Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 2.djvu/507

 THE SMOKY PILGRIMS

493

seems to have been weakened by under-vitalization, laziness, idleness, and bad personal habits. While a strong intellect would not engage in the mode of life which he leads, the mode itself would weaken and degrade the strongest intellect. A glance at his picture reveals his principal characteristics. His eyes are weak, suspicious, and tell-tale. If he were to commit a crime or break tin- law it would be difficult for him to conceal it. He walks with a weak, shambling, doubtful gait. His very demeanor says that he has not a place in the world. His physical character- "stics show persistent deteriora- tion and a constant evolution downwards. He works but a trifle, steals a little, begs a lit- tle ; but as none of these occu- pations are pursued with any vigor or determination, he does comparatively little harm to the community. He might work a little if he could be induced to try. tnit the person who em- ployed him would probably have a bad bargain. With poor phvsical structure, weakened mental condition, laziness, and shiftlcssiu ss becoming a disease, what chance is there for any reform in such a person ? About all that can be said is that some day he will die and be buried and not be missed by the body of toilers.

The eldest daughter, "A," (Fig. 5) is between thirt\->i\ and forty years of age. Like "B " she shows marked weak- ness of character, with low order ^\ y\\\ su -.d structure, decidedly weak mentality, and lack of energy of any kind. She consti- tutes an organization of low order due rather to habits of life and

Fie.. 4. M ; B.