The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-11-04
STATURE OF JAPANESE.
THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A LIT.
TIE PEOPLE PHYSICALLY.


Considered-A Question of Dict-An
Increase in Quality of the Food of
the Nation Suggested.
The statement of Massamoto Isoda,
assistant commissioner of Japan to
the Louisiana Purchase exposition, was
that the small stature of his people
is ascribable to their neglect of ply
steal culture since their revolution of
1868; neglect brought about by the in
tensity OF their application to the
STUDY OF western civilization, in order
mat they might appropriate it's best
fruits in the interest Of their own
progress. This idea is extraordinary.
as coming from one of people whose
citizens are generally of proved care
fulness of statement even under wars
temptation to exaggerate.
The year 1868 is assigned by Massa-
motto lsoda as the time of Japan's de-
parture from her former isolation
among nations, but 1853, when Com
modore Perry brought about treaty
with that country, is really the period
when western civilization dawned upon
the Japanese, and they began to ben
emit by its illumination But, even if
we grant the additional term of Is
years, between 1853 and 1863, to Jap
anese intensity of study, the whole
term of so years then concerned would
not account for the smallest degree
OF diminution in their physique.
Always Little People.
In 1853 and 1868, and from that time
1mmemorial, probably the Japanese
were of the same size as they are
now. We have, with reference to the
period of 1853, 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 a 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 a
long course of artificial selection, pur-
sued generation after generation. Elk
cepting these, a large Japanese man is
rarity. When the Americans, the
Rev. DR.. Phillips Brooks and his in
innate friend, the Rev. DR.. William
McVickar, visited Japan, they were
al cr;o 1+c N
/ happened to have the pleasure to be
one of reception committee to well
come some japanese, grown men, to
this country. They were a party Of II
in number, consisting of gentleman
who had been a daimio, of an inter
prefer and of nine other persons. They
were all of the size which is still
recognized by foreigners as the Japan
ese standard OF physical develop
ment.
"A circumstance connected with this
group of Japanese warrants brief
depression. Their exquisite courtesy
manifested itself not only in the gen.
tleness of their manners, but in deli
cate consideration uneXampled in any
other country. With their revolution
of 1868 the rank OF daimio 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 Entering the dining room
of the hotel where the reception took
place. his companions always ranged
themselves tremendously along the
corridor and permitted him to pass,
whereupon they filed into the room as
if they had been his official suite.
One Of the surprises Of the day has
been that men SO diminutlye as are
the Japanese should make such able
soldiers as they have proved them
selves to be in war with the Chinese
and the Russians. But, all experience
in the field goes to show that, other
things being equal men OF moderate
size must make the most effective SOL
dierv. These are the men best able to
stand the wear and tear OF campaign
ing. This has been proved from the
earliest historical times. Llvy says:
"Romans. corpore haudquaquam salts
validus; ceterum strenuus vir peril
usoue militiae; Latinus, viribus in
gent bellatorque primus." The Ro-
man. not by any means endowed with
bodily strength, is, otherwise, siren
nous man, and skilled in military ser
vice; the Latin, of immense strength,
and a frst-rate warrior Caesar
troops were once so appalled, at the
idea of meeting force OF Germans,
redoubtable for their size, strength