The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1946-04-05
Working 1t Out


hair, eyes, bony structure, height, etc.
The head measurement is the most
important index and regarded by some
as the dividing line between the Nor
die races and the Alpine. Boas after
taking literally thousands of head
measurements in public schools point
ed out as early as 1910 that the round
headed Italian and Jewish children of
recent immigrants were less round
headed and more long-headed than
their parents, that in the same way
the German, Scandinavian, and Slavic
long headed types were, on measure
ment, more round-headed than their
parents, and that, in general, the two
groups tended to be quite close to-
gether on head measurements
Americans Have More Varied Diet
Boas pointed out early that there
is no such thing as pure race except
where there has been dangerous IN
breeding Long before Hitler was born,
Boas was making the scientific stud
les and publishing the scientific re-
ports which destroyed all validity of
Hitler's theory of Germanic superior
ity Professor Boas, when asked how
this change could come about in the
physical characteristics of races which
he recognized as being fundamental
races in Europe, pointed out that when
these people came to America they
began to eat alike with much more
varied diet, and that being offered
10
think alike and actually to have
change in the structure and growth
of the brain He concluded that the
combination of better and similar food
and more active opportunity to use
the brain centers brought about these
changes.
Every day shows evidences of this
growing likeness between Americans
of different racial backgrounds. A re-
cent book by Louis Adamic, "a Nation
of Nations" (Harper & Bros.) is very
stimulating and easy to read. He
points out what a slight influence
upon modern life the Plymouth Rock
and jamestown strains have in our
heritage. Mr.. Adamic's stories are in
teresting and colorful. He reports
many conversations in all parts of |
the country. The contributions of the |
Italian American, the Irish-American.
and the Spanish-American of the
Southwest are all laid out in stories
about them.
Equality Basis for Blending
1t is undoubtedly 'the idea" as Ad.
annie points out, "that every individ-
ual is equal to every other individual
in his natural rights" that has made
it possible for us to blend such diverse
racial and religious elements into a
national entity.
The cultural strains that come
through the grandfathers and great
from Ireland, from Fin
land, from Sweden, and from Spain
through Mexico have contributed many
rich and varying elements to our in
tellectual and cultural life. We have
become music-loving people. But the
early New Englanders and Southeast ;
erners hardly had any music at all.
The Germans and Italians and Jews
began to come from Europe in the
late 18th century. They brought with
them not only the love of music but ;
understanding of it's language and skill {
in performance. 1t is they who made
it possible for us to develop our great
orchestras and to build up in many
cities programs of concerts and even
grand opera. The effect of the Ameri-
can negro on our general musical I'M
1erstanding and capacity to sing has
been very great.
America is an idea to immigrant
people when they come here. An idea
If security An idea of justice and ,
mercy. An idea of every man being
This idea they hold in COM ,
non with the older stocks who came
mostly from the British Isles. 1t is the 6
dea that makes the national unity. !