Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-12-27
Migratory Men
BY Frederic ]. Hask1s
Washington. d. C.. Dec. 2s.-Witb the


Washington, d. c., Dec. 26.--Witb the
holiday season over there VIII now begin
the great and ever growing annual mi-
grafton Of that strange mammal, Homo
Americanus. from the northern 10 the
southern end of his range. All the way
from North Carolina to the equator,
hotel Keepers. guides, and numerous other
dictionaries who batten on the tourist
are getting ready for the rush that always
comes in the early part OF January.
IL used tn be bad form TO write about
this great annual American movement,
because il was railroad advertising. But
nnw that the railroads are for the tirne
being, and probably will be at least until
spring, in the hands of the government,
and since they are now earning prohe
for the American people, according to
the railroad administration, it should be
patriotic and tnck-saving cnterprise 10
boost the southern migration.
IL really needs neither boosting nor
excuse. In migrating southward IN the
winter and northward, upward or sea
ward in the summer, the American foi-
lows sound animal instinct, according
10 the scientists. He gains in energy and
length of life. This is particularly true OF
what we call the typical American--that
is the rather tall man or woman with ratf-
CT light hair nnd eyes Of the old American
stock This person is really IN animal OFT
its native range, say the nnthropolog1sts.
This typical American is Of Nordic stock,
and is native 10 cool, damp. cloudy re-
gions II does not stand extreme heat
nj all we'll. but neither If it naturally
adapted tn extreme cold, for most OF lts
natural range is affected by ocean currents
which prevent extremes Of temperatures.
The darker type Of American usually,
though not always OF later immigration,
showing Mediterranean or Semitic blood,
is much better qualified to stand tho ex-
tremes OF heat which the atrocious cll-
mate OF the eastern seaboard includes,
than is the blond type; but the brlnetts, II
even less qualified for enduring the ex-
trernes of mid-winter cold.
Finally, nil mankind, Of whatever rare
or shade, is badly in need Of midwinter
vacation Of some kind, whether il be
trip tn Hawaii or merely few days of
10 loaf and relax. For it has been proved
bv scientific test that the short cold days
cause mn actual decrease of human energy.
At this time Of year, all nature tends 10
slow down. The sap IN trees runs slow,
many animals hibernate and many others
do so partially, FISH bury themselves ia
the mud, insect life passes into the CO
coon stage Sorne primitive races Of men
living In very cold climates undergo sort
of partial Information And most human
beings are aware Of n slowing down,
snnse OF incrtia, need for moro sleep. II
this warning of nature is not needed, the
machIna tends 20 crack under the strain.
Hence the great amount Of sickness at
this time Of the year One scientist Gays
that we really need winter vacations
much more than we need gumrner vscs~
sIpns.
A brief rect is the t~st thaf noet NJ ms
can hope for The trouble With the south
| ern migration ~ that il takes lsisure and
money. The number of persons IN America
who have both is surprising; bdt the num-
Der who have very little OF either Is still
more 81. And il is the members Of this
/ majority who most need the chzngs and
/ rest.
/ There fs, however, growing oOntxn gnns
| Of the not-eo-pealtby vho move south
ward IN the winter The enterprise really
| requires leisure more than wealth. TACT
proved by the large number Of boboes who
/ never miss their vacations IA the 1Inny
south.
There arc quite few hotIseboats on the
i Mississippi whose owners are AS far from
/ the plutocrst class as they are from that
/ OF vaeabonds, which move annually from
! theDeigL borhood Of Minnea polls 10 that Of
] New Orleans The current pays all the
i mileage on the way down, and usually q
small motorboat Iaborlotisiy propels the
craft back Lucky is the individual who
! has a trade or profession that viii enable
! him 70 lead such a delightfully."- vagrant
j lifel A good many litneys are seen moving
! southwsrd AZ this time OF the year too,
/ and their battered and spattsred apps az
ance and the camp outfits strapped 70 the
running boards are eloquent testimony
/ that they belong to the sort of people
who have good time without being mLl-
/ honaires.
HARFTCAL MIGRANTS.
II tbe United States. with it's Inzts bic
| climate. IS poor one for the perpetual
/ stay-at-horne, IT = an exceptionally good
/ one for the habitlal migrant. He can md
IT in any tenpersture and anv shade of
+ climate that he wants. The New Yorker