Page:The Scientific Monthly vol. 3.djvu/128

 122 THE SCIENTIFIC MONTHLY

In general the mountain man is quicker than the Indiana plaii man, but not as strong. A month's field work did not bring to my not any of the storied giants of the hills, though there probably are soe Xot all of the people are lank.

About two generations ago trachoma penetrated into the mountai and is spreading rapidly, despite the efforts of the state and settlemt schools, and the federal government. Of over 4,000 people examined five counties, 12.5 per cent, had this disease. A report from W. C. T. U. Settlement School at Ilindman, by Miss Lucy Furm author of " Mothering on Perilous," names twenty-five per cent, that locality. Adenoid and turbinate cases are common. Presid Murdock says that several clinics held at his Presbyterian college Buckhorn revealed that ninety per cent, of those examined were afflic with hookworm. Splendid work is being done, but the area to be cove is a vast one, and assistance is needed greatly. Superstitions that eases are visitations of the Lord to be borne with resignation are appearing slowly.

The people continue to be j)oor. In 1900 land was worth $5.00 acre, and 1910, $9.66 (Kentucky, $13.24 and $2L83; Indiana, $3 and $62.36). The average value of all farm property per farm in 1 was $860; and in 1910 it was $1,359 (Kentucky, $2,007 and $2,£ Indiana, $4,410 and $8,396). The average value of farm build per farm in 1910 was $247 (Indiana, $1,230).

Insiituiions

There is great need of education. In 1900, 24.3 per cent, of voters w^ere illiterate, and a decade later, 20.7 per cent. (Kentucky, and 13; Indiana, 5.6 and 4.1). In eight counties, in 1900, the illite voters constituted from 30.5 per cent, to 35.8 per cent, of the total. 1910, 61.6 per cent, of the children, ages six years to twenty, wei school (Kentucky, 60.8; Indiana, (^C^). Corresponding figures for dren from six years to fourteen years were 73 (Kentucky, 76).

However, improvement is being made. In 1900, there were i than 20 counties without a local publication. Xow, there are but counties without a press, and several have more than one.

Formerly, the term of school lasted but three months in the The teachers received no training except in the common schools, buildings were tiny, two or three teachers in some cases teaching ii same room. But now, the term lasts six months (closing at Chris owing to bad roads). Also, many of the teachers receive some tra: in the normal department of the settlement and missionary scl Furthermore, there is but one teacher in each room, though in i no library, few modern desks, and little equipment. In one mou: school visited by the writer in 1914, the pupils were sitting in i board pews, the boys on one side of tlie room and the girls on the <

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