The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-05
,HOOSIERS NOT
THE TALLEST MEN
Statistics of DR.. Gould Of
Z. s. Sanitary Commits
sion Disputed.


Grant Spicer. resident of this city
interested in the science of anthropology.
takes exception to certain statistical
statements appearing in story on 1.-The
Tall Men From Indiana published in
I h G 0 b of Sunday, Dec. 20.
The article was based on the COM
ments Of DR.. Gould. actuary of the United
states sanitary commission. Referring to
it Mr.. Spicer said yesterday;
1T is so misleading in it's statements
and deductions that it ought not to ge
undisputed. Assuming the statistics pub
I I to be accurate. we have a
Indiana for the War of the Rebellion. OF
this total only 1908 were above the height
of six feet one ineh. Add to this the 2.614
total is 4,7O7. Subtract this sum from
the total enrolment and we have 113. SAT
as the actual number Of men whose
height was less than six feet one inch.
If 113,547 men were. under six feet one
inch in height and only 2,093 above six
feet one inch, how does the doctor figure
out that the average for the whole was
six feet one? His assumption is prepos-
ferrous. Why does he not quote figures
for the many thousands who must neces
sarily have been away below the stand
ard Stature2
1T is safe to assume that the number
of men who measured five feet five inches
or less was as large as those who ex-
ceeded six feet.
our statistics that the men Of Indiana are
the tallest of the natives of the United
states. The statement also follows:
The men Of Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and
shorter than those from Indiana
Both statements are erroneous. In
fact, the normal average of the men in
the United States is about five feet high
and one-fourth inches, and it does not
vary in any state more than one inch
from the standard. Furthermore the men
from Kentucky are actually taller than
fThe whole trouble with the doctors
conclusions evidently lies in the fact that
the figures from Indiana were juggled SO
eS to give an entirely false showing
Whether done accidentally or for the
patriotic purpose, of advertising the eli
ants of Indiana, do not pretend to know,
but I do know that it might be danger
Gus to let loose SO much hot air in the
natural gas region.
IF we leave out the extraordinary mis-
would be little left in the article inter
esting or entertaining. Neither is it true
that the men of Indiana are tending to-
ward a general diminishing of stature
as stated in the story. This notion arises
from the common belief that civilization
causes physical degenerac y.'s
There is no ground for such a falIacy
in the light of modern statistics. Only
the very 1ndolent show any signs Of de-
generacy. Persons engaged in sedentary
pursuits often take insufficient sexercise,
pepsia and nervous diseases. However,
the opposite extreme is alike Injurious.
Hard labor does not conduce to health
nor growth. 1t actually prevents natural
development. A comparison of men in
the superior trades and professions will
actually show larger stature than those
in the more laborious occupations, such as
mining, etc.
'tOnly agricultural lab0rers compare ia
vorabIy in size and strength with men
engaged in higher vacations. Farmers
have the advantage of pure air, food and
sunshine. Their. habits are also neces-
sarily more regular 1t is a fact prob
ably surprising to many that life fnsur-
ance statistics show that men and wom-
en- engaged in mental occupations live
much longer than those who are confined
to more laborious pursuits.
cit is generally believed that mechan-
zeal inventions, by lessening the
labor Of the race, have caused physical
weakness This is a fallacy that might
well be dispelled from the public mind.
The human race has for ages been phys
ically oFertaxed and only recently, in the
more progressive countries, have the peo-
pie reached a condition of material prog
ress that permits Of natural DEVELOPMENT
"a goodly amount of exercise is con-
ducive to health and longevity, but long
hours Of labor actually lessen human
strength The proof of these statements
lies in the fact that modern athletes have
broken all records made by earlier gem
eFationS.
Generally speaking, the men Of this