New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-11
TARPoN LEAPING-
JAPAN'S LEGS.
And Some Notes ON the Philosophy
of Chairs.
of Chars.

From the widespread discussion that has been
aroused by the recent address Of Baron Takad,
surgeon general of the japanese navy, 70 the
Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, re-
gardlng his projects to increase the Stature OF
his countrynen. it would appear that general
impression prevails 70 the effect that all Teges
of the Mikado are little men. This Is very far
from being the case. True. the minimum stand
ard of height for the japanese army IS feet
inch, as compared with feet inches for that
of France But the average stature OF the peo-
pie is superior thereto. and in the central prov
inces. and especially in the south. men OF feet
9 inches and feet 10 inches are quite COM
mon. while six-footers are by no means rare.
Thus nv old friend Field Marshal Saige YozI-
michi, whom many will recall as president OF
the Japanese Commission at the Centennial
Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876. was only
little under six feet, while his brother, Saiso
Kichinosuke, the leader Of the Satsuua REBEL
ION, was couple of inches taller and most
imposing looking man. Count Okubo. too. who
was assassinated while fulfilling the duties OF
Minister Of the Interior, over six feet tall
Among the student class however, from which
japanese oficialdOm is now almost entirely re-
cruited, abbreviated stature is frequent This
Is largely owing to the fact that inadeQuats
attention has been given to bodily exercise. the
ment of the mind, and intellectual attachments
regarded as the principal title to government
employment and to promotion. But in the case
of the earlier generations. when the mobiles and
samurai. who constituted the governing classes
by right of birth and had no incentive to study,
devoted all their time to bodily exercises, he
officials were much taller and finer looking lot
of men. In fact, most Of the Elder Statesmen
in Japan-thOse. in word, Who date from The
days prior to the revolution Of 1S67-are far
superior in size to the ministers and principal
dignitaries Of the present era
In country Of the world is full stature
more highly priced by the people than in Japan
Stunted growth is considered in the light Of
misfortune. and to such an extent does this SEN
timent prevail that the most extraordinary pre-
cautions are adopted to avert everything Of II
omen that. according to popular superstition.
might interfere with growth Thus. children are
strictly prohibited from measuring their height
lest by so doing they should prevent themselves
from ever becoming any taller. Neither are they
allowed to carry any basket or bundle on their
heads and boys are even debarred from anus
ing themselves by means of such tricks as bal
ancing balls. sticks, swords. or in fact anything
at all on their heads Under the circumstances
and in view Of the Importance which the
japanese attach to stature. ii is surprising that
in adopting so many Of the Western methods
Of the education and training of the mind they
should have neglected the development Of the
physique OF the scholastic youth. There is no
doubt that if more attention were devoted 70
gymnastics at the various schools and colleges,
and the youngsters compelled 70 undergo a
course of calisthenic training, it would con-
tribute more to the growth Of the stature Of the
rising generations of the people Of Japan than
all the chairs in Christendom-
For IL fS hV he uSa Of r,,-,-
Takad proposes to increase the height Of his
countrymen- He takes the ground that cases OF
abbreviated stature among them result from ab-
normal shortness of the legs and that this arises
from the Japanese custom OF sitting on The
heels He argues that in the instances OF stunted
stature among the Japanese the trunk OF ne
body Is altogether disproportionateIy long and
large compared to the extremities and by way
OF demonstrating the exactitude OF his theory
relates that all of his sons are six-footers. cir
curnstance which ne ascrfbes to the fact that
ne never allowed them tn their childhood and