Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-08

nereolty winch hand vices and diseases
down several generations, without IMPAIR
ing the moral or physical systems OF the
intermediate antecedents, hold good In re-
gard TO stinted OF tall growth promi-
nent doctor of medicine connected with the
Army Medical Museum says that tail men
are usually found to be healthier than ones
| or lower stature, because their functional
organs are larger, particularly those OF
respiration. He has made experiments IN
regard to the lung capacities OF men differ
mg IN height. and has found that even I'm
tne cases OF tall men extremely narrow
cnested there is the greatest health of res
plration on account Of the depth of breath
ing space. Moreover, the average duration
OF human life is now two years more than
IL was century ago. which is a strong ar
gument against the existence of larger
races in the past
America can boast of having some of the
most remarkable living giants on record
The tallest man who served in the late war
measured six feet eleven inches. Porter
the Kentucky giant, who lived TO consider
able old age. dying some years ago at I,ou-
isFlne, was seven feet seven and a half
inches. Another freak of nature, known as
aae nova Scotia giant. who was exhibited
at one time throughout the country, was
seven feet four inches. A Missourian on
exhibition at Chicago during the worlds
fair was some inches over eight feet In
Ine Famous fle of the German Potsdam
Guards, the first man, a Scotchman stood
eight feet six inches, and next to him was
Swede who was eight feet four inches
stocking
feet Charles O'Brian, whose skeleton APP
pears in the College Of Surgeons at Lon
don. measured eight feet four inches also
When his skeleton was put together IL was
found 10 be only eiGbt feet long, the flesh
on his foot and the thickness of his scalp
having increased his height in life to this
extent. Awaits. a Greek, measured seven
feet seven inches without his shoes while
the span of his outstretched arms, from
middle finger 20 miedle finger, was ten feet.
Franz Flickermanns, the Austrian giant.
" as seven feet six inches. But these are
all exceptional cases, which cannot be at
tributed to any Definite cause. either TO nu-
triton exercise or heredity. Their parents,
as far as Is KNOWN were all of natural
stature. Their height, in most cases. did
not appear to be abnormal until they ar
rived at the ages of twelve or thirteen
years, when they continued to grow, some
times until they were far UP In the twen-
ties.
But as far as giant races are concerned.
there are none in history. The Patagonians
were at one time said to be the tallest race
OF men. Travellers reported their heights
to be at an average of six feet seven inches
but investigation for scientific purposes has
recently been made. according to DIR. Brfn-
the averags was found TO be about five feet
eleven inches. The Polynesians, CO.
manches Norsemen, Swedes, Galway coun-
ty Irish and the Scotch all equal this av-
erage.
The Race OF Pigmies.
As far as pigmies and dwarfs are con-
cerned, IL appears that all rules relating to
so-cailed giants hold good. conversely. The
cause of extraordinarily small statures In
a particular race is: First. the lack OF
proper nutrition: second. the want Of suff-
cient exercise. and third improper condi-
tons of heredity. In the interior Of Africa
are TO be found two races Of men Of rather
small heights, who are considered to be
the lowest types of humanity. and who
have even been called '.the missing links
in the Darwinian chain. These lack proper
selection Of food and exercise, while they
violate the higher laws Of production.
The Batuafis. found by Stanley in the mid
die regions. of Africa. average only four
feet three inches in height, while the Bush
men. a better-known tribe, living further
average height of four feet nine inches
1t appears that these races have lived In
these localities since days of high an
tiquity. being mentioned by Herodotus and
others in ancient history. They We're also
found on the upper Nile. The Batuans
have a language Of their own, but are con-
sidered to be the lowest type OF the two.
since they have soft fur all over their
bodies and run almost naked In the open
air. They have a certain superstition I'm
regard to Diety, which might be called re-
ligion. although their moral faculties indi-
cate no breadth. These however. are not
the only dwarf races. The others which
appear throughout the world may be rela-
tives by migration or the separation OF
colonies in ancient times. The Inhabitants
of Sumatra and Formosa have an average
height of four feet ten and a half inches,
and the Japanese, while still a little taller,
are considerably under the average height.
Novernas. in France. has also a tribe
greatly under the usual height, but some
what taller than the Japanese. The Lap
landers average five feet, which same
standard may be said to extend along the
northern coast among the Siberians. Thus
climate appears to have but little TO do
with the case. The smallest dwarfs who
appear in the torrid zone are more nearly
approached by these Inhabitants Of the
arctic regions. The Batuans and Bushmen
are from desert lands, where but a small
variety of food is to be found. which is
likewise the case with the most northern
races.
But in all these tribes moderately small
In stature there are none on record whom
we would call pigmies or who would create
a particular sensation when mingled with
the taller nations. Those dwarfs or pig
mics who have made money throughout
the world by exhibiting themselves In
museums are freaks, just as the so-called
giants which have been mentioned One
cannot account for their diminutive frames.
as they were born Of parents Of perfectly
normal proportions and under circum-
stances which are not in any way sur
prising. Stratten OF Connecticut better
known as Tom Thumb" was but thirty
four inches in height. The Princess Topaz
measured but thirty inches. Jeffries. thu
dwarf of Charles /. was likewise Of re-
markaDly small stature, as were Mrs. Tom
Thumb and Mr.. and Mrs. Commodore Mutt
None OF these showed any particular lon
gevity, but on the other hand were al
ways sickly and weak. There was how
ever. Pole born IN 1870. who made a
vast fortune in various countries on ac-
count Of his remarkably dminutive height,
living to be ninety years OF age.
The discovery OF several small skeletons
in Switzerland. also announced during the
sessions of the British Association at OK
ford is given no more significance, by our
Washington authorities. in regard 10 the
existence of a race OF pigmies. at one time
in Europe. than is the giant story. The
dimensions OF the skeletons found have
not vet been reported to this country. al
though IL is supposed from the descriD-
lions sent through foreign news dispatches
that they are very minute. The stories OF
giants and pigmfes will go In the nursery.
but the American scientist viii have none
of them. j. T.. w. Jr.
Some Foreign Advantages.