AMERICAN ENVIRONMENT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 729, 31 January 1910, Page 6

AMERICAN ENVIRONMENT.

■EFFECT, ON NATIONAL. TYPES. ■ •:'A new type of American is-being :de!veloped. among immigrants, according, to a Government report, which is issued as the result : of■ investigations by on immi-' gration commission, at'the head of which was Professor Boas, of Columbia University. . The report Bays:— ... •..'■'. /"There is a rapid-'change in the characteristics of .immigrants soon after arrival.- . Children bom even a few years after : the arrival of- their .parents. show essential differences as:'compared with their European parentage. These differences develop during:their earliest years,' and persist, through life."-' Every, part of ,the body is influenced,, even the shape of the head, which'has always been considered to be the most permanent hereditary ■'.- characteristic. : American-born children ' are long-headed; Sicilians are roundrhcaded; East European Hebrewß have nearly the same form of intermediate .shaped head.' . Similar -changes are to be noticed-in the -faces." The report' conoludes:—"This indicates the conclusion : that> racial - and physical characteristics do not survive under their new American climatic and social environment. If an American environment causes an assimilation of,-head forms in the ;first generation,; may.; it not be that other characteristics are as easily modified, and may .there not occur, a, rapid assimilation of widely varying nationalities to ' something that, may. well 'be called . the American type?:'.-: ■ The investigations of. the commission are: not yet concluded. ■•■■ A stqdy of Bohemians, Hungarians, ■ and- Scots' people is now being made." ;;"" , ii ■