SIXTH ROOT RACE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19168, 26 November 1927, Page 11

SIXTH ROOT RACE.

DEVELOPING IN NEW ZEALAND. DR. ANNIE BESANT'S VIEWS. {TROtI ODJt OWH CORRESrOHDENT.) LONDON, October 19. Dr. Annie Besant, the Theosophical leader, considers that some of the children of New Zealand are the forerunners of the next and sixth root race. "Up to the present," she said in a lecture, "this new race is being born mostly in California, but it is also becoming more conspicuous in New Zealand and in this country. "These children, who arc the forerunners of the sixth race, can be quite easily distinguished, both physically and mentally, from the average Aryan or fifth race, to which we belong and which comprise tho Teutonic races. "In America, where this new typo is officially recognised by the Society of Anthropology, experiments are being made, and children of the new type are placed in classes called 'swift ? ' while the average normal child is placed in classes called 'slow.' These children, with • their exceptionally clear-cut, rather Greek-like features, low broad foreheads, and pronounced chins, and their exceptionally quick mentality, which amounts to intuition —for it is unnecessary to explain points to them, as to the average child—are in every way about two and a half years in advance of the ordinary child. "These, I believe, are the forerunners of a new era. to whom the message of the new Teacher will appeal. I am afraid I have been altogether misunderstood on this subject of the New Messiah. But perhaps it will be better to let the Teacher's work and writings speak for themselves, andl in a few months a book of Mr Krishnamurti's poems, entitled 'Search,' will be published, which will show far more light on his work than anything I can say." A Spartan Lady. Dr. Besant, who is eighty years of age, has now gone back to India after lecturing in fourteen different Continental countries, as well as in London and the Provinces. "I get up every morning at G. 30," she told an interviewer, "and am hard at work all day. In India I get up earlier still —usually about 5 o'clock, because I hate wasting precious time." For this reason, too, Dr. Besant travels by air whenever possible. "After flying," she said, "the slowness and discomfort of trains appal me, and if there were an air service to India I should certainly go that way." Views of Educationalists. Educational authorities have been invited to give their opinions on Dr. Besant's statement' regarding the Sixth Root race. "As education goes on wc are getting a very good class of children, with a very good physique," said Dr. F. C. Shrubsall, senior medical officer to the London County Council. "They are bigger, heavier, and healthier than they were. You can see these children walking about and judge for yourself how much bigger they are than the previous generation. Without doubt elementary education is stiffer than it used to be, and we are getting a fine type of child for the scholarships. The kind of children who might once have reached the top standard at elementary schools

can now take advantage of the education at secondary and central schools. "You can definitely say that our children are growing beautiful," said another medical officer. "One of tho most important factors in the change is due to the women. Women are freer today to marry when and whom they like, and they are looking round for handsome typeß. Tho best type of woman is so often drawn to the man with the features of a Greek god. 'The truth of that was borne out by the fact' that tens of thousands of women were in love with tho photograph of the late Rudolph Valentino. They were in love with the face and not the man. This matter of the selection of the mate is becoming enormously important, Tho supei-child-, ren to whom Dr. Annie Besant alludes appear to.be an offshoot of the AngloSaxon race. They came from New Zealand, Australia, America, and England. Our experience leads me to tho conclusion that children's beauty is growing at a greater rate than their intelligence." . Dr. Besant's suggestion that these children would form a new race was derided bv an official of the Education Department at County Hall. "We have always had this problem of the children who are two and a half years ahead of the others," he said. "And, like the Americans, we have placed them in special classes. It would bo extremely difficult to .6ay that the standard of intelligence was improving. Intelligence test- are comparatively modern, but when wo have had them for a generation or so we may have some interesting evidence to furnish on the subject. Teachers who go to New Zealand under the interchange scheme," he added, "Jo not come back and tell us., how. much more intelligent the children are there, in spite of the lovely, conditions L. which the young generation of New Zealand is being reared."