74 HEREDITY AND SOCIAL FITNESS 



extra dollar from the storekeeper. When 1 1 1-50 promises an even 

 exchange of grain, say rye for oats, he has been known to substitute a 

 bag of chaff. All this is allowed, apparently on the principle that the 

 community would have to help them out a little in any case, and it 

 might as well do it in this manner as in any other. The wife's memory 

 for recent dates is excellent. Their children are : 



IV-130, born 1882, died 1911, pulmonary tuberculosis. Her defects 

 were apparent from early childhood, showing in her voice and facial 

 expression. Her body developed normally, although the head remained 

 rather small. She showed herself indolent, gluttonous, and liable to 

 bursts of temper; was not able to feed or dress herself properly. Could 

 not learn to distinguish form or anything more than the most pro- 

 nounced colors, such as red, blue, white; could not count to 50 or spell 

 more than a few very simple words. Articulation so poor she was 

 unable to speak a word of two syllables. At school sat and grimaced 

 most of the time, and at home ran the roads, smoked, and played with 

 matches. As she grew older consorted with tramps or any wayfarer 

 who chanced to come by. Placed in the custody of the director of the 

 poor and in 1897 was committed to the Institution for Feeble-Minded, 

 Polk, Pennsylvania. Her medical examination revealed no marked 

 physical abnormality except myopia and internal strabismus of both 

 eyes, with some chronic condition of pharyngitis. Classified as a mid- 

 grade imbecile; without educational attainments. Placed in school 

 but made very little progress. Never learned to sew or work in bas- 

 ketry. She pared vegetables for the meals and later confined her 

 efforts to dry-scrubbing. Disposition quiet, inclined to peevishness. 

 Passive type of defective. Got into trouble mainly at the instigation 

 of others. In 1909 had an attack of pneumonia; in 1910 had a second 

 attack of pneumonia; in 1911 declared to be tubercular. Died June 

 1911. The funeral of this young woman appears to have been the 

 crowning social event of her career. From an earlier attitude of fear 

 and antagonism, the parents have come to regard their children's 

 detention at the Institution as a social distinction, and regale their 

 neighbors and friends with marvelous tales of their importance in the 

 economy of the place. The arrival of the daughter's body was the 

 signal for a great gathering of the Rufer clans, the occasion being 

 marked by much floral display, drinking, animated discussion which 

 amounted at times to quarreling and fighting, further enlivened by 

 numerous epileptiform attacks on the part of the bereaved mother. 

 Still the event passed off without serious mishap, leaving nothing but 

 the tale of its departed glories and the unpaid bill of the undertaker. 



IV-131, stillbirth about 1885. 



IV-132, born about 1887, died about 1892. Lived to be nearly 5 

 years old and showed noticeable mental defect; neglected by his 



