The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-10
ENJOY GOOD HEALTH
MOST SAVAGES QUICKLY RECOVER
FROM WOUNDS AND
DISEASES
OUTDOOR LIFE DOES 1T
Never Tire-Become Degenerate
When I'm Contact With White
Men-Some Marvellous Recover
les From Injuries Fatal to eau
casians.

Form the Pail Mall Gazette.
In the prescientif1c era savages were
regarded as the happiest of mortals.
The Spanish conquerors admitted the
fact, but they assigned II to the visible
protection of devils. Cartier and Drake
and Raleigh agreed that men lived in
America as in the golden age. Cook
was perplexed by the felicity of those
very sinful islanders of the South sea,
Rousseau built his theory of human
rights upon the innocent happiness of
primeval man, and Voltaire wrote a
tale, famous in its day, with this mo-
tiff. Our Johnson would have none Of
1t, OF course, and presently the reac-
ton set In. 1t was proved by deduc-
tive argument that the savage is a
miserable creature-sad, weakly, prey
to disease: In all respects inferior to
the civilized man. There are plenty
of people who hold this view still,
though the wise have ceased TO rely on
deductive argument In matters OF the
sort. 1t is comforting for humdrum
townsfolk to believe that those who
dwell. seemingly without a care, amid
the glories Of the tropics are really far
worse off than themselves. To envy
though unconscious attribute the
ready acceptance and the obstinate
sGINiNdl OI SAdttIlSHI6 WHICH are Only
true, in fact, of a tiny percentage
among the savage people, if at ALL
1t is allowed, even to a proverb, that
the supreme compensation for misery
Is health, and 50 this is denied in the
first place. But 1t may be asserted
roundly that every disease OF an cpl
demic character by which savages are
afflicted has been introduced by white
men. The Hottentots were almost the
lowest; very few Of them remain now
In 1874, when they abounded, a terri
BILE unknown malady aSsailed them,
and Gov. Goske drew up a report upon
the subject
1t states that the Hottentots did not
suffer from any particular disease I'M
til the arrival of Europeans Many
reached a great age. Famine lessened
their numbers periodically, but 1t was
not attended by fever: this is striking
testimony to their soundness of con-
stitution, for the consequences Of
dearth generally claim more victims
than the dearth Itself. We have de-
populated whole countries with small
pox, measles, scarlet fever, consump-
ton, and 1 know not how many
plaques, but has ii ever been alleged
that the poor savage impaired one to
us? The origin of ieprosy is mysteri-
Gus. even II we agree upon the form of
disease so described, but all the white
persons who have ever taken ii in
India, China and South Africa could
be counted in hundreds only. perhaps
in scores rheumatism Is hardly
known among the people who go naked
affections Of the nerves quite unknown
Even to0thache viii rarely be heard
OF. still more rarely seen.
sAvAGEs ARE MUSCULAR.
But the most efficient tests Of general
health are fine build, muscular strength
and readiness of the flesh to heal under
injury. Upon each Of these points the
evidence is overwhelming In favor of
the savages. There are races Of low
stature among them, as throughout the
far East; but Rajah Brooke could find
plenty OF his subjects under feet 8
Inches who would hold their own in a
trial of strength against European ath-
letes- Joke. the Kennowlt warrior who
carried Walter Watson IN a chair seven
miles over a jungle path, with one halt
Of ten minutes, was very little over
feet. Watson weighed fully sixteen
stone-I knew them both. But most of
the savage tribes show stature and
chest equal TO those of Europeans,
when not superior. Humboldt pro-
nounced the Indians Of the Orinoko the
finest specimens Of the human race. OF
v
says: The development OF the chest
IS such as I believe never exists in tbs
best formed Europeans, exhibiting a
splendid series OF convex undulations,
without q hollow in any part of IT."
In spite OF drink and degradation, the
physique OF the Indians In the United
States is StiIl above the average OF
whites The Zulu is almost becoming
a proverb for superb development. but
other Kafflrs equal him, and the big
gest group of men / ever saw were bas-
tard Griquas, belonging TO some no.
madic families. encountered when /
lost my way on the veldt by Campbell
grounds. But the most tremendous
creatures In my experience are Kroo-
men. In average height they do not
equal the Papuan giants of New GUM
ca. but their breadth of shoulder is al
most deformity.
Power OF muscle IL not necessarily
sign OF health. but # demands note.
Drake was a cooi-headed man, and
truthful above al. but he wrote that
the Indians OF California are common