72 HEREDITY AND SOCIAL FITNESS 



The children of this couple who lived to grow up were : 

 IV-126, born 1876. Committed at the age of 7 to the county farm 

 and from there taken to a training school for feeble-minded, where she 

 learned to read in the first reader and to count to 25, and secured some 

 training in household arts. Later transferred to Institution for the 

 Care of the Feeble-Minded, Polk, Pennsylvania, where she has been a 

 patient for 16 years. At present is a heavy, rather stolid woman, much 

 below the average in height ; senses and speech normal; no striking 

 physical defects; expressive brown eyes; and on the whole pleasing 

 expression and obliging manner. Can do most kinds of housework, but 

 is little interested in needlework or employing what she knows of read- 

 ing or writing. She has an excellent memory for details of her own 

 experience and stray facts concerning her relatives, but is greatly 

 lacking in number sense, judgment, causation. Is very persistent and 

 even stubborn at times ; on rare occasions has been rebellious and even 

 violent, but in the main agreeable, contented, and thorough in the 

 performance of her work. 



IV-127 w^as a brother of IV-126, bom 1881, died 1907, after 

 having been struck by lightning. Described as a well-built, perfect 

 specimen of physical manhood. Dark hair, brown eyes, and sym- 

 metrical features. No apparent stigmata of degeneracy. Could not 

 learn to read or write. Worked as a farm-hand in a training school for 

 feeble-minded, where his help was appreciated as that of a paid 

 employee. Subsequenty he left this school and got employment with 

 a neighboring farmer. The boy was sober, thrifty, and very clean in 

 his habits and dress. A few years later he was struck by lightning 

 while tending some horses. Graded as a mid-grade imbecile. 



There remains to be considered IV-128, born about 1S79, who is 

 said by some to be an illegitimate child. Was taken from the county 

 home by a man who was attracted by her lively, pretty ways at the 

 time her sister (IV-126) went to the training school. She had a com- 

 fortable home; received training in church and school, easily keeping 

 up with her grade in the latter; was always bright, active, and fun- 

 loving. At 16 came into conflict with her foster-parents because she 

 wished more freedom; and was allowed by them to shift for herself. 

 At first sold Larkin soaps and other articles for a livelihood, but later 

 took a nurse's training course and graduated in 189^8. She was very 

 successful as a nurse. In 1900 married IV-129, who, though master 

 of arts and a clergyman, seems withal to be rather erratic, since, in 

 addition to several pastorates, he has in the last 10 years acted as 

 secretary of a political party, manager of an orphan home, and teacher 

 in the public schools. IV-128 seems to be very proud of her husband 

 in all his capacities. She is rather effusive and superficial; apt to forget 



