THE HEIGHT OF GENIUS.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 775, 13 October 1922, Page 5

THE HEIGHT OF GENIUS.

ARE SHORT MEN THE CLEPEREST? Unless we happen to be discussing a prominent spotting person it is very rare that we sire informed of the height of the subject qf the conversation. Biographies do not make a note of this item ; veijy few per. sons can tell the height of their (favourite statesman, preacher or novelist, and yet we have a science closely identified With this data. Anthropometry, the study of human height, is Qf intense importance. it plays a g'reat part in the of human races and the development of man. So important is this science that there, exists an Anthropometrical Committee Df the British Association, simply to work wholly and entirely on this subject, But, despite ' this acknowledgment gravity, how many persons could tell what are heights of,, say. Ring George or Mr Lloyd George ? VeVy few would be able to answer the question definitely, and this is not strange. It is sometimes hard to discover what is the actual height of a prominent person. Even the great Napoleon Bonaparte has been variously suggested as sft 2in, sft lk 2 in, and less than sft 6in,. But the captain of the “Bellerophon.” where he sur.rendere himself, on measurement found him to be sft Tin, proving how vdry wide casual notice may be. Napoleon was one of those people who believed fin the outstanding abilities of the small man, thinking him the brainiest, and having the courage of his convictions, went so far as to select the shortest for the greatest tasks. MJr George would; then have been secure with the Great Little. ABILITY AND INCHES. What are the heights of our prominent men ? King George beats Bonapiyrte by half an inch, but he is not the shortest ruler the King of Italy being only sft 2in. King Albert qf Belgium is, of course, the tallest, being over 6ft —6ft 2in to be exact. Does ability go by height among our statesmen ? You know your choice, Test your theories. The Prime Minister is sft 6y 2 \in, Mr Asquith sft Bin Mi} A Chamberlain attains sft IlLjint, Mr Balfour is 6fit whilst Lord Curzon is 6ft lin/Tall men in tall jobs are the Bishop of London, who is sft 101 m, the Rev.' R. J. Campbell sft 9in, Sir EdwaVd Marchall Hall sft llin, and Sir Qiiver Lodge 6ft Sin. Mr Justice Darling is sft 7}4in, Sir J. M. Barrie sjft sir>. Earl Beatty sft 7in. showing in great distinction against* such stalwart as Earl Haig at 6ft, and Sir A. Conan Doyle who is 6ft lin, Amongst Sir Frank Dicksee is probably the taMest, bering 6ft Sir Wiilliam Orpen is only sft 7in ; whilst for actors Sir Herbetrc Tree tops the bill at 6ft The nearest approach to tnis appears to be Mr Arthur Bourchier, who is sft in. Musicians present the 'tallest and the shdrtest with Sir Edward Edgar (sft lOin) and Mr Edward German (sft 3in). A census of heights of our more prominent business men would probaly be enlightening, from the point Thomas Lipton. Lord! Riddeli!., and many others would help towards the benefaction qf humanity.