The New York herald., 1922-06-18

ing tnan you would dream or
"Then there is another point to con-
sidef .f you include among the under
sized girls of to-day those of the
golden spoon class, and that is the
survival of the sickly. The power Of
wealth can keep alive and nourish
through to manhood and womanhood
children who would not have been
able to pull through If they had been
born to humber station. The weak
,::::.ss7 of the wealthy, kept alive by
science and care. lower the physical
average of this group. while there is
no such condition figuring in the equa-
ton OF the poor.
Industrial work is another impedi-
ment to the best physical growth of
the people. Girls who are employed
in factories where the work necessi-
tates maintaining one position prac-
tically all day cannot develop as they
should. Such work stunts them, to
what extent I cannot say offhand. but
statistics show that this Is a fact.
And when you think of the thousands
of girls employed in factories right
here in the city and in the outlying
tion to the 'runty' race question.
Where the work is varied this is
not so much the case. But long,
steady hours Of employment in build
ings where the workers are without
proper physical relaxation through the
day is bound to arrest the growth of
employees"
The natural change in muscular tis-
sue causes the body to grow. DR.. Wood
explained, and he emphasized the need
for wholesome exercise and proper
nourishment to bring about this
structural development.
But would steady factory work also
keep the height DOWN." we asked.
Certainly" he replied. You can
not reach normal size. given fair
start, unless you cooperate with ma
ture. Factory work followed for
long period will eventually reduce the
normal height. 1t will prevent the in
dividual from attaining her natural
stature. And if this is normally some
what under the average the change
produced is even more striking.
TOO much cannot be said about the
Importance of proper nourishment.
We have made vast strides forward in
recognized as essential to the best de-
velopment of the human race. 1t Is
followed in institutions and elsewhere
where there are large numbers of per-
sons to feed. Families are adopting
the program, but it has not become
universal. There are many Of the
working families to whom ii is still
an unknown quantity.
"To refer again to the foreign ele-
ment in our city, let us consider the
various nationalities represented The
majority are of small build. They are
usually the poorest in their native
countries. They come here without
having had fair start at home and
they almost invariably drift into a
type of work that limits their natural
expansion. They do not reproduce
stalwart sons and daughters"
Foreign Nations Send
II Small and Poor Specimens
This statement leads to the question
whether New York. which is thickly
peopled with immigrants from south
ern Europe. is unique in it's "runty"
girls. Are those States in which the
men and women of the northern coun-
tries settle producing a taller genera
ton?
Investigation of the immigrant sit
uation shows that by far the greater
number of men and women who have
come to America within the last few
years have preferred to remain in or
near New York. That accounts for
one group of "runts."
But what about the college girl?
Is she fulfilling the promise of a
decade or more ago when statistics
were sent broadcast to show that the
intellectual type was a finer, more
Junoesque specimen of womanhood?
Dr. Wood is Of the opinion that the
stature of the average college girl has
not decreased; on the contrary. he be-
lieves that it has increased, if any
thing. and certainly 1t has held it's
own. He was emphatic in stating that
there has been no noticeable influence
of "runtiness" In the classes of girls
graduated within the last few years.
glance over gathering of girls
numbering close to two hundred
marching in to receive their degrees
did not seem to confirm this belief
Among all those girls in somber cap
and gown less than half dozen Of
more than usual height could be sin
gled out. And their towering figures,
measuring five feet ten. perhaps. but
served to emphasize the dwarfishness
of the remaining graduates.
The Midget Type Seen
Prevailing I'm College Girls
There were scores or girls ap-
preaching the midget type. If they
hadn't been fun fedged b. AS you