The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-27
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC j. HAsKIN. Director.
Washington, d. c.
MIGRATORY MEN.

MEN.
/ Washington, d. c, Dec. 2S.-With
the holiday season over there will now
begin the great ever-growing annual
migration of that strange mammal.
homo Americans, from the northern
to the southern end of his range. All
the way from North Carolina to the
equator, hotel Keepers, guides and
numerous other functionaries who fat
ten on the tourist are getting ready
for the rush that always comes in the
early part of January.
1t used to be bad form to write
about this great annual American
4 movement, because it was railroad ad-
vertising. But now that the railroads
are for the time being, and probably
will be at least. until spring. in the
! hands OF the government, and since
they are now earning a profit for the
/ American people, according to the rail-
! road administration. it should be 4
patriotic and tax-saving enterprise to
boost the southern migration.
| 1t really needs neither boosting nor
excuse. In migrating southwark in the
winter and northward, upward or sea-
ward in the summer. the American
follows sound animal instinct, ac-
) cording to the scientists. He gains in
energy and length of life. This is par
ticularly true of what we call the
typical American-that is the rather
4
hair and eyes OF the old American
STOCK. This person is really an animal
OH Its native range, say the anthropol-
ogists. This typical American is of
Nordic stock, and is native to cool.
damp, cloudy regions. 1t does not
stand extreme heat. at all we'll but
neither is it naturally adapted to ex-
treme cold. for most of its natural
range is affected by ocean currents
WHICH prevent extremes of tempersz
ture.
The darker type of American usual
~, tho not always of later. immigra
ton, showing Mediterranean or Semi
nc blood, is much better qualified to
stand the extremes of heat which the
atrocious climate of the eastern sea-
board includes. than is the blond
type; but the brunette is Nven less
qualified for enduring the extremes of
midwinter cold.
Finally. all mankind, of whatever
race or shade. is badly in need of mid
winter vacation of some kind. whether
1t DE a trip to Hawaii or merely a few
days off to loaf and relay. For 1t has
been proved by scientific test that the
short cold days cause an actual de-
crease of human energy. At this time
or year, all nature tends to slow down.
Ihe sap in trees runs slow, many ami
mails hibernate and many other do so
partially. fish bury themselves in the
mud, insect life passes into the cocoon
stage. Some primitive races of men
living in very cold climates undergo a
sort of partial Information. And most
human beings are aware of slowing
down, sense of inertia. a need for
more sleep. If this warning of nature
is not needed. the machine tends to
crack under the strain. Hence the
great amount of sickness at this time
OF the year One scientist says that
we really need winter vacations much
more than we need summer vacations
a brief rest is the best that most of
US can hope for The trouble with |
the southern migration is that it takes
leisure and money. The number of 1
persons in America who have both is {
surprising; but the number who have
very little of either is still more So /
And it is the members of this majority |
who most need the change and rest.
There is. however. a growing con-
tingent of the wealthy who /
move southY ard in the winter. The /
enterprise really requires leisure more !
large number of hoboes who never |
miss their vacations in the sunny /
south.
There are quite a few houseboats |
on the Mississippi whose owners are
as far from the plutocrat class as they !
move annually from the neighborhood
of Minneapolis to that of New Orleans.
The current pays all the mileage on
the way down, and usually a small
laboriously propeIs the
craft back. Lucky is the individual l
who has a trade or profession that i
will enable him to lead such a de-
vagrant life. A good manyI
titneXs are seen moving southwark at
this time of the year. too, and their /
battered and spattered appearance
and the camp outfits strapped to the
running boards are eloquent testimony
that they belong to the sort of people
who have good time without being
If the United States, with its un-
stable climate, is a poor one for the
perpetual stay-at-home. it is an ex-
ceptionally good one for the habitual !
migrant. He can find in it any tenn
perature and any shade of climate that
he wants. The New Yorker can take /
a fast train one day and get off the |
next morning in North Carolina in an
entirely different climate-cool, but
never cold-where he can golf and
hunt and sit out of doors in the sun
without discomfort. He will enjoy the
best of New York September weather.
If he Graves real summer he must
keep on southwark to Palm Beach or
some of the other far south resorts
where he can bathe in the surf and
blister his skin just as hNdid at home
a few months before.
The south affords an amazing va
riety of accommodations and social en-
too. The most elaborate
Observation-Disclosures
In ~A