Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-02-04
SITTING DOWN.
Less Than 10 Per Cent of the Worlds
Population Do II.


If the operation be natural, all hu-
man creatures must sit down-and
there Is an end of the theory, for they
do not. Reviewing, in fact, the popu-
lntion Of the globe, 1t seems likely that
the men and women who sit are less
than 10 per cent. To begin with, the
millions Of China and India must be
excluded; only the hundreds there turn
the cushions to their destined use, SO
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 In
general, the most part of Africa, the
Indian territories Of America, from
the Arctic circle to Cape Horn. When
we look closely, it appears that only
Europeans, their descendants, and
those whom they had instructed sit.
The custom Is not universal even In
Europe. At the time of the war
neither chair nor stool, rarely divan,
could be found in Bulgar house out
side of the towns; the table was Oaly
foot high, and the family squatted
around ii on the floor. The Bulgars
are not the people to adopt a new fash
ion readily. Throughout the Balkan
municipalities, indeed, seats are an IN
necessary article of furniture for the
bulk of the population; even the divan
Is rare In farmhouse of Albania and
Montenegro. 1t is assumed that Turk
ish influence or example banished
chairs and stools. That is improbable
in any case, but when we observe that
outside of Europe nearly all mankind
sQuats, ii becomes far more likely that
these people follow the practice OF
their remotest ancestors. The TURK
has simply arrested development at
this as at other points.
Men who do not sit have two atti-
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 trussei in this manner promptly
feels a pain in his calves, but he can
understand that habit makes 1t a rest
full posture. In fact, our Golfers use 1t.
| There Is legend current in North
Staffordshire referring to the embodi-
ment of militia Of volunteers-for au-
thorlties 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 III
dian coolie. There Is, however, mode
of resting practised by some jungle
tribes which is utterly incomprehensi-
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? Ii
may be hazarded as mere conjecture,
without any pretense OF 1ustihcauon
that they or their forefathers dwelt N
swamps especially malarious. But the
custom shows what unnatural usages
men will devise before 1t occurs tc
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
man crouch, the knees raised, the arms
folded over them and the chin resting
on the arms. Some tribes, as the Dyaks
carry a mat dangling behind them az
part OF their ordinary costume K
shield them from the damp soil. Bu
seldom, indeed, will a man sit upon
| log or root, though there be plent,
around The idea does not enter li'
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, a mighty uncomfortable posture
as IL seems to us.-The New Review