"Achievements in welfare activities are similarly lacking. No notable
intentions or discoveries, with the exception of one patent on a new
kind of beehive, appear in the record."
[Illustration: _... But liars figure ...!_]
"And this keeps us from getting a research grant in physics? What _did_
our progenitors do, anyway? Get hung for being horse thieves?"
"No criminal activities were reported by your people, but there is a
record of singular restlessness and dissatisfaction with established
conditions."
* * * * *
"What did they do?"
"They were constantly on the move, for the most part. In the eighteenth
and nineteenth centuries they were primarily pioneers, frontiersmen,
settlers of new country. But when the country was established they
usually packed up and went somewhere else. Rovers, trappers, unsettled
people."
"This is not good?" Fenwick glanced at the chart that was open now. It
was almost uncolored.
"I regret to say that such people are not classed as the stable element
of communities," said Baker. "We cannot evaluate the index of hereditary
accomplishment for the Clearwater faculty very high."
"It appears that our grandpas were among those generally given credit
for getting things set up," said Fenwick.
"Such citizens are indeed necessary," said Baker. "But our index
evaluates stability in community life and accomplishments with
long-range effects in science and culture."
"We haven't got much of a chance then, grandpa being foot-loose as he
was."
"Other factors could completely override this negative evaluation. You
see, this is the beauty of the Index; it doesn't depend on any one
factor or small group of factors. We evaluate the whole range of factors
that have anything to do with the situation. Weaknesses in one spot may
be counterbalanced by strength in others."
"It looks like Clearwater is staffed by a bunch of bums without any
strong spots."
"I wouldn't say it in such terms, but the reason I am pointing these
things out to you, John, is to try to persuade you to disassociate
yourself from such a weak organization and go elsewhere. You have fine
talents of your own, but you have always had a pattern of associating
with groups like this one at Clearwater. Don't you see now that the only
thing for you to do is go somewhere where there are people capable of
doing things?"
"I _like_ Clearwater. I like the people at the College. Where else are
we in the bums category?"
Baker suddenly didn't want to go on. The whole thing had become
distasteful to him. "There are a good many others. I don't think we need
to go into them. There is the staff reading index, the social activity
index, wardrobe evaluation, hobbies, children--actual and planned."
"I want to hear about them," said Fenwick. "That wardrobe
evaluation--that sounds like a real fascinating study."
"Actually, it's comparatively minor," said Baker. "Our psychologists
have worked out some extremely interesting correlations, however. Each
item of a man's wardrobe is assigned a numerical rating. Tuxedo, one or
more. Business suits, color and number. Hunting jackets. Slacks. Sport
coats. Work shoes. Dress shoes. Very interesting what our people can do
with, such information."
"Clearwater doesn't rate here?"
Baker indicated the chart. "I'm afraid not. Now, this staff reading
index is somewhat similar. You recall the application forms asked for
the number of pages of various types of material read during the past
six months--scientific journals, newspapers, magazines, fiction."
"I suppose Clearwater is a pretty illiterate bunch," said Fenwick.
Baker pointed soundlessly to the graph.
"Hobbies and social activities are not bad," Baker said, after a time.
"Almost up to within ten points of the standard. A few less bingo
parties and Brownie meetings and that many more book reviews or serious
soirees would balance the social activity chart. If the model railroad
club were canceled and a biological activity group substituted, the
hobby classification would look much better. Then, in the number of
children, actual and planned, Clearwater is definitely out of line, too.
You see, the standard takes the form of the well-known bell-shaped
curve. Clearwater is way down on the high side."
"Too much biological activity already," Fenwick murmured.