Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-07
WHICH Is THE HANDSOMEsTe
Comparative Measurements of East
ern and Western College Girls.

+ u u 'oiiege NirISs
The most interesting comparisons have
been drawn by Prof. Jay w. Seaver of Yale
between the types of girlhood to be found
in the eastern and western section OF the
country from the statistics compiled by the
authorities in the different colleges in the
two localities. The figures represent girls of
the same age and general development, re-
ports the Philadelphia Times, and unless
there are some marked differences through
out the districts from which the institutions
draw their students it would be safe to as
sumo that there was no difference in the
physical characteristics of our women the
country over. But some very striking diff
ferences are found and from them the con-
clusion may be deduCed that the environment
OF our women is affecting them and that
the future may be moulded in proportion to
the care that is taken to counterfeit the evil
effects of our surroundings and to enhance
the good.
The study that Prof. Seaver has made
includes over 5000 girls. They are drawn
from three localities. One represents the
western type purely, as typifed in the Uni
versity of Nebraska; the second represents
the middle western type, as found in Ober-
lin college, and the third class represents
the eastern type as displayed in the ranks
Of Wellesley college. 1t is found that while
they differ in minor respects there is no
material difference between the western and
middle west. They may be classified to-
gether. But the eastern type is essentially
distinctive and must be considered alone.
Unque9tionably the principal difference lies
in the greater percentage of urban popula-
ton in the east than in the west, though
the freer habits of the west contribute their
share and the different progenity of the
districts, though almost obliterated, has a
small influence. But whatever the influences
that serve to produce the conditions they
can be well studied and the future genera
ton Of all districts improved by a judicious
use of suitable exercises.
Here are some of the physical peculiarities
that are disclosed by these tables, First,
that the Wellesley woman Is taller and
heavier than the typical woman Of either
of the western groups, while Ehe Oberlin
and Nebraska women are about the same
size and weight. The increased frequency
of the Teutonic element in the western
group probably accounts for the difference.
The eastern type partakes more of the long
legged and short-trunked type which seems
to be characteristic of the tendency in
modern development.
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of the upper eXtremities is remarkable, al
though there seems to be a greater length
of foot in the eastern group than in either
Of the others. In glrths the record of head
circumference seems to be larger in the
eastern group, and according TO the general
law that seems to obtain among men this
larger girth Of head Is accompanied by a
larger girth OF neck, although all the chest
measurements are found to be considerably
below the standard set by either of the
western colleges. This poor development of
chest is in an important region of the body
and would seem to indicate less vitality and
certainly less endurance of working power.
They also fall below in girth of hips, while
the waist girth is essentially the same.
In girth Of upper arm the eastern groups
excel, while in girth of forearm they are
markedly deficient. This may be explained
If the western type has been more accus-
toned to physical work, which would tend
to reduce any fatty tissue frcn the upper
arm and would give marked muscular dcvel-
opment through the forearm. This conclu-
sion would seem to be established by the
larger thigh measurements found in the
eastern group, as this is a region that read
lily lends itself to storage OF fatty Tissue, and
the larger calf girth would show exercise in
walking.
In breadths the contour OF the head is diff
ferent in the various groups, the broadcast
one being found in the extreme west, where,
as was said, the Teutonic element is proba-
bly, the largest. One would naturally expect
the largest head breadth to be found in the
east, where the head girth is the largest,
The breadth Of shoulders seems to be the
same in all groups, although the broader
neck is found where the larger head has to
be supported.
In depths the eastern group leads, show
ms a rounder type OF figure, and the Oberlin
group seems TO be especially deficient in this
regard. This may be due to the farm life
that has moulded SO large a percentage in