Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 2.djvu/506

 49- THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

The family is divided into three groups. The oldest girl married a colored man and lives with her husband and several children in the country on a farm. They live respectable and industrious lives so far as is known, and consequently are not to be included in this discussion. In habitation No. I live, with the mother of the tribe, her second daughter and four chil- dren, and her only son. In habitation No. 2 live the third daughter and her two children. These families visit back and forth every day and are very sociable. Indeed, sociability is one of the chief characteristics of the entire tribe. They are much of the time on the street, and show to a great extent an aimless, easy-go-lucky life, irregular of food, sleep, and shelter.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS.

The mother of the tribe, whom we will call "T ," (Fig. 3) has industrious habits and still retains industrious notions. She still has an idea of giving something in return for what she

receives. Since coming to L she has worked at odd

jobs, principally washing, housekeeping, and cleaning. At one time she was called to care for a sick woman who subsequently died. Af ter the death "T- " took charge of the home and cared for the husband of the deceased and subsequently married him. He was shiftless and improvident, and finally died and was buried at the expense of the county. At another time"T- " found a home fora time at the county poor farm, but preferring her pres- ent mode of existence she left the home prepared for the needy. At present she is just recovering from protracted sickness, and is too weak for any work. It is pitiable to think of a person con- fined to a bed of sickness for months in such a rude hovel, but it is the life she prefers rather than the one which a county pro- vides for her. Were the other members of the tribe as much inclined to industry as this one, there might be some hope of bringing them back into the ranks of industrial society. "T deplores her present condition and considers her life a chain of misfortunes.

In habitation No. I is " B ," (Fig. 4) the only man of the tribe, an easy-going, good-natured fellow, whose intellect