Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-17
WHY GIRLS CHEW GUM.
Because They Have Not Arisen Far
Above Barbarism

|
From the New York Mail and Express.
Scientists and social reformers who have
| vainly sought the origin and meaning of
the gum chewing habit will be profoundly
| interested in the. conclusion reached by
| Professor Charles Eliot Norton, of Har-
| ward university, after a prolonged study,
| beth analytical and speculative, of that
eLCslve and perplexing problem. Professor
Ncrton's opinion with regard to the mat
| ter was submitted in the course of lect-
ure which he delivered before the Indus
trial Art Teachers Association of Boston,
and the bearing of 1t is sufficiently indi-
Gated in this single sentence:
Chewing gum has such a large sale be-
cause young women have not risen tar
above barbarism.'
This is heartlessly unsentimental view
OF the case, and it reflects ungallantly upon
the girls of to-day, but il nevertheless
possesses scientific value of the highest
Importance. 1t virtually declares that the
chewing gum habit is an inherited evil,
that 1t is 4 survival rather than an eyo-
luton, and that it exists. not because of
our our boastful civilization. but in spite of it.
Tbs b cbeWn is PrGRydgd it is tG9e
scourge. 1t sweeps whole communities into
monotonous unison with its graceless and
distcrting motion. 1t results in many in
stances in an abnormal and shocking hy
pertrophy of the victims jaws, and has
developed a distressing nervous disorder
technically known to the medical profess
sion as ''pePsin countenance." This baf-
filnS and embarrassing ailment which be-
longs IN the same class with bicycle
face" is Enthusiastically indicated by the
constant and unconscious lateral move
ment OF the sufferers jaws, and it not IN
frequently develops the hallucination in
the patients mind that she has finally
achieved the mechanical triumph of per-
petual motion. To be assured by an atE
that this terrible pest is a surviving rem
nant of n barbaric age, and not an a}a,
tendant evil of a latter day civilization. %
therefore in the highest degree gratifyin,id
DOldl,,,
grapples with the unsolved problems G
human development there is still Il chanced
tary evils and redeem itself from tfew
bllghting effects of gum, whether it be Che
spruce pepsin, wax or resin.
1t is worthy of remark, however, thG=
Professor Norton's conclusion presuppos9
that man, in his original state, was rms
minating animal. This theory is inteols
esting, and it has qualified support igb
the revolving tobacco chewing habit wniCss
Stiil survives among the inhabitants dty
those communities where civilization is yber
in the nebulous stages, but the proof toff
its Soundness is by nc means concluSiv5ze
On the contrary, there is much in the con. =
parative anatomy of the ruminants Wit d
which we are best acquainted to refute tlion
assumption that man is descended froi OF
that species; His nervous organizatidnc
alCne is sufficient for the purpose. GuIOn
chewing is in most cases a manifestatiIck-
of intense nervous irritability. The victitan
most involuntarily and with no other eigh
feet than finding a mechanical outlet fare
pent-up nerve energy. With the noblescl.
of our ruminants-to-wit the cow-the
case is different. For her the cud per- !
forms a function of the highest usefulness. /
1t nourishes and soothes; it is the assur-
ance of reDose and contentment and the |
expression which it brings into her gentle |
face is that of supreme satisfaction with |
herself and of commiseration for the less |
fortunate creatures who are obliged to eas |
their dinner when they collect it.
We are, therefore. compelled reluctantly |
enough TO dissent from Professor Norton's |
theory chewing
evil. 1t is a reflection upon a species of |
animals which has undergone no important |
changes of physical structure within the |
whole range of scientific research and it
seeks to relieve modern civilization from a
graver esponsibility which property be-
longs there. We are constrained to believe
that Brother Norton has chewed the cud
of sweet and bitter fancy to very little
purpose