322 Stature of the Men of Roxburgh and Selkirk. 



applies to individuals may apply to communities and races. 

 Stature, no doubt, is largely a question of race ; and the 

 fact that in these islands there are several races — now getting 

 more and more mixed — is what, perhaps as much as anything 

 else, gives an interest to the comparative statistics of stature 

 in the several parts of the United Kingdom. But, when 

 every allowance has been made for exceptions, it may be 

 laid down, as a safe enough iafeneral proposition, that a race 

 of big men is better and more powerful than a puny or 

 stunted race, and therefore, if there be any suspicion of the 

 big race tending to degenerate or become stunted, it is a 

 matter deservintr of being carefully watched. Now, the 

 figures above given seem to indicate something more than 

 such a suspicion, and, as has been said, there is other 

 evidence of decadence in the physique, which could be pro- 

 duced. 



The Permanent Staff of the Volunteer Force having, for 

 some years past, been employed to recruit for the Regular 

 Army and the Militia, I had occasion to know something of 

 the difficulties connected with this matter in the Border 

 towns. At the best these have never been a good field for 

 recruiting, and it may perhaps not be the best men physically 

 who, as a rule, offer to enlist, but in these latter days, out 

 of those coming forward for enlistment at Galashiels and 

 Hawick, the proportion rejected as being below the very 

 moderate standard of height for Infantry of the line (5 feet 

 4 inches) and chest measurement (33 inches) was surprisingly 

 large. So much was this the case that the Sergeant-Instructor 

 at Galashiels came to be almost in despair of getting any 

 recruits for the army at all ; and he, being a highly intelligent 

 non-commissioned officer, who, as it happened, had an intimate 

 knowledge of the town from his boyhood, was very decided 

 in his opinion as to the falling off which had taken place 

 in the physique of the men in it. 



for their height — of the latter, while also generally over the middle height, 

 for bodily activity as well as smartness of appearance, this company being 

 more employed than any other in rapid movements in extended order. 

 The heau ideal of a " Light Bob" in those days was a well-made man of 

 from 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 or so. It is said to have been often 

 observed that under hardship and privation more men of the Grenadiers 

 were apt to break down than in the other companies of the Battalion. 



