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ife of imagination at night。 She insisted frequently on the vividness of her mental content； and indeed was anxious to talk about her peculiarities in this respect。 It was very apparent that she showed real understanding of the forces which had influenced her。 It should be noted that we felt sure that it is not only the strength of imagery； namely； of actually recollected material； but also of imagination which is characteristic of this girl's mental make…up。 This was noticeable； as we have shown above； in the ‘‘Aussage'' Test。 In our notes on psychological findings we stated that the girl has both strong emotions and strong convictions； together with her other qualities。 She expressed herself with considerable vehemence； and under observation we noted changes from pleasantness to extremely ugly looks when her relatives were mentioned。 It was true that she had seen immorality in other households than that of her mother； and this； of course； rendered her even more skeptical about true values in life。
It seemed clear that this bright girl had experienced so many contradictions in life that she was much mixed about it all。 We might venture to suggest that the delinquency involved in lying could seem very little compared to the actual deeds with which she had come in contact。 No idea that falsification was wrong was expressed by her。 She had used double sets of standards in behavior all through her life。 What she was urged to be and to do seemed impossible in the light of her past and its connections。 Even her apparent decency belied the reality underlying her career； she thought。 With all this and her vivid imagery it is little wonder that her magnificent powers of imagination had full sway and that she said and half believed all sorts of things which were not true。 Then； probably； habit…formation of indulging in day…dreams accentuated the falsifying tendency。
It is too early to report on further progress of this case。 For some months she has been in a school for girls where discipline and education are both emphasized。
… Mental traits： special powers of imagery Case 9。 and imagination。 Girl； age 14 years。 Early immoral experiences： much later conflict about them。 Home conditions： unstable for many years。 Heredity （？）： mother immoral； maternal grandmother alcoholic and insane。 Delinquencies： Mentality： Excessive lying。 Good general ability； Sex。 special capacities。 …
CASE 10
Summary： A boy of 14； supernormal in ability； coming from family circumstances which form a remarkable antithesis to his intellectual interests； is found to be a wonderful fabricator。 His continuous lying proves to be directly inimical to his own interests and； indeed； his own satisfactions are thwarted by the curious unreliability of his word。 The case unfortunately was not followed far； but study of it clearly shows beginnings in the early obtaining of advantages by lying； and brings out the wonderful dramatic and imaginative traits of the boy and his formation of a habit of falsification。
This case in its showing of intrinsic characteristics and incidental facts is of great interest。 Robert R。 for about a year when he was 14 years old we knew intimately； but after that on account of the removal of the family we have no further history of him。 Intellectually and in his family and home background he presented a remarkable phenomenon。 His parents were old…country peasants who just before Robert was born came to the United States。 The father had never been to school in his life and could not read or write。 Here he was a laborer； before immigration he had been a goose…herd。 The mother was said to have had a little schooling at home and could read and write a little in her native language。 In 15 years in the United States she had failed to learn to speak English。 It is needless to say that our knowledge of the forebears is almost nil。 Inquiry about mental peculiarities in the family brought negative answers。 These parents had had nine children； seven of whom had died in early infancy。 Robert was the older of the two living。 We did not learn that the other child displayed any abnormalities。 The mother helped towards the support of the family by doing coarse sewing。
About the developmental history we had the assurance that it was entirely negative as regards serious diseases。 Pregnancy and birth were said to have been normal。 For long； Robert had been very nervous and frequently slept an unusually small number of hours。 Sometimes he would go to bed very late and get up early。 Although he was a very small boy he was accustomed to drinking six or seven cups of coffee a day。 No suspicion from any source of other bad habits or of improper sex experiences。 The boy's home was clean and decent。 The father was accustomed to celebrate once a month or so by getting intoxicated； but otherwise was a well behaved man。
On physical examination we found the boy in fair general condition； although very small for his age。 Weight 80 lbs。； height 4 ft。 7 in。 Well shaped； normally sized head。 No prematurity or other physical abnormality。 Somewhat defective vision。 No complaint of headaches。 All other examination negative。 Regular sharp features。 Much vivacity of expression。 A nervous； alert； responsive； apparently frank and humorous type。 Speech notably rapid。
Our acquaintance with this boy on the intellectual side proved to be a great treat。 He was only in the 4th grade。 His retardation was the result of having been changed back and forth from foreign…speaking to English schools and having been sent away to an institution for truancy。 In spite of his backwardness Robert had a fund of remarkably accurate scientific and other information which a mature person might envy。 We found our regular series of tests were all done unusually well； except those which called for foresight and planfulness。 It was interesting to note that when a problem in concrete material was given that required continuous thoughtful effort he proceeded by a rapid trial and error method and without the application of the foresight that many a slower individual would show。 He consequently did not always make a good record。
It seems an important fact that on the ‘‘Aussage'' Test this exceedingly bright lad gave a fairly good detailed narrative account of the picture and proved himself not in the least suggestible； but he added a number of items which were not seen。
It was in the field of general information； obtained from a really wide range of reading； that this young boy shone。 We found that he remembered an unusual amount of history he had read； that he had a lot of knowledge picked up from the newspapers； and that he had digested considerable portions of scientific works。 He described correctly the main principles involved in the use of telescopic and other lenses； he knew well the first principles of electricity； and he could draw correctly diagrams of dynamos； locomotives； switchboards； etc。 We noted he had read books on physiology； astronomy； physics； mechanics； etc。
It seems that neither his school nor his home offering him much intellectual satisfaction； he had frequented the public library； sometimes being there when he was truant from school； and staying there in the evening when his mother supposed he was out in a street gang。 In regard to his selection of reading： he had perused novels and books on adventure； but ‘‘I wanted to read something that tells something so that when I got through I would know something。'' He copied plans and directions； and with a hatchet； hammer and saw attempted at home to make little things； some of which were said to have been broken up by the parents。 The boy had much in mind the career of great men who had succeeded from small beginnings； and he spoke often of Benjamin Franklin； Morse； and Bell； all of whom had started in the small way he had read of in their biographies。 Robert had not been content with book knowledge alone； but had sought power…houses and other places where he could see machinery in actual operation。
Our acquaintance with Robert began and continued on account of delinquencies other than lying。 He had run away from home at one time； he had stolen some electrical apparatus from a barn and was found in the middle of the night with it flashing a light on the street。 He also had taken money from his parents and had threatened his mother with a hatchet。 After much encouragement and help he yet stole from people who were trying to give him a chance to use his special abilities； and he began various minor swindling operations which culminated in his attempt to arrest a man at night； showing a star and a small revolver。 Before we lost sight of him Robert had gained the general reputation of being the most unreliable of individuals。
Given splendid chances to use his special capacities； his other qualities made it impossible for him to take advantage