WCP2525

[1]

Yale University

Department Of

Geological Sciences

Peabody Museum

New Haven, Connecticut

October 29, 1913.

Dr. A. R. Wallace,

Broadstone, Wimborne,

Dorset, England.

Dear Sir:

May I ask your cooperation in the preparation of a map showing the distribution of the higher elements of civilization throughout the world! My purpose is to prepare a map which shall show the distribution of those characteristics which are generally recognized as of the highest value. I mean by this the power of initiative, the capacity for formulating new ideas and for carrying them into effect, the power of self-control, high standards of honesty and morality, the power to lead and to control other races, the capacity for disseminating ideas, and other similar qualities which will readily suggest themselves. These qualities find expression in high ideals, respect for law, inventiveness, ability to develop philosophical systems, stability and honesty of government, a highly developed system of education, the capacity to dominate the less civilized parts of the world, and the ability to carry out far-reaching enterprises covering long periods of time and great areas of the earth's surface.

In preparing such a map it is evident that statistics may afford much assistance. but they need to be supplemented. They touch only upon material things in most cases, and none are available for a large part of the world. Therefore, our best resource is the personal opinion of competent judges. Accordingly, I am asking a hundred geographers, anthropologists, and other persons of wide knowledge whether they are willing to take the time to divide the regions indicated in the accompanying list into ten groups according to the criteria [2] mentioned above. Group 10 will include regions of the very highest character, that is, those where the greatest number of valuable qualities are found in high degree. Group 1 will include those which are lowest in these respects. On the basis of this grouping I shall determine the average position of each region and shall prepare a map accordingly. The purpose of such a map is three-fold. In the first place it will prove intrinsically interesting to a large number of people, and is likely to arouse considerable discussion. In the second place, in all geographical, historical, sociological, and economic discussions it seems to me that we need a clearer, stronger emphasis upon human character, that is, upon the mental and moral qualities which dominate the civilisation of the various nations. If this is so, it is highly important, in the third place, that we should deter- mine much more fully than has yet been the case how far various moral and mental qualities are influenced by physical environment, race, historical development, biological variations, and other causes. In order to determine these things we need a map which shall serve at least approximately as a standard of reference. In discussing the influence of such things as racial character, differences of religion, social institutions, modern means of communication, the form of the land, the relation of land and sea, variations of climate and the like, we shall be able to gain much light by comparing their distribution with that of human character as it now exists according to a consensus of expert opinion.

The matter can best be illustrated by outlining a specific purpose to which I mean at once to apply the preposed map. From two factories in Connecticut I have procured the records of each day's work of two hundred and fifty individuals for a period of a year, some being in 1910, others in 1911 and 1912.

