Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 71.djvu/169

Rh daughters whose feet are bound. At Peking a newspaper for women has been established, edited by a Chinese woman; one of its objects is the teaching of hygiene. Another recent imperial edict forbids the smoking of opium in China.

The present world-wide agitation against child labor is another suggestive fact which points toward a physical millenium. Child labor laws have been very generally enacted. In New Zealand all employed women and children have been placed under strict legal protection. The strictest child labor law in the world probably has been enacted in that country.

In the new Japan, physical excellence is part of their religion; it is demanded by Bushido, their moral code, and by patriotism. The feeble of body among the Samurai will not marry. Dr. Griffis informs us in "The Mikado's Empire," that by means of physical reconstruction of the whole people, through improved hygienic and preventive measures against disease and wounds, Japan in 1904 has become a new nation. As compared with their status in 1870, they have been raised to the fifth power. At the same time, the soldiers have increased remarkably in stature, while the recruits ia the English army have deteriorated in physique, owing presumably to intemperance and vicious living.

The Turners' societies in America are constantly growing in numbers and influence. Their first normal school of gymnastics was organized in 1861. Over sixty per cent, of their members enlisted in the Union armies, and the financial resources of the gymnastic societies and of the female auxiliaries were taxed to the utmost in aiding the families of their members who were in the army and in caring for the widows and orphans of those who had been killed. Every member of a turnverein is required to become a naturalized citizen of the United States. As Ling in Sweden and Jahn in Prussia organized their gyro.nastic societies from motives of patriotism, so, as we have just seen, the Turners in the United States were organized. At present they have 237 unions with about 40,000 members, and stand for all that is best in government, education, morals and good citizenship. The basis of their work is a sound physical education.

The growing interest in humaniculture can not truthfully be said to be due to a passing fashion. On the contrary, it is a part of a mighty movement, and like other great movements in human evolution, it is worthy of serious study. Not simply in its more obvious relations, but in its bearing upon other movements and other influences in human progress. As man is now advancing, in self discipline, in