47 8 



POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY, 



The persistence of a higher birth rate in these districts makes such 

 relief to an ever-increasing population necessary. Finally, why not 

 apply the same mode of proof to the artistic or literary attributes of 

 population? Turquan* has recently mapped the awards made by the 

 Salon, at Paris, according to the place of birth of the artist. We re- 

 produce this directly herewith, not because it proves anything racial- 

 ly, but because it might as well be adduced as proof of the artistic 

 bent of Teutonism in France as many another map above mentioned. 

 For, broadly viewed, the artistic instinct, measured by the canons 



of the Salon's judges, seems to cling persistently, as Turquan con- 

 cludes, to the fertile river basins, which are the great centers of 

 Teutonic populations. Nevertheless, we are convinced, despite the 

 geographical coincidence, that it is not the factor of race, but rather 

 of social environment, education, the inspiration of contiguous cul- 

 ture, which is really the responsible agent in the case. That it is not 

 race but rather circumstances which makes for these higher things 

 in civilization, we may, I think, prove, if we but include a number 

 of different countries within the purview of our comparisons. "We 

 are fortunate in possessing an artistic census of Italy, not incom- 



* La Statistique aux Salons, Revue Politique et Litteraire, Paris, sene 4, vi, 1896, pp. 

 207 seq. 



