496
THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY
The fourth child, "M ," (Fig. 4) is a colored girl about i <r eight years of age. A bright appearing child, but dull in school and at everything requiring any direct mental effort. She. of all the children, bears the name of her mother's husband, although probablv she is illegitimate. Special care has been taken to keep her in school, as she is the pet of the household. I>av after day "B " accompanies her to school and appears at the corner to await her return at the close of the session. If placed in a good home doubtless " M " would make a respect- able, self-supporting woman. There seems to be little hope for her unless something of this kind is done to remove her from the gypsy-like life of her family.
In the habitation No. 2 lives "M-- C ," the third daughter, aged about thirty- five, and her son "D ' and daughter "S ." The husband died about six years ago. "M C " is a hard-featured woman (Fig. 8) given to dissi- pation. She shows a vigorous mental condition and is very talkative. She knows how to use her tongue in a manner fright- ful to the modest and the timid. She does a little work, chiefly washing, but obtains her chief support from an immoral life. It is quite remarkable how these people do bits of washing for others but seem never to prac- tice it for themselves, for their
clothing and personal appearance would seem to indicate that washing is one of the lost arts. "M C ' believes in religion!!) and at times attends the Free Methodist church. She is very communicative, although the information gained by the questioner is quite likely to prove an estimate of what she
Fi<;. 7. S ; G .
