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0445 The Pulse of Asia : vol.1
アジアの鼓動 : vol.1
The Pulse of Asia : vol.1 / 445 ページ(カラー画像)

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doi: 10.20676/00000233
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by geographic environment, why is not Rome as great to-day
as in the past? Or why has Persia, which once shared many
of the virtues of ancient Rome, now become one of the most
degenerate of nations? I do not underrate the influence
which growing wealth and luxury doubtless exerted. They
were due in part to the growth of commerce, and in that
respect were geographic. A more potent cause, especially
in the case of Rome, was the invasion of barbarians, due
apparently, as various writers have suggested, to changes
of climate. Another possibility, applicable particularly to
Persia, is illustrated by a story told by Malcolm. An Eng-
lish resident in Persia fell into a discussion with a neighbor
there over the native habit of lying. He insisted that lying
was a sin.

"It is all very well for the English to say that," replied
the Persian. "But the fact is, they cannot tell lies and we
can. It is entirely a matter of climate."

"In that case, Persians ought to speak the truth," said the
Englishman. "One of the ancient Greek historians declared
that Persians were remarkable for telling the truth."

"That is very true," said the native. "But who does not
know that the climate of a country changes entirely in two
thousand years?"

Humorous as the story is, I believe that it expresses an
important truth. Dexter, in his book on "Weather Influ-
ences," has made a careful study of the influence of various
meteorological conditions upon the conduct of school-
children, upon the occurrence of crime, and upon the num-
ber of errors made by bank clerks. His investigations were
made in New York and Denver. His results confirm the