The San Francisco call., 1899-12-29
MANKIND GROWING BETTER.

| l forth many for their creed that civil
lied man is degenerating mentally morally
and physically They have pointed TO the grind OF
factory labor TO the strain OF life in crowded cities
and to the use OF impure foods as conditions which
tend sap the vitality OF the race and render un-
duly nervous, excitabe and irritable. AS evidences
OF this alleged degeneration they assert that men
have been compelled TO resort to tea, coffee, liquors
tobacco and all sorts OF smulants fit them for the
intense struggle of life and that these stimulants in
turn have tended to weaken their nerves and their
mental and moral fiber
That is the view OF the philosopher reasoning upon
data collected from divorce courts, police courts
prisons and insane asylums Scientists collecting
their evidence from the records OF the past we'll
OF the present and from the health instead OF the dis
eases of iie have very different conclusion From
their studies they draw the verified conviction that
civilized man is improving in every respect and is
better in this age than before.
Professor w. J. McGee OF the Bureau Of Eth
nology, in recent interview with the Boston Globe
stated that the teachings OF those who believe in the
degeneration OF civilized without scientific
foundation. Even Paris, he is quoted as saying the
alleged seat OF sensuality the capital OF crime grows
no worse as the tide OF time sweeps on And the re-
mainder OF the world is growing better. The human
race is progressing. Men growing healthier
stronger, braner; they larger, feet of loot
and strong OF limb, quick to think and to do
they know more, work more, accomplish more and
are better for the life that they lead to-day Con-
trary to widespread and general impression, they
are less given the excessive OF liquors and OF
tobacco than they once we're; they are more moral
and more religious.
In stating the evidence upon which these conclu-
sions are based, the professor said:
"One OF the best indications OF the strength of
race all things considered, is the longevity OF its
people. Recently there have been exhumed from
the ruins OF Pompei number OF actuaries' tables.
In these the ancient Italian insurance agents had
worked carefully the expectation OF life for the
people with whom they did business. When the
Italian actuaries tables were compared with the
actuaries tables of the insurance companies now
doing business in the United States it was discovered
that the expectation OF life OF the American citizen
exceeds by eleven years the expectation OF the an
cient Italian. Another important factor which must
be considered with the question OF the Improvement
OF mankind is that OF stature 1t is fact that the
average American of to-day is taller man than the
average founder of this country. By way OF COM
parison IT may be remarked that the American is an
inch taller than the Englshman, while the English
in turn is inch taller than the average Con-
tinental"
Concerning the ot-repeated criticism OF Europeans
that Americans work too hard and live too FAST Pro
iessor McGee said
i would lay IT down general rule that people
the average do what they able to do and that
what they actually do is the safest and truest
measure OF what they do In Berlin the average
man walks at the rate OF two and half miles per
hour; in London, three in New York, three and a
quarter and in Chicago San Francisco and Denver
the latter pace is exceeded. The average length OF
life in America exceeds the average in England and
the proportion OF population that is confined
within asyums for the insane is considerably less
than in either England, France or Germany In this
connection / will say that believe that the greater
amount OF labor that the American is able to stand is
due in considerable part to single cause The
American is the breakfast eater OF the world He in
variably commences the day with a good meal OF
strong steam-producing food. Consequently work is
no drag OH him and he surpass easily in results
the European who commences the day with little but
a roll and cup OF chocolate"
The judgment given in favor OF heavy breakfast
may lead to some differences OF opinion but the
general facts stated by the professor are beyond dis
pute The world is growing better and the improve
ment has reached its highest mark in the west The
Californian rush is sign not OF nervous excitement
but OF aboundng vigor.
Great Britain has found that the effort to take up