NEW TYPES AMONG MEN 169 



times as many Jews as Negroes in New York, but in the higher 

 walks of life there must be a hundred Jews for one Negro. 



The difference between the Hebrew and the colored races is far 

 greater than the amount by which the average Jew excels the 

 average Negro. Few scientists would dare maintain that the Jews 

 as a whole average twice as capable as the Negroes. Yet today 

 and throughout most of history Jews have been tenfold, perhaps 

 a hundred- fold, more influential than colored men. Since in places 

 like New York the social and physical environment can play only 

 the smallest part in this contrast between the races, it seems as 

 if the difference must be due to the fact that the Hebrew race is 

 highly variable, while the Negro race goes to the opposite extreme 

 and displays great uniformity. 



The variability of the Hebrew race seems to manifest itself not 

 only in the number of unusually gifted men, but in the degree to 

 which the race as a whole appears to adapt itself to new environ- 

 ments. In order to understand this matter let us try to gain a 

 clear idea of the physical characteristics of the Jews. It is well 

 recognized that there are two main branches. The Ashkenazim 

 center chiefly in Poland and spread out to the neighboring parts 

 of Russia, Germany, and Austria, and even to Roumania and the 

 Caucasus. They form nearly nine tenths of the race. The other 

 branch is the Shephardim who center in Spain and Portugal, but 

 have spread to other Mediterranean countries as well as to Hol- 

 land and England. Among the Ashkenazim blond or red hair, 

 and gray or blue eyes are much more common than among their 

 Mediterranean brothers.* Speaking roughly about 20 per cent 

 belong to this type. The beard of the Ashkenazim is apt to be 

 shorter than that of the Shephardim, the body stouter, and the 

 general aspect less melancholy. An even more widespread quality 

 is that the heads of the northern Jews, that is, of the Ashkenazim, 

 are broader and have higher cheek-bones than those of the southern 

 Shephardim. So great is the difference that the Jews of the 

 Caucasus are uncommonly broad-headed, while those of North 