[3] From these records I have computed the average efficiency under different conditions of weather. It appears that, even though these people were working in well warmed factories, their rate of work varied in response to the outside temperature. The curve of efficiency is very low at temperatures of -15°C. or less. It rises slowly at first and then rapidly to about 10° above zero. Then the rise is slow to a maximum at 14°. From this maximum it falls fairly rapidly to about 25° and then veryrapidly as the highest temperatures are approached. The curve has the same general form as that which has been accurately determined for the growth of plants, although of course it ranges into lower temperatures, for plants make very little growth until a temperature of 3° or 4° above zero is reached. The curve of plant growth, like that of the efficiency of human beings, shows a slow increase at first, followed by rapid increase, then slight increase to a maximum at 27°C, followed by a rapid decline. From the curve of human efficiency in reference to temperature and from others showing the effect of certain other climatic elements I propose to make a map of the world showing how human efficiency would be distributed if all the world were inhabited by people like these two hundred and fifty, and if climate were the chief influence affecting their rate of work. A comparison of this climatic map of efficiency with the map in which I ask your cooperation ought to prove most interesting, both by its agreements and disagreements. So far as the climatic data have yet been analyzed they seem to suggest that proper attention to the conditions which they indicate may do much not only to increase the efficiency of large numbers of people, but to enable the same amount of work to be done with much less strain upon the workers. I recognize that those to whom this letter is sent will say at once, that they are not sufficiently familiar with all parts of the world, and that they have no means of distinguishing between different parts of China, for example, or between the different portions of equatorial Africa. This is certainly true, but it must be [4] remembered that the classification is very rough. It is only desired that the one hundred and eighty-five names on the enclosed list be divided into ten groups, no group to contain less than fifteen names or more than twenty-one, and each preferably to contain eighteen or nineteen. It may not be easy to determine whether all of the divisions of France, for example, fall in the first group, but it is perfectly evident that none of them will fall in the fifth or lower. The chief thing is to place them as nearly as possible in their proper group according to one's own personal opinion. A given region may properly fall in the fifth group, but the purpose of this classification will not be defeated if it is placed in either the fourth, fifth, or sixth, for when the opinions of one hundred persons are averaged, individual idiosyncrasies will disappear. In view of the varying degrees to which each individual is familiar with the different regions of the world, I should be glad if each contributor would underline the names of regions with which he is well acquainted either by travel or reading, and would place question marks after the names of regions as to which his knowledge is especially deficient. Names not underlined or questioned will be considered as intermediate. The three grades of familiarity thus indicated will be weighted in the ratios of 3, 2, 1. The grade of the various regions should be indicated by underlining or questioning the names upon the small slips mentioned below, but may be done upon the accompanying list if that is more convenient, but in that case please be sure return the list. For convenience of classification I enclose slips containing the names of the different divisions. These may be spread out upon a table and arranged in ten columns and shifted from column to column until an approximately satisfactory arrangement is reached. When thus arranged those of each column should be placed in the corresponding envelope of the ten here enclosed, and all may be mailed in the large addressed envelope. Envelope ten is for the highest group, and one for the lowest.

[5] In making the classification, one or two points need to be borne in mind. In the first place the past should not be considered: Greece, for example, should be placed in the group where its condition during the past one hundred years would place it without reference to its ancient greatness. In the second place, if two races inhabit a given region, both must be considered, and the rank of the region must depend upon the average of the two, giving each one a weight proportional to the number of people. For instance in a state such as Georgia where nearly half the people are negroes, they must receive half the weight. Still another point is that the rank of a country can often be determined by considering the position which its people take when they migrate elsewhere. For instance the position of Syrians as compared with Germans when they migrate to England or the United States is a fair criterion as to the relative merits of the two races. After the first generation, however, this should not be applied, for the younger generation owes much of what it is to the new country. A final point concerns countries which are poor in natural resources, or which are not located in the main centers of the world's activity, but which are nevertheless of high character. For example, so far as importance in the affairs of the world is concerned England vastly outranks Scotland. Nevertheless our estimate of the greatness of England owes much to the large number of Scotchmen who have gone out to build up the British Empire. Therefore, in estimating the relative merits of Scotland and England, the matter of size or even of commercial importance should receive relatively little consideration, whereas the character and ability of the people as rulers, merchants, scientists, writers, and men of all sorts should have a predominating weight.

In publishing the final results I should be glad if I might print the names of those who have contributed, but of course this must be as each individual may choose. The individual lists will not be published, and will be treated as confidential. I judge that other contributors will feel, as I do, that their classifications are of necessity so imperfect that they do not care to distribute them to [6] the world at large. Hence while the list of contributors will be published unless the contributors prefer otherwise, their individual opinions will be withheld. I hope, however, to publish a list showing the average rank of each country and the range of opinion between those who put it highest and those who put it lowest. Inasmuch as the plan here outlined depends upon the cooperation of many contributors, no single individual can in any respect be held responsible for features of the final map which do not meet his approval. The rough grouping here suggested ought not to take more than a few hour's time. Many days. to be sure, might be devoted to it, but the added accuracy thus gained would not be sufficient to make it worth while. If you can give the necessary time at your earliest convenience I shall be most grateful. If you cannot, would you be willing to return the list, the slips, and the envelopes in order that I may ask someone else to do it in your place! Whether you contribute or not, I shall take pleasure in sending you copies of the final results. Trusting that I may

hear from you soon,

I am | Very truly yours, | Ellsworth Huntington [signature]

PS: May I add a word to express my high appreciation of you many contributions to science and especially my admiration for the originality of thought which you continue to display. It is that which makes me especially desirous of your cooperation.