Arizona republican., 1907-07-06

| suggested long ago, and pr. Schrub-
 sail, foremost among many, is now | carrying out, has a certain bearing l on the point They prove that dari I hair and eyes are supplanting the | light in this country-a fact which | all thoughtful persons have observed But also they demonstrate the reason which is, shortly, that the blond are | constitutionally unfitted to endure | the conditions of town life. and actu- ally perish in the foul atmosphere and
 barbarism of the slums. Adults enter the hospital .n proportion far too great and children die. They must have fresh air, whosome exercise and decent surroundings to keep in health. But these are the conditions of rustic life, which as universal experience in all ages agrees. preserves if it does not generate such virtues as sim plicity, truthfulness and honesty, which town life, favored by the dark, corrupts.
 On the other hand, the brown eyed people assert that the fair arc treach- erous and cruel. This is common belief in Italy, where it might be traced to a popular reminiscence of the blond Northerners who ravaged that hapless country from generation to generation. But it is much older. Plutarch cites a contemporary epi- gram passed upon Cato the Censor, who was red-haired and gray eyed, which shows that 1t was current even then. And it is an article of faith all through the East.
 Sir Edward Malet tells in his biog- raphy how he once called at Alexan dretta, and the population assembled believing him to be the new governor of Cypress. To his dragoman he ex- pressed a hope that they were favor ably impressed by his appearance at any rate, but the dragoman honestly replied that it was not so-a blue-eyed governor they thought must be harsh and cruel. And he added that the feeling is general all through the Le- want By the famous code of Menu. an orthodox Hindu is flatly forbidden to marry a woman with gray eyes or red hair-perhaps for this reason, though none is assigned. In all cases it may be that a tradition of ruthless invaders from the north has caused the prejudice, since many Afghans. and many Persians of the wilder tribes are fair-not to mention the British in modern times. But that is an as- sumption.
 We are using the term blue-eyed in a conventional sense. As a matter of fact, that color is the rarest by far of all Some assert, indeed, that it does not exist, and many doubtless have never seen it. Perhaps the rarity of blue is not to be regretted. unless by enthusiasts who set beauty above charity and humanity. For all animals which have blue eyes are more or less ''hard of hearing" This is generally known in the case of cats, and 1t Is equally true of horses and wild crea- lures. It is an instance of correlation. as Darwin termed the mysterious law. and one would expect to find it apply to human beings. as is alleged. Also we must admit that blue or green or gray eyes have a narrower range of expression than dark. Perhaps. in- deed, the fair do not respond so quick ly to the impulse of the moment; of more sedate or coolor temperament, they cannot meet word or thought ! half way and flash back the answer which we call black, have an advan- tase in power of expression.