The suburban citizen., 1902-10-25

H. ilized races-a new phy-
ksss.zsssEsssll siOgnomy?
To one who believes in the evolution
of racial type by means of natural Sc
lection an answer in the affirmative
presents no difficulties, says Cham
bers' Journal, but to others-the stu
dent of comparative ethnology, the
acute archaeologist, the thoughtful
traveler-this important matter is as
firmly settled as that the Chinese has
slantlng eyes, the Tartar high cheek
bones and the Spaniard an olive COM
plexion. Max Nordau has discussed
the question as regards the French and
Germans, Professor Mantegazza, as re-
CARDS the Italians and DR.. Hamilton
and others concerning the actual blend
ing of the multiform racial features Of
the American population into a single
type.
The subject has, perhaps, in England
as yet hardly received the attention its
extreme interest and Importance de-
serve. Yet every Englishman who Is
at all familiar with the ancient ply
siognOmy and the physical aspect and
proportions of his race must be aware
that the new Englishman Of the twen-
tieth century is not quite the same ami
NAL as was the Englishman of the Tu-
dor period.
The loyal subject Of Edward VI,
faxen haired II he were yeoman and
black haired in towns, would hardly
recognize as his posterity and compa-
triots the equally loyal subjects of Ed
ward VII. Indeed, 1t Is not certain that
there has been a special and distinctive
type for each century. and this, if 1t is
really the case, would, of course, not
preclude the recurrence of a former
type at intervals. Among the factors
which have undoubtedly affected the
physique, hair and complexion Of the
nineteenth century Engllshmanhas been
the matutlnal tub-the widespread prev
alence Of the bathing habit. 1t seems
strange when we reflect that in the
eighteenth century the morning bath,
now regarded as so essential to Eng
lishmen Of all classes, was hardly ever
indulged in, and the cold plunge within
doors thing practically unknown.
The physiological effects of frequent
bathing are well known, among them
being a heightened color, sharper feat
ures-that is, a rawboned appearance
and (as DR.. Andrew Wilson has lately
pointed out) thinning of the hair. AS
to the latter, it Is common knowledge
that in the fifteenth century curly hair
was the rule in England, but whether
the change to lankness is to be ascrlbed
to the wigs of the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries, or whether the
wigs themselves were resorted to as a
means Of Disgusting the less hirsute
luxuriance. it would be difficult to de-
termine satisfactorily.
Looking abroad we are shown the
Frenchman gradually growing lighter
Of hair and complexion, owing to the
greater fecundity of the Norman and
the constant infusion of Swiss and AL
satan blood. The habit of drinking
beer in preference to wine is also said
to be influencing the physique and fa-
clal tint Of the Gallo race. There can
be no question of a slight increase Of
stature and more erect carriage
among the males, this resulting from
the same cause which has transformed
the whole race Of Germans from round
shouldered, shambling men, with pro-
fusion of adipose tissue, into grim, sin
envy automatons-namely, the severity
of universal military discipline. But
with the Germans they have to thank
the army for decrease instead of an
increase Of stature, the height of the
men, as shown by official reports, hay
ing gradually diminished since 1851.
Whether the Kaiser's subjects will re-
gard this loss as sufficiently atoned for
by the greater size Of the German chin,
which is becoming a prominent charac.
ter, unknown to the Prussians under
Frederick the Great, is matter which
we must leave to the subjects of Will
lam ii. to determine.
The Russian face is undergoing pro-
nounced change, owing to new blood
and different food, habits and cOndl-
tlons Of life. But perhaps the most ex-
traordinary metamorphosls of all is
taking place under our eyes among two
nations as widely separated in origin
and history as it is possible for any civ
ilized countries to be America and
Japan. The American physlognomy Is
as completely marked as that of any
race under the sun that has, as An.
thony Trollope remarked, bred in and
in for centuries" Yet, as the same
traveller pointed out, the American
owns a more mixed blood than any
other race known. His chief stock Is
English, and with this are mingled the
bloods Of Ireland, Holland, France,
Germany. Scandinavia, Italy and Sla-
vonic Austria.
"All this has been done within a few
years, so that the American may be
said to have no claim to any national
type Of face. Nevertheless, no man
has a type of face so clearly national
as the American. The lantern jaws,
tho fbin 1itha ho1ty tho drxy faoo sha