The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-23
THE AMERICAN TYPE.


Regret Is felt that no effort was made by
the compilers OF the census to supply in
formation touching the size, weight, color
and siinguishing features of the Ameri-
can people. Such Information would guide
those who are investigating the interesting
subject of race distribution and race in
fluenee. II chances that the Americans are
the most composite of all modern races;
they are a blend of all the leading races OF
Europe, TO say nothing Of Africa, and that
blend has been modified by climate, food,
atmospheric influences and material con-
ditions of life. 1t would be interesting to
know wherein the modern American tyne
varies from the type of the race from which
it chiefly sprang, and why.
The Brother Jonathan who is shown on
the stage, not only here. but in London,
Paris and Vienna, is a nOndescrlpt being.
He bears some resemblance to the Yankee
Of the pre- revolutionary period, but more
still 10 the planter of Tennessee and Mis-
souri, of a later date. He is long, lean
creature. with nerve and muscle in the place
Of adipose, with blue eyes and light hair,
and the general appearance OF rustler.
Whence did Uncle Sam derive these
distinguishing traits? The true revOlu-
tonary Yankee was Of pure English extrac-
ton; no possible Englshman could have
sat for picture of Uncle Sam. AS to the
planter of the Mississippi Valley lie had
French and Spanish blood in him, and 1t
might account for the spare frame. but II
would not explain the stature of western
men, Except in Normandy the French are
short, and the Spaniards rarely exceed the
middle height. One might expect to ind,
not only in New York, but In the western
States, which were peOpled from New oTk,
some trace OF the strain Of Dutch blood;
where is it to be seen?
Within two generations an infusion OF
blood from two European races-the Irish
first and the Germans aiterward-has
diluted the American vein fluid. This is
reflected in the nomenclature OF the
younger men in the States west OF the
Alleghanes, and to some extent In their
mental and moral aptitudes. But has 1t
altered the stature, girth, weight, frame,
color and physical type of the American OF
to-day? If it has-as ii would seem 1t
must haye-it would be in teresting to know
how and to what extent
Perhaps the inquiry can be more profit
ably conducted if it be directed TO the
female sex We have in this country
several well-defined types Of women. We
have the New England and New York
woman, middle height. slender, graceful,
rather inclined to witness; the woman Of
the middle States. plumper and somewhat
heavier, with a Emphatic tendency; the
woman of the South. soft, sensuOus, in
| clned TO embonpOlnt. combination OF the
sanguneous and Emphatic temperament;
| the woman of the valleys, tail, thin, black
| eyed, with yellow complexion and high
/ voice: and finally the woman OF California,
! with her opulent form, her erect carriage
! and her dreamy eyes. All these types must
! have sprung from the same stock, more or
| less, and yet see how different they arei
| Can it DE supposed that the variations
| between them are due TO climate aud cou-
| ditons Of life only?
That these factors are potent will be de-
/ MED by no one. The hands0mest women
| liz the world are the people OF the Danube
valley. They are the descendants of the
! ancient Scythians, who we're crossed by an
| Asiatie race. which has been pretty clearly
identified with the Mongols 1t is not easy
| to see from which of these sources the
bellies Of Pesth and Bucharest could have
| derived their beauty. and the student is
| driven TO the conclusion that a naturally
homely race became handsome under the
stimulating effect Of congenial climate.
Again, the old Romans. including under that
| head the Italians from the Alps to Calabria,
were a tall, stalwart, muscular, athletic
race; but the Italians of to-day are short,
| slight and nOtremarkable for strength. Are
We to infer that an alienation of ages of
luxury with eyes OF misery and starvation
| gradually deteriorated the national type
| Where the conditions remain unchanged
the human type remains the same. The
| figures on Egyptian monuments drawn
5000 years ago might be taken for portraits
Of the fellahs of to-day. But no one would
ever suspect the reasantry Of the Morea OF
being akin to the Spaitans who fell at Their
| monVlp