Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-13

such bad habits 1t was necessary to
lock her up when they were not at
home.
Marked Improvement Seen.
Only a week at the hospital has
resulted in a marked improvement in
the little girl already. according to
doctors and nurses. When she first
came to the institution. they said, she
would sit and stare for hours at the
walls. but now she is taking an in
terest in her surroundings and playing
with her toys more like a normal
child She has gained weight at the
rate of pound a day and Is begin
ming to speak in sentences instead OF
monosyllables.
She is not q normal child, by any
means" said DR.. Gilbert today. She
does not take q normal interest in her
play as yet. Whether that Is result
of her alleged confinement or whether
it was apparen. early in life We may
never know. However, after an obser-
Walton of three to four weeks we may
know more about the case.
1T may take six months or a year,
however, to definitely diagnose the
caSe-it is SO unusual
Selects Pink Ensemble
Another thing" Mrs Elmore inter-
posed in a discussion of the case with
DR.. Gilbert, the way she manages her
hands indicates she is not a lowgrade
defective"
This morning, played with her
in the room for about 80 minutes.
When I came in she was dressing her
doll. I stood watching her, amazed
at her dexterity.
She had all the dolls clothes as
sembled in a neat pile and chose from
the outfits an entire pink silk ensemble.
A low-grade defective wouldn't do q
thing like that. in all probability
couldn't distinguish one garment from
another.
Her little fingers were nimble and
she had perfect control over them. In
pinning q slip around the dolls neck,
she held the edges perfectly even and
pinned the garment as well as an adult
could.
Then she picked out a little baby
doll-one supposed to be a baby OF
about six months; her first doll was
bigger. representing child of about
S or years.
Waves Playmate Aside.
"Her little playmate, Russell, the red
head, wanted to help her, but she
waved him aside with her hand, saying,
I'm going to dress baby.
And she did. After trying to pin
q napkin on the doll and finding she
couldn't fold it to At, she decided to
dress the baby as an older child. 1t
was really an interesting spectacle to
watch
The test given Edith by Mrs. Elmore
was the Stanford revision of the Binat-
Simon scale for measuring intelligence.
1T was supplemented by various
non-verbal tests consisting of picture
puzzles and blocks" Mrs. Elmore said,
besides various special tests to check
any special abilities or disabilities shown
by using the Binat scale.
In cases OF sensory deprivation oc-
casioned by blindness or deafness spe-
ciel methods of testing must be used
and the results interpreted in terms of
the individuals lack of experience &C
casioned by such handicaps.
In the case of this particular child
the formal intelligence tests probably
should be interpreted very leniently in
forming an estimate of the original en-
dowment of intelligence. They will
show us in some measure what intelli-
gence the child actually possesses at
this time, but will not give us any ac-
curate estimate of the original endow-
ment of intelligence
Examinations we are making at this
time will be useful largely as a means
Of checking mental development at a
future date. If this child has suffered
through isolation over a period of the
past four years we not only should ex-
pect possible arrestment in develop
ment. but very likely some deteriora-
ton as we'll
Child COmprehends Much.
Whether or not this has had a per-
manent effect upon the child can be
determined only by watching her re-
spouse to normal environment over a
prolonged period - probably several
years 1t is quite evident to me that
the child comprehends much that is
said to her, although she responds but
little"
DR.. Gilbert declared that while the
child shows some abuormality now, II
cannot at this time be interpreted las
having any bearing on her original
mental endowment"
"A cross section OF the individual as
we see it today is not the criterion on
which to base an opinion, but the en-
tire longitudinal section or history OF
any such case should pc available in the
form of social history, and this given q
great deal of weight in arriving at a
final opinion.
las yet, such information is not
available and We are in no position to
express a definite or final opinion in
the case Of the Riley girl"
Long Study Necessary.
"A long period of observation and
not only thorough study of the child
herself but thorough study of all the
influences that have been brought to
bear on her life so far should be care
fully gone over"
The adage Its an i'll wind that
blows nobody good Is believed to be
applicable to the case by Judge
Kathryn Sellers. who was instrumental
pital.
Although the case OF. little Edith
Riley is one of the most pitiful brought
into the Juvenile Court" said Judge
Sellers, lit will afford an opportunity
for the public to know the fallacy OF
| the law which now prevails in the Dis
trict relative to the disposition Of
children after they have been taker
| from parents or unsuitable guardians
| bv the court. The District Is the only
| jurisdiction in the United States where
| the Judge of the Juvenile Court, who
| has the power to take the child from
| unsuitable guardians has no authority
| 20 say where the child will be placed
| As the placement of the child Is 81
| greatest Importance, it seems to me-
| only fair that the Judge who assume.
| ile responsibility for removing tht