The existence
of this objective element in beauty is confirmed by the fact that it is
sometimes found that the men of the lower races admire European women more
than women of their own race. There is reason to believe that it is among
the more intelligent men of lower race--that is to say those whose
aesthetic feelings are more developed--that the admiration for white women
is most likely to be found.
"Mr. Winwood Reade," stated Darwin, "who has had ample
opportunities for observation, not only with the negroes of the
West Coast of Africa, but with those of the interior who have
never associated with Europeans, is convinced that their ideas of
beauty are, _on the whole_, the same as ours; and Dr. Rohlfs
writes to me to the same effect with respect to Bornu and the
countries inhabited by the Pullo tribes. Mr. Reade found that he
agreed with the negroes in their estimation of the beauty of the
native girls; and that their appreciation of the beauty of
European women corresponded with ours.... The Fuegians, as I have
been informed by a missionary who long resided with them,
considered European women as extremely beautiful .
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