SfafiMfical fnrfsfu/utiomt 38t 



We now turn to the second niuinoir, |)ubliulie<l In 1890, entitled: Anthro- 

 pometric Lttbonitonj, Noten and Menwirs, No. T. This seems to have Ijeen 

 printed at (Julton's expense and was prohaldy sold (price 3</.) at the s<>cond 

 Anthro|)onietric Lalwratory in the Science Museum, South Kensington. The 

 pamphlet, now unpurchasahle, consists of four chapters, thirty-two paijea in 

 all. The first chapter l)ear8 for title: "Why do we mejisure manknid'?" 

 Galton first answers the supposed reader, who may say, "I do not care for 

 science, why then should I mt and be measured?" For this "very cynical 

 hut not quite imaginary sjKjaker" Galton writes as follows: 



"Tlio cost of boinjj nieiisurwl hiis Xteon provwl to amount to soiiietliiii^' iHJtwtH-n 3(/. unci I»., 

 and the real quoHtion is wliuther it is worth your wliilt^ to pnvii shillini; iit ii niiixiimiin to liave 

 yourself or your boys and girls measured." 



Galton indicates first the atlvantage to non-adults; given age, sex and 

 social position, we are able to tell them how they rank among their contem- 

 poraries. 



The value of testing sight is specially emphasised and it is pointed out 

 how a knowledge of mischief may lead to the removal of its source. Then 

 Galton notes how often colour-blindness has been discovered late in life and 

 after possibly a failure has been made in a profession where it is an al)6olute 

 bar. He cites the ca.se of a widow bringing a son of 18 years to the lalx>ra- 

 tory and getting (luite angry with him for his supposed stupidity in blundering 

 between reds and greens, quite unconscious that there was such a natural 

 incapacity as colour-blindness! 



It is then pointed out how important to an adult is a knowledge of his 

 strength and his vital capacity, and how valuable a warning may be, not only 

 in the selection of an occupation, but in the case of an incapacity arising from 

 uiu'ecognised causes. 



"A regi.ster of measurements resembles a well-kept account-book. It shows from time to time 

 the exact statt> of a mini's powers, as the account-book sliows that of his fortune. Whatever 

 may be whispered by the inner voices of vanity or of envy, no sane and experienced person can 

 doubt the enormous difference between the natural gifts of different men, whether in moral 

 power, in tiwte, in intellect, or in physical endowments. Those who have frequently pitted 

 thenisolves fairly against others, doing their very best to succeed, must have often known what 

 it is to be utterly beaten by their natural superiors. It is only those who have kept al(K>f 

 from contest who can pos.sibly flatter themselves with the belief that their failures are wholly 

 duo to circumstance and in no degree to natural inca|)ttcity. Such persons will quickly be 

 awakened from their self-couceit by submitting themselves to measurement and thereby ascer- 

 taining their exact rank in each several respect. They will be sure to receive a good moral lesson 

 from the results." (p. 8.) 



This passage explains to a considerable extent why Galton preferred the 

 method of grades to the use of frequency curves. He liked a system in which 

 the uninitiated could put his finger on a single niunber and say : "I am worse 

 than so many per cent, of men and better than so many per cent. " That is 

 what the method of Anthropometric Percentiles achieves and the fundamental 

 diagram reproduced on our p. 390 appeai-s on p. 23 of this reprint. 



' It also appears in Lippincotfg Magazine for February, 1890. 



