XPost: rec.arts.books.tolkien   
   From: pvstownsend.zyx.abc@ntlworld.com   
      
   sean_q set the following eddies spiralling through the space-time continuum:   
      
   > My answer: they have been! Once the Vitamin D deficiency problem   
   > was resolved, Hobbits gradually regained the "natural" body height   
   > and physique of Men   
      
   With all the other attendant changes that go with larger size - primarily a   
   somewhat shorter lifespan. Ever-earlier puberty meant that the notion   
   of "coming of age" at 33 had to be regularly revised downwards.   
   --   
   ξ:) Proud to be curly   
      
   Interchange the alphabetic letter groups to reply   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)