THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 18 June 1932, Page 11

THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT

It. is often said Hint the tallest people ;re, found in Hie temperate zones, and the general idea is that Hie British and Hie Scandinavians are the tallest races in tlm world. The average height of English, Scots, and Scandinavians is the same. A fullgrown mail of each race averages sft 1 2-sllis in. in height. The Irish arc a fraction of an inch shorter, and the next are Danes and Belgians. In the matter of height the records are held by Zulus, Iroquois Indians, Polynesians, and Patagonians. The last, the tallest race in the world, average sft 10 l-Srd in. Laplanders, who reside almost on Hie Arctic circle, are Iho shortest race on earth. A grown man is only sevonI,on!lts of an inch over sft. R is clear enough that climate and latitude have nothing to do with height. Food and fresh air have more to do willi I lie development, of the individual than climate, as is proved by the fact that everywhere the farm labourer is taller than (lie artisan. A si l iking example is provided by iScol land, where Hie farm labourer is four inches taller and 36!b heavier than the average Glasgow artisan. Again, iho fishing population of Hie Yorkshire coast exceed I lie Sheffield workers by three inches in height and 2d J 1» in weight.