New-York tribune., 1912-02-18

TN A certain scnooi in South New Jer-
sey town is a young woman, rot un-
attractive in appearance. the story OF
whose ancestry when it is published in
hook form-and il is 20 be--is likely TO Gre
ate a great deal Of interest wherever 1t is
read. The contour and pigmentation OF her
features and the dark color Of her halr'
which she ties with pink ribbon, are SUI
fciently Italian to warrant one in assum-
ing that she was of that nationality If one
met her in Mulberry Bend Park. Her pro-
genitors. however, lived in New Jersey long
before the American Revolution, and their
descendants comprise a family we'll known
in that state.
The girl herself, or perhaps one should
call her woman, for she is twenty-three
years old, has the appearance of well be-
haved person. and, indeed, she is or
medium height, she does not look her age,
and If one were guessing it she would be
put down as in her early teens. Physically
she is a woman, however. Unfortunately
mentally she is not. Physically she Is
eouipped with all the normal instincts OF
womanhood; mentally. nature has left their
control in the hands of child of ten years.
In other words. she is not fitted to take
care OF herself in the average environment
which the world offers. Many persons
would find IL difficult 70 believe this at
first glance, and not a few would be in
clined to put her down as a woman of bad
instincts if she chanced to go wrong while
har
HER PATHETIC RECORD.
Her training in this school, which it may
he said, is the New Jersey Training School
at Vineland, began twelve or thirteen years
ago. She was born in an almshouse, the
fourth illegitimate child of a feeble-minded
mother, who was one of family Of nine
and a servant. Her father was normal
physically and mentally. Although she has
been in school many years, she can read
only elementary books being unable to do
more than pick out words in third reader.
She can write a child's letter, but does not
find pleasure either in reading or writing.
She is, however, practically self-supporting
In the school, as she is one of the best
workers among the pupils While she can
not plan her work. she can cut dress, run
an electric sewing machine, take care OF
children and set a table. Curiously, how
ever, in order to know how many plates to
nut upon the table 1t is necessary for her
10 know the persons who are to use them.
She does not count the plates, but names
them. The placing of a given number, If
they be for strangers, is beyond her.
This unfortunate girl does not realize
what she owes to her Revolutionary an
cestors, what their legacy to her was.
Patient investigation of over years
duration, including the examination OF
records and talks with persons who pos
sessed clews 10 the trail Of the protoplasm
which segmented into this girl and more
than $50 other persons forming this re-
markable illustration Of n Jekyll and
Hyde inheritance, have led back TO New
Jersey soldier of good family. He met a
young woman of the woods near the
camp lie had, perhaps. never seen her
before, and IT is believed he never did
again. The woman, who has been proved
70 have been feeble-minded, went her
way and he the normal son of normal
ancestry, went his. In due course son
was born.
A MOST LAMENTABLE CROP.
The lad. when he grew up. was also
ried a normal woman and had nineteen
children, the oldest of whom had seven
teen offspring The taint was in the
blood. From one Of these the jealous
but defective girl at Vineland is descend
ed To make long story short, the
soldiers wild oats have borne fruit
through descending generations TO the
extent of 381 persons, OF whom 143 were
feeble-mlnded, 36 born illegitimately, "a
alcoholics, 8 epileptics, criminals and
keepers of houses of i'll fame. OF the
number, SO providentially died in infancy
and 36 were socially unfit owing to dis
ease and other causes. There were only
46 normal persons in the whole progeny.
This is only half the story, however
The soldier afterward married a good
normal Quaker woman of his own set
and had five daughters and two sons
Five Of these heirs in turn had children
and their descendants have married into
the very best families of New Jersey
OF the 3S4 heirs OF his blood I'm this
branch 365 are known TO have been nor
NAL and fifteen died In infancy. Although
there is a love of alcoholic beverages in
herent in the Dr. Jekyll branch. II has
been fought successfully by all except
two Of the 3s4 persons comprising It,
one, through the introduction OF strain
OF insanity by marriage. was insane and
one was socially unfit.
The story which lies behind the girl
at vineland, who needs to be protected
through a considerable portion Of her life