The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-29
Some Results Of Conjugal Selection.

In the last number Of the Scottish Rerie,o
DR.. j. BEDDoE. discussing the anthropologl-
cal history Of Europe. brings together some
striking facts and suggestions concerning
the influence OF conjugal selection on the
complexion and the color OF the eyes and
hair. and upon the power Of given race to
maintain itself and to multiply.
1t Is certain that blond. long headed men
once played great role in history. for 1t
was they who colonized Galatia and brought
home the treasures OF Greece and Italy to
Toulouse; who overthrow the Roman en-
pire in the west. and won England from
the Britons. 1t Is equally certain that
this physical type was once much moro
dominant and widely distributed than it is
now. and that it is tending to die out This
Is especially true OF that pronounced form
Of blends which Is distinguished by red
hair. Rcd-haired persons do not now
constitute the majority in any known tribe
or nation: but DR.. BEDDoE sets forth
grounds for thinking that red hair was once
much more prevalent. 1t must have oc-
Cured, for instance. among the Brahmans,
since they wero forbidden by the laws Of
MANU- to marry red-haircd women. There
is no doubt that blends and red-haired per-
SONS are still encountered about the Hindu
Kush. among the tribes from whom the
Brahmans are supposed to have been emf
grants. But obedience to tho law mem
toned would in the course OF time nnnihi-
late the tendency to their reproduction.
Mere prejudice operating through conju-
gal selection would nave the same effect. In
Germany red hair and the complexion that
accompanies II seem to have been unpopular
from very remote times although they
were characteristic OF the mobiles and free
men who were Of truc GcrInanc blood. Rod
haired men have long been known as
" foxes among tho German peasants. II
tho classical writer's can be trusted tho Ger
mans were once as prepOnderantly rod hair
cd as we know from an examination of their
skulls that they were long headed. At pres
ent. however. red harris not common among
them. ana when found it does not resemble
the brilliant red encountered in the High
lands OF Scotland DR.. BEDDoE has himself
investigated the influence of coniugal Sc
lection upon color from tho observation OF
nearly six hundred women among the
laboring people OF Bristol. He ascertained
that fewer OF tho red-harcd and OF the
''"~AN '"AS" which euLeTeu luIO InulTl-
mony than OF the fair. brown. or dark brown.
1t Is true that there have been changes
with regard to tho estimation OF red hair.
ana tllat Just now 1t is fashionable among
nristocratlc people in Great Britain and in
france. though there is no reason to be- |
lieVe That the prejudice against it has
been ehaced among tho masses In either |
country. Red hair. as we'll as golden |
laIf' enjoyed similar vogue in tho SIX |
tceh'h century, as is made plain on the |
'anvases of HoLBEIN and TITAN. 1t is |
wei KNOWN, also. that where the coveted |
nue. was not bestowed by nature, it WAS |
ost"h procured by art.
1bc rang" 81 coningal selection may also
nave u bearing on the Intelligence OF a raco
ma us capacity for self-pcrpetuation.
FRANCIS GALLON has pointed out that the
'lackening. II not positive arrest of intel
ectual progress during the middle ages
was due IN some measure to tho fact that
lie men who had more brain than muscle
naturally grayitated toward the monas-
cries. Being there shut up and prohibited
rom marriage. they did not reproduce
heir kind. while the sturdy bloekheads
Who remained outside convent walls did.
Dr.. BEDDoE himself has turned to &C.