Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-04


i Spaniard an olive complexion. Mas
i Noriiau has discussed the question us
i regards the French and Germans, Pro-
fessor Mantegazza as regards tn,
Italians. and pr Hamilton the Others
concerning the actual blending of tbs
Imutiform racial features of the Amcri-
Can population into Il single type.
/ The subject has. perhaps in England
/ as We. hardly received the attic ntion lis
Iextren.e interest and importance de-
serve. Yet every Englishman who is
at all familiar with the ancient ply
j sicgnorny 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
| Ti;tlor period. 49,
The loyal subject of Edward VI, flax
en- haired if he We're a yeoman, ard
black haired in towns. would hardly re-
cognize as his posterity and compa-
triots the equally loyal subjects of Ed
ward VII. Indeed, il is not certain that
there has been special and distinctive
| tyre fer each century. and this. if it is
1 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 Englishman has
been the nlatutinal tub-the widespread
! prevalence of the bathing habit 1t
| seems strange when we reflect that in
| the eighteenth century the morning
bath. now regarded as so essential 20
Englishmen of all classes. was hardly
ever INDUCED in. and the cold plunge
| within doors thing practically un-
known.
The physiological effects of frequent
bathing are well known, among them
| being heightened color. sharper feat
ures-that is, a rawbcned appearance
and. as DIR. Andrew Wilson has lately
pointed out. a 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 ascribed
to the wigs of the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries, or whether the
wigs themselves, were resorted to as
means of Disgusting the less hrsute
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
Alsatan blood. The habit of drinking
beer in preference to wine is also said
to be influencing the physique and
facial tint of the Gallo race. There
can be no question IF the Slight increase
.,f fnf, md
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 tissues. into grim,
sinewy automatons-naniely the sever
ity 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,
having gradually diminished since 1851.
Whether the Kaiser's subjects will re-
gard this loss sufficiently stOned for by
the greater size of the German chin.
which is becoming "A prominent character
unknown to the Prussians under Fred
erick the Great is 4 matter which We
must leave to the subjects of William
IL. to determine
The Russians face is undergoing
pronounced change, owing to new blood
and different food, habits and conIi-
tions IF life. But perhaps the most eX-
Il aordinary metamorphosis of all is
taking place under our eyes among two
nations as widely separated in origin
and history as it is possible for any
civilized countries to be-America and
Japan. The American physiognomy 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
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 Slavonic Aus
tria.
"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
Il type OF face so clearly national as the
American. The lantern jaws. the thin.
1.-THE body. the dry face. the thick hair
and thin lips. the intelligent eyes, the
voice not altogether harsh. though
sharp and nasal-all these traits are
acknowledged all over the Continent of
Europe" Yet, perhaps, Trollope was
mistaken in attributing the formation
of this type to hot air pipes and dol
lar worship although not altogether
wrong in supporting the American
countenance to be modified by his
.scyaciaI acf,iratiopc -
Yet it is extraordinary how rapidly
the child of English or European par
ents born and bred in America assumes
these special features. By some it has
been believed that the so-called
American face is merely a reversion to
the countenance of the aborigines, and
considering how strong the general
likeness is, this theory deserves care
| full consideration. On the other hand,
| how is it that the Canadians, whose
| habits of life differ from their neighbors
should preserve more English type of
visage. so that after three or four gem
era:ions they are very readily mistaken
for Englishmen? Here there is certain
| iy no reversion to the aboriginal type.
| In Japan it has been observed with
/ increasing establishment as almost