54 



AMERICAN MEN OF LETTERS 



[54 



The second of the five tables considered under the subject 

 of geographic environment (Table IX), shows the region 

 of birth of literati, classified according to rank. It appears 

 that the northern states have produced more persons of 

 talent than have those of the south. The figures also show 

 that both New England and the Elast North Central states 

 produced unusually large proportions of literati of talent. 



Standing by themselves, the foregoing figures might seem 

 inconclusive. They are borne out, however, by results pre- 



TABLE X 



duction of prominent citizens by different sections of the country. Cf. 

 James McKeen Cattell, American Men of Science (New York, 1910) ; 

 George R. Davies, " A Statistical Study in the Influence of Environ- 

 ment," Quarterly Journal of the University of North Dakota, vol. iv, 

 no. 3 ; and Scott Nearing, " The Geographic Distribution of American 

 Genius," Popular Science Monthly, vol. 85, p. 189. 



^ Not given when very few persons are concerned, for the ratio 

 would be spuriously accurate and therefore misleading. The totals in 

 these columns are based on the complete absolute figures. 



