The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-10-26
STATURE OF JAPANESE.
THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN LIT.
TIE PEOPLE PHYSICALLY.
Their Size and soldiership Historically
Consdercd-A Question of Diet-An
Increase in Quality of the Food of
the Nation Suggested.

The statement OF Massalnoto Isoda.
assistant commissioner of Japan to
the Louisiana Purchase exposition, was
that the small stature OF his people
IS ascrlDable to their neglect of ply
sIcGl culture since their revolution of
1868; neglect brought about by the in
tonsity OF their application to the
study OF western civilization. in order
that they might appropriate it's best
fruits in the interest CT their own
progress. This idea is extraordinary
as coming from one of a people whose
cuZens are generally of proved care
fulness of statement even under wars
temptation to eNaggerate.
The year 1865 is assigned by Massa-
moto lsoda as the time of Japan's de-
parturc from her former isolation
among nations. but 1863. when Com
moaorG Perry brought abe ut q treaty
with that country, is really the period
when western civilization dlwned upon
the japanese, and they began to ben
eft by its illumination. Lut. even if
we grant the additional term of Is
years, between 1888 and 1883, to Jap
ancse intensity OF study. the whclc
term of so years then CONGO: ned would
not account for the small Est degree
of diminution in their physique.
Always a Little People.
In 1853 and 1868 aud from that time
immemorial, probably tho Japanese
were OF the same size as they are
now. We have, with reference to the
period Of 1858, the testimony of our
naval officers who were with Perry.
We have the long antecedent testi.
mony Of the Chinese. who were fond
OF calling them dwarfs, down to the
time when they had taste Of their
mettle, and came to recognize them
as the champions against western ag-
gressiCn. The huge athletes of their
country, relatively few individuals.
represent the only class Of big men
among them. and they have reached
their physical condition through n
long course of artificial selection, Dur-
sued generation after generation EX-
ccpting these, a large Japanese man is
rarity. When the Americans, the
Rev. Dr.. Phillips Brooks and his i'll
innate frieId. the Rev. Dr. William
McVickar, visited Japan. they were
regarded there as the giants In 1872
happened to have the pleasure to be
one OF = reception committee to well
come some japanese. grown men, to
this country. They were Il party CT ii
in number, consisting OF gentleman
who had been n daimio. OF an inter
prefer and OF nine other persons. They
were all Of the size which ie still
recognized BY foreigners as the Japan
csc standard of physica! develop
ment
a circumstance connected with this
group OF Japanese warrants brief
dgressicn. Thoir exquisite courtesy
manifested itself not only in the gen
ticncss of their manners, but in deli
cate consideration uneXampled in any
other country, With their revolution
0t 1868 the rank OF dai.aio had van
ished Nevertheless. the gentleman
to whom have alluded as having held
it was treated by his companions of
originally lower status with all the
Difference appropriate TO his former
standing. Entcrng the dining room
OF the hotel where the reception took
place. his companions always ranged
themselves cercmonlCuSly along tile
corfidor ana permitted him to pass,
whcrcupon they filed into the room as
II they rad been his official suite.
One Of the surprises of the day has
been that men so diminiItivc as are
INC Japanesc should make such able
soldiers as they have rroFed them
Seive" To be N war with the Chinese
ana I'D" itdaSians' But all experience
IN TN" inId so"S &c ShoW that' other
th!hSS h'!hH equal men OF moueralc
Sl"" must make the most eiicctiVc SOL
"!'fN. lh'7' are IN" men DeSI aoie 10
SIah" C.ic wear anu IGaF "i campaign
ing. ms mas oc'h proved from the
earnest "'"'"'''"i t'hieS' i-Ny says:
fU!''""7' '"'P"'' h"""p""q"""n "atiS
N"''"n9' Ct'e' "'' Hlie"""' W, peri
""H"e n''I 'd'' i-"l'""'' N'tnn"9 IH-
gent DeiIa'o'l"' P'''''"S' ne lo'
man, ""' ~ ""' ''''"I' ''I''" we" VIZ"
""'''S ''''''7','' TO- ~ 20 i ''' o'i
n"''' man" ''.u 'N','.u IA i''I''l"Iy %,