It has long been a widespread belief that short people are sexually attracted to tall people, and tall people to short; that in the matter of stature men and women are affected by what Bain called the “charm of disparity.”  It has not always prevailed.  Many centuries ago Leonardo da Vinci, whose insight at so many points anticipated our most modern discoveries, affirmed clearly and repeatedly the charm of parity.  After remarking that painters tend to delineate the figures that resemble themselves he adds that men also fall in love with and marry those who resemble themselves; “chi s’innamora voluntieri s’innamorano de cose a loro simiglianti,” he elsewhere puts it.[171] But from that day to this, it would seem Leonardo’s statements have remained unknown or unnoticed.  Bernardin de Saint-Pierre said that “love is the result of contrasts,” and Schopenhauer affirmed the same point very decisively; various scientific and unscientific writers have repeated this statement.[172]

So far as stature is concerned, there appears to be very little reason to suppose that this “charm of disparity” plays any notable part in constituting the sexual ideals of either men or women.  Indeed, it may probably be affirmed that both men and women seek tallness in the person to whom they are sexually attracted.  Darwin quotes the opinion of Mayhew that among dogs the females are strongly attracted to males of large size.[173] I believe this is true, and it is probably merely a particular instance of a general psychological tendency.

It is noteworthy as an indication of the direction of the sexual ideal in this matter that the heroines of male novelists are rarely short and the heroes of female novelists almost invariably tall.  A reviewer of novels addressing to lady novelists in the Speaker (July 26, 1890) “A Plea for Shorter Heroes,” publishes statistics on this point.  “Heroes,” he states, “are longer this year than ever.  Of the 192 of whom I have had my word to say since October of last year, 27 were merely tall, and 11 were only slightly above the middle height.  No less than 85 stood exactly six feet in their stocking soles, and the remainder were considerably over the two yards.  I take the average to be six feet three.”

As a slight test alike of the supposed “charm of disparity” as well as of the general degree in which tall and short persons are sought as mates by those of the opposite sex I have examined a series of entries in the Round-About, a publication issued by a club, of which the president is Mr. W.T.  Stead, having for its object the purpose of promoting correspondence, friendship, and marriage between its members.  There are two classes, of entries, one inserted with a view to “intellectual friendship,” the other with a view to marriage.  I have not thought it necessary to recognize this distinction here; if a man describes his own physical characteristics and those of the lady he would like as a friend,