The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-17
American Indians and Indian Ameri-
cans.

Prof. FREDERICK STARR, distin-
guished anthropologist of the University
of Chicago, has just reasserted in lee
ture his interesting theory that the
Americans are becoming Indians so far as
physical characteristics are concerned.
He holds that the American climate and
physical surroundings have produced
and are producing, in this country Of i'm
migrants and their descendants, varia-
lions that tend to repeat or approach
the Indian type. As an instance Of his
observations in confirmation Of his hy-
pothesis, he mentions the present repre-
sentatives OF little German colony which
settled in America many years ago. He
finds that the members of the fourth and
fifth generations OF these German colo
nists presumably faxen-haired folk to
begin with, show marked Indian char
acteristics- black hair black eyes and
darker-colored skin.
We quote from Chicago despatch.
which probably does injustice to Prof,
STARR. He would scarcely say that
black eyes. black hair and dark-col-
ored skin are peculiarly Indian charac-
teristics. Indeed, some Indians, the
Chinooks and Mandans, for example, are
nearly white; and the darker-hued va
rietes are merely brown
Prof. STARR asserts that this Indianiza-
ton, if there is such word, is going on
among immigrants of all nationalities.
In his view, the Indian is modification
or development OF the Monaghan. The
oblique eyes disappeared, we suppose,
as soon as the Mongol-Indian became
certain which continent he belonged to
and no longer .hesitated between Asia
and America. Now the old American
stock is having it's revenge on its con-
auerors. The latter possess the land,
but the climate is turning them into the
favor of the vanquished
Prof. STARR might have cited in sup
port of his theory the growing American
custom OF not growing hair on the face.
The Indian had little to start with and
pulled that little out Now the area
OF whiskers is still considerable, and
if PETER the GREATS notable plan of
raising revenue by taxing the raisers
of boards were adopted in these United
States, the proceeds would still be enor-
nous. Whiskers for revenue only There
is noble slogan for a party Of prog
ress. But smooth faces are the fashion.
Will not the beard of the Americans be-
come scanty and Indian? One excellent
physical advantage of the Indians has
been lost by their supplanters, They
had teeth as white as whales bone. Well,
the dentists are doing better work every
year and the teeth of children are better
taken care o. Here again Inflammation
is proceeding The small, symmetrical
feet OF the American aborigines are re-
peated in their successors in Chicago, q
fact which must have been the germ of
Prof. STARR s theory. The strong, mas
sive Indian jaws are common, especially
among college men, but We ascrbe that
maxiIlary might less to climate than to
the additional volume required for the
emission of the college yell, itself per-
haps borrowed from the Redskins.
Do the immigrants studied by Prof.
STARR have the prominent cheek
bones which are linked with copper
colored in youthful remembrances Of
the Indians in the school histories? Al
any rate, copper~colored noses are
seen occasionally; and where there is so
much check Tther" must he prominent