Evening star., 1915-06-27
Decrease Of the Type t
With Each Generation, ?

for at least three generations-that is,
those whose parents and grandparents
on both sides have all been born in
this country.
The study will ascertain how strong
this stock is at present in this country
as regards numbers, and what changes
If any, are being wrought by it's
change of environment. Fairly definite
standards for the racial characteristics
of the European nations already exist
They will be used for comparison
with the results obtained from this
study, in order to determine. so far
as possible. whether the present Amer
lean life is likely TO act adversely or
otherwise in the development of the
highest form of life.
To secure a sufficient basis for COM
parison at least 400 men and women
in good health
ran Is AdODted between the ages
In co. of W en- y-four
" oeeuie OASIS. and sixty, having
the required ancestry, are to be sub
mitted to a series of careful tests and
measurements in the National Museum
The study cannot be completed with
out the voluntary aid of a sufficient
number of properly qualified persons
who will submit to the examination in
the interest of science. Nearly half
of the number have now been secured
They have come from all parts of the
country The study has been in
progress for over year, and it is
hoped that a sufficient number of sub
jects for examination will present
themselves to make its completion pos
sible within the next year. No pub
licity has been given to the arrange
ment heretofore. because it was con-
sidered unwise to risk the waste of
scientific time upon persons who, out
of curiosity, might present themselves
for examination, while lacking the es-
sential qualifications. The examina-
tions. so far. have been chiefly made
upon persons secured through the per-
sonal infiuance of the scientists inter
ested. 1t is now desired to secure the
rem aiming number as speedily as pos
sible. Any person Interested can OBJ
tain definite information by addressing
the National Museum.
The measurements include those of
stature. head, face, chest (over cloth
ing), ear, hand and foot Tests are
made of muscular strength by the
dynamometer. The temperature, respi-
ration and pulse are recorded with a
description of complexion. including
the coloring of the hair, eyes and skin
The examination only requires about
a quarter of an hour. 1t requires no
exposure of the person except the re-
moval of the shoes while the height Of
the body is measured Ladies are re-
quested to loosen their hair for the
measurement of the head. No names
will be published in the final ANALYSIS.
which will be made public, but the
original data will be preserved in the
National Museum. 1t will always be
available TO those who have been
measured and to their children
In connection with the examination
the museum is securing a collection of
human hair. which
Seeks Collection will indicate the
of Human Hair. ppeosans ppesent et genera rae
ton. 1t is being placed in a big case in
the anthropological tdivision, where 1t
can be compared with that of various
other nationalities dating back to the
ancient Egyptians. Contrary to popu-
lar belief. this last was bright red, at
least in some instances. DIR. Hrdlicka
does not preserve locks from all the
persons examined. but when he is con-
fronted by natural hair of an unusual
shade he requests a small sample for
his collection, and this has never vet
been refused
Those interested in this research have
been surprised to find how few can
meet the qualifications as to ancestry
Several Daughters of the American
Revolution, who have prided themselves
upon their American descent have
been found unavailable because a
Srandparent upon one side or the other
had not been born In thiSAcountry. In
canvass made of one qf the depart
ments not single desirable candidate
was found among a hundred and fifty
Americans in the employ of the United
States government.
1t is generally accepted that pure
Americans are not to be found in any
large city. In New York Irish and He
brew types prevail. and the Germans
are strong in Chicago. Wherever an
industrial center has been formed. the
immigrant has made his way, and
within a single generation has become
an integral part of the nation of his
adoption. The purest American stock Is
now found in the remote mountain re-
gions of Virginia. Tennessee Kentucky
and the Carolinas. These old families
have straight line of descent going
back at least to the revolutionary war.
fought. The isolation in which these
people have lived for a century and a |
quarter has often kept them from
making adequate progress. Whether |
or not these "old Americans have dor |
mant possibilities superior to those of |
the children removed but one genera