church members. This experiment would
therefore seem to show that while the race
could doubtless be improved by more attention
to stirpiculture. yet when directed to the per-
petuatiOn of belief success cannot confidently
be expected"
RELICS OF ANCIENT MEXICAN CIVILIZATION.
The second paper was of less popular interest
than the first, but it was presented by a very
remarkable woman, leila Nuttall There is
nowhere q more famous lady anthropologist
than Mrs. Nuttall is in her own particular
line of study. Aztec antiquities. She is a
daughter of Nuttall, the famous naturalist, and
her mother was Of Aztec descent. Nearly all
her life was devoted to the study of Mexican
anthropolOgy, and naturally her paper to-
day on ''Relics Of Ancient Mexican Civil
izauon was a very interesting, one
v
permanent secretary of the association. 1t de-
scribed many Mexican antiquities and threw q
great deal of light the civilization of ancient
Mexico. The paper was illustrated with num-
Der of small reproductions of Aztec ornamental
designs and of a chief 8 shield sent to Italy by
COrtez. the only thing of the kind known to
anthropologists, which were collected by the
distinguished lady. One of the drawings she
presented represented four peculiarly horrible
looking Aztec gods.
PROF. MoRsE's TWO PAPERS.
Prof. Edward s. Morse of Salem read two
very clever papers on the allied subjects of
"Bow Stretchers' and prehistoric Bows" The
first Of these papers referred to the puzzling
little bronze implements found associated with
one of them. They are usually a couple of
inches long, with three spurs of varying size and
shape on one side, the ends Of the main portion
of the implement being two rings large enough
to allow a mans fingers to be thrust through.
They have always been called bow stretc hers
on the supposition that prehistoric archers
used them in drawing back the strings of their
powerful bows But Prof Morse pointed out
the fallacy of such a conclusion and showed the
impossibility of their being SO used. What the
little affairs were used for by prehistoric man
is, and may always be, a conundrum
to the worlds anthropologists. Incidentally
Prof. Morse described the way various nations
held and drew the bowstring, and said that in
China the archer of today shoots his arrow by
hooking his thumb around it, his thumb being
protected by a peculiar ring, just like an i'm
measurably ancient bronze ring that the pro-
lessor had got from prehistoric graves that
dated back to the bronze age of man.
His second paper on prehistoric Bows
showed the great simplicity and similarity Of
the prehistoric bows found in Peru, Egypt, the
peat boys of Denmark, Holland, the Swiss lake
villages and other places.
THE NEE PIERCE COUNTRY
The next paper was also by lady. 1t was
entitled 'The Nez Perce Country" and was
presented by Alice c. Fletcher.
This paper was an explanation Of q map Of
the Nez Perez country, drawn by native of
the tribe, and showing the location Of seventy
eight villages and giving the Nez Perez names
of mountains and streams. A summary of the
dimensions and groups OF these villages was
given and an outline OF the tribal organization,
with brief account Of the mode of living in
the village, and some deductions concerning
the relation of the environment to the develop
ment Of the people. A short biographical
sketch of the Indian who made this map was
also given and his photograph shown.
"Relation OF Loveland, Ohio Implements
Bearing Terrace to the Moraines Of the Ice
Sheet was the paper next presented by Frank
Levrrett of Madison, Wis. The paper described
| the terrace In which implements are found at
Loveland heads in a Glacial moraine north of
Loveland near Kings Mills. The relation of
this moraine to others in the series was shown
by a map and briefly discussed.
LAURA OSBORNE TALBorr's PAPER