Greater enlightenment in the methods of their upbringing, together with superior sanitary arrangements of the domicile, no doubt tended largely towards effecting this change.
Small families being the rule, instead of the exception, it must be admitted that with a lesser number to provide for, greater care and comfort could be bestowed upon their offspring; so that the reduction of the birthrate had the effect of reducing the death-rate; this fact combined with increased longevity of the adult, quite doubled the average of human life.
The difference in dress between men and women was not great; the sexes were mostly distinguishable by the method of dressing their hair.
Men had ceased cutting their hair closely, for it was found that this practice materially injured its growth, and finally ended in making all the males bald before they were twenty years of age.
Specialists averred that the cause of the trouble arose from two sources. By constantly cropping the hair an unnatural stimulus was imparted to its growth, which quickly impoverished the hair follicles, and so brought about their early decay. Also, the scalp being unduly deprived of its natural covering of long hair was left an easy prey to every germ, or fungus that chose to make its home there. For these reasons men decided to wear their hair long, and usually kept it from six to twelve inches in length, in curls about their neck, which had the effect of giving them a very romantic appearance.
Women allowed their hair its full natural length, arranging it in coils and plaits, pretty much in the manner of the ancients.
At this time there were persons with fads who affected high art in gastronomical matters; preferring to patronise the food-chemist rather than the butcher and baker. Chemical foodstuffs for the supply of the waste of the various tissues of the body were arranged in pills and tabloids, the quantity allowed for a meal being printed on the label.
This practice however, failed to meet with anything approaching popular favour, for mankind still loved too well the pleasures of the table to give up a good dinner for a pill. For who would prefer a nitrogenous tabloid to the delicacies of the banquet, which form the necessary concomitants of the soul-inspiring nectars usually quaffed by the appreciative Teuton on every available occasion?
Indeed, to him the loss of the sensations of that comfort and satisfaction which follow a good meal was tantamount to bidding adieu to the most substantial pleasure of life.
Besides, their internal arrangements had something to say in the matter; and their utter collapse for want of some substance to keep them in position proved a warning to the daring experimenter.