Are Racial Traits Fixed? 215 



Temperamental differences among the races are at the 

 extremes just as marked as physical traits. Compare the 

 stolid American Indian with the mercurial African negro, 

 the even-tempered Mongolian with the emotional Irishman. 

 In ancient times these temperamental differences among the 

 races were recognized by travelers, and mankind was some- 

 times divided into four races corresponding to the four hu- 

 mors of Hippocrates — the sanguine, the choleric, the bilious, 

 and the melancholic. It is obvious that individuals of all tem- 

 peraments are to be found among the members of any one 

 race, such as the whites for example. There is, however, an 

 increasing body of evidence to establish a definite association 

 between bodily traits and the emotional characteristics. It is 

 very probable that intellectual qualities are also associated with 

 physical traits other than the characteristic size and form of 

 the brain. 



In addition to the difficulty of defining races so as to 

 separate distinct types, is the further problem of disposing 

 of numerous human stocks that have become isolated at 

 various times in the past, and that present today confusing 

 loose ends which do not let themselves to be classified at all. 

 There are the hairy Ainus of Japan, the Indian Veddahs, the 

 Eskimos, the Negrillos of Africa, the Laps in Europe, the Si- 

 berians in Asia, the Negritos in the Pacific islands, and several 

 minor groups. These isolated groups are in most cases living 

 under conditions that are rather extreme and difficult, so that 

 they are not exposed to conflict with covetous neighbors. On 

 the other hand, while they are able to maintain themselves 

 under difficult conditions, there is neither the stimulation to 

 effort that might lead to improvement of their lot, nor the 

 margin of leisure and energy that might lead to the cultiva- 

 tion of the higher human capacities. 



Are Racial Traits Fixed? 



The largest body of systematic study of races for over 

 a hundred years had to do with measurements and propor- 



