The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1909-12-21
AN AMERICAN TYPE FORMING?

The immigration act of 1907 pro-
vided for a commission to make full
inquiry. examination and investiga-
ton by subcommittee or otherwise
into the subject of immigration" the
expense 10 be paid out OF the i'm
migrant fund" This left an unlim-
tied latitude TO the inquiry in rela-
ton 10 the general subject The pre-
liminary report of a subcommittee
has just been submitted to Congress
which ~. ears 10 have considerable
scientific interest, whatever it's prac-
IDEAL views may be- This sub-commit-
zee, under the direction of DR. Franz
Boas, of Columbia University, has
been conducting an inquiry into the
assimilation of alien immigrants with
t.c mass Of the American people,
n. .n'y I'm habits and mental and
social characteristics, but in physical
traits. In the latter respect 1t is said
uu,u led TO surprising results,
lueH-. confined go the narrow limits
.. ,rr.ea mHat.srrsf certain ,nation-
u..e n CHS city In fact so far as
20. present report is concerned il is
confined almost exclusively TO East
u.uIopean Hebrews and natives Of
-H.roru italy.
The chief surprising result" thus
..r attained is that of rapid assimi-
lation in the new environment of the
physical conformation to a distinctive
ly American type. reaching even to
the shape of the head. This can hard
ly be perceived in the actual immi-
grants, even those arriving in child
hood, but in the second generation it
Is said To be very noticeable. The
round heads Of the Hebrews and the
long heads OF the Sicilians are said to
approximate the same intermediate
form in the second generation, and
other physical characteristics under
go a similar change toward a common
type.
These examinations afford meager
date for generaiizing, but interesting
differences may be drawn from them
This assimilation toward a common
physical type under the changed con-
ditions Of climate, surroundings and
mode Of life, is said TO be rapid in the
childhood Of the first generation born
here Of foreign parentage, and TO pro-
coed more slowly in mature years. 1t
Is presumed that il will continue in
succeeding generations until certain
type common TO the country is reach
ed. Another presumption is that what
D 10 cot.
tionalities will hold in similar de-
gree with others and that there will
be a constant tendency towards a
characteristic type. This is assumed
! in regard to each distinct race or ma
| tionality without regard TO blending by
intermarriage. which would presum-
ably hasten the process.
If this is what is going on now
among those who have come into the
| country I'm such numbers i'm the last
one or two generations. an interesting
! inference may be that the early settlers
through successive generations under
/ the formative influences of the coun-
try have developed an American type
OF people physically. mentally and NOR
ally, 20 which the new corners gradu-
ally become assimilated. and that this
VIII become established as some
thing distinctive OF the country and
different from that Of any of the
countries OF the origin OF the popula-
ton. OF the ultimate result upon the
character OF the nation. political, socia
and economical the mind is free tC
speculate with little in the way OF de-
finite facts TO restrain II. But. the In
quiry. which has only just begun. Il
at this stage fraught with interest.
ing suggestion. "a ~ frft I'll