The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1897-02-11
SITTING DOWN.
Less Than 10 Per Cent of the World'i
Population Do Il.

Ii luC ODcldlIOn NC hdtuiuis 49, N,'
man creatures must sit doWn-anu
there is an end of the theory, for they
do not. Reviewing, in fact, the popu
lation of the globe, it seems likely tnat
the men and women who sit are less
than 10 per cert To begin with, the
millions of China and India must De
excluded; only the hundreds there turn
the cushions to their destined use, go
that more than one-half of mankind Is
excepted at a stroke! But that Is not
nearly all. Japan follows, with the
lands and isles of the far east, Asia ID
general, the most part of AFRICA, tne
Indian territories of America, from
the Arctic circle to Cape Horn. When
we look closely, it appears that only
Europeans, their descendants, ana
those whom they had instructed sit.
The custom is not universal even III
Europe. At the time of the wal
neither chair nor STOOL rarely divan,
could be found in a Bulgar house out
side of the towns; the table was oaly
foot high, and the family squatted
around it on the floor. The Bulgars
are not the people to adopt new fash-
ion readily. Throughout the Balkan
principalities, indeed, seats are an an
necessary article Of furniture for the
bulk Of the population; even the dlvan
is rare in a farmhouse Of Albania aud
Montenegro. 1t is assumed that TurK
ish influence or example banished
chairs and stools. That is improbable
in any case, but when we observe thai
outside of Europe nearly all mankind
suuats, it becomes far more likely that
these people follow the practice OF
their remotest ancestors. The Iurs
has simply arrested development al
this as at other points.
Men who do not sit have two att
tudes for resting; women use one OF
their own. Squatting ION the heels
is favored in India and China. In TINS
position the weight of the body falls
| upon the toes, and to keep the balance
comfortable the arms must lie over the
knees, the hands dangling. A Euro
pean trussed in this, manner promptly
feels a pain in his calves, but he can
understand that habit makes it rest
| full posture. In fact, our golfers use IT,.
There is legend current in North
Staffordshire referring to the embodi
ment of militia of volunteers-for au
thorities differ-early in the century.
After divers eccentric manoeuvres, the
officer cried: STAND at ease" When
his order had been explained, every
man squatted ON his heels like an In
dian coolie. There is, however, mode
of resting practised by some jungle
tribes which is utterly incomprehensl
Bile. Being fatigued, these people
stand on one leg and curl the foot OF
the other around the calf. The same
extraordinary custom is seen in Africa.
We ask in bewilderment, why on earth
they do not lie or at least squat? 1t
may be hazarded as a mere conjecture,
without any pretense of Justification.
that they or their forefathers dwelt in
swamps especially malarious. But the
custom shows what unnatural usageS
men will devise before it occurs to
them to sit down like Christians"
The cross-legged attitude is general
from Siam eastward through the Malay
countries. In the jungle you will see a
man crouch, the knees raised, the arms
folded over them and the chin resting
on the arms. Some tribes, as the Dyaks,
carry mat dangling behind them as
part Of their ordinary costume to
shield them from the damp soil. But
seldom, indeed, will man sit upon a
log or a root, though there be plenty
around. The idea does not enter his
mind. More rarely still, if that be pos
sible, you will observe him squatting.
Women always crouch, upon the floor,
of course, with the knees bent side
ways, mighty uncomfortable posture,
as ii seems to us!-'rhe New Review.