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h valuable time before they felt convinced that it was a fabrication。 The exact locations could not be discovered； but then Marie was a stranger in the city。
When we saw her the whole story was reiterated with but few changes； which； however； from the standpoint of testimony were most important。 We soon found we could get direct testimony on physical features which were provably untrue。 For instance； the description of a certain hallway in a building where she had gone with one of the men interested in the events was totally unlike anything that existed there。 Then； too； certain embellishments； which by this time included the payment of a large check to her as hush money； a check which she as easily gave away again； seemed altogether improbable。 Marie by this time was implicating herself in a burglary with this relative； and some other curious incidents were given。 In all of these； as we later found； there was a central event about which her statements MIGHT have been true。 There was such a burglary； she had said in previous years that she was hounded by a man； and so on。 We； too； were struck by the uselessness and lack of purpose in the lyingfor we soon felt assured that it was such。
Physically we found Marie to be a decidedly good specimen。 She weighed about 140 lbs。 Strong and firm in carriage。 Vivacious in expression。 The physical examination at the university had shown her to be without notable defect of any kind。 We can summarize Marie's characteristics by stating that from the earliest age of which we can get satisfactory record； when she was about 10 years old； she has been persistently addicted to falsehoods。 Even then she made up； without any basis； stories which puzzled many people。 It is much to the point that she has been a great loser on account of this tendency； it has injured her reputation on numerous occasions and destroyed many of her good chances。 When she was about 15 it was noticed that she was a great day…dreamer。 She thought she could write stories and once began a novel。 Much more peculiar than this was the fact that she repeatedly wrote letters to her friends which were simply a mass of fabrications； describing such things as imaginary excursions。
Tests for mental ability were not given in this case； there was no need for it。 Her marks in the preparatory course were just fair。 It had been noted by her teachers； as well as by her foster parents； that she was prone to have periods when attention to her work seemed difficult。 Aside from her peculiarities； which showed themselves entirely in her fabricating tendency and her assumed illnesses； nothing much out of the way in her mental life had ever been noted。 On several occasions she had taken to her bed； but when a physician was called； a diagnosis was given of simulation； or hysteria。 Nothing like major hysterical attacks at any time occurred；
From most excellent sources of information we have obtained an account of the family history。 No instance of insanity is known； but it is said there is much evidence of ignorance and superstition。 Marie's mother bore a good character； but was decidedly ignorant。 At about the age of 50 she made a homicidal attack upon a second husband and then killed herself。 The father was an industrious and sober laborer； but unable to support his large family。 At his death in Marie's early childhood the family was broken up and the ten children were distributed about。 None of the children is said to be abnormal mentally； but there has been a tendency to free living； even on the part of the older sisters。 It seems very sure that no other member of the family was given to telling false stories。 The brothers have been inclined to be shiftless and to roam； but then the environmental conditions often have been against them。 However； some of them have done well。 In general； as far as Marie is concerned； it may be said early home environment was not bad except on account of poverty。 Marie bears no traces of having suffered from defective conditions before or after birth。 Her early developmental history appears to be negative。 She has lived about in several different homes； the longest stay being about seven years。 In one place she was suspected of masturbation； but we were unable to get a perfectly definite statement that she was addicted to the habit。
Two years prior to the time we knew Marie she had worked up a story of adventure in which she was the heroine。 She used the telephone to call for help； stating that she stood with a revolver covering a burglar。 From this incident she gained a good deal of notoriety。 The police found there was nothing to the case and later Marie herself made a confession。 By the time we saw her this story varied somewhat from her original statement； but was still persisted in； although she must have known that we could readily trace the actual occurrence。
After Marie had continued her stories for a few weeks while attending the university they had grown so that they included night visitations in her boarding…house from the man who was said to be hounding her； she was found once more impossible to deal with and； as her work became poorer； she had to leave。 At this period it was most significant to us that in spite of her expressed desire for freedom from persecution she did not want us to look further into her case because of certain mysterious letters which would incriminate her。 We felt entirely convinced that the several reports which we received of her career in preceding years gave a satisfactory clew to her character； although we were never able to analyze the case far enough to ascertain the genetic features。 Thus it is impossible to make any summary of causative factors。
CASE 6
Summary： A thoroughly characteristic example of the type of pathological lying which led to the invention of the term pseudologia phantastica。 A young woman； well endowed physically and mentally； for years has often been indulging in extensive fabrications which have no discernible basis in advantages accruing to herself。 The peculiarities of the falsifications have given rise to much trouble for her； her family； and for many others who have been incidentally connected with the situation。 The genesis of the tendency was finally found in early experiences about which there have been much mental repression and conflict。 In the background there was also defective home control and chronic neuropathic tendencies in both parents and in their kin。
Janet B。； 19 years old； we saw first in an eastern city at the request of her parents。 There she had become involved in troubles which seemed particularly hard to unravel。 However； we were told that this was an old story with her。 A diagnosis of her mental condition was asked； and recommendations for the future。 Janet had told some very peculiar stories at her place of employment where she was doing very well as a newcomer； without any seeming reason for fabrication。 Several who had become interested in her were wondering if she were quite sane。
After having made her way alone to New York； Janet readily obtained employment。 After a couple of weeks she approached a department manager of the concern for which she worked and related a long story； which at once aroused his sympathy。 She told him that her father and mother had died in the last year and that she was entirely dependent upon herself。 When she was about four years of age she had been in a terrible accident and a certain man had saved her life。 Naturally； her father had always thought very highly of this person and had pensioned him。 Formerly he lived up in the country with his family； but at present was old； penniless； and alone in the city。 Now that her parents were dead she was in a quandary about keeping up her father's obligation to the old man。 Out of her 8 a week it was hard to make both ends meet。 She had to pay her own board and for this man also。 She found that he needed to be taken care of in every way； she had to wash his face and dress him； he was so helpless。 She made no demand for any increase of salary and the story was told evidently without any specific intent。 The services of a social worker were enlisted by the firm and the girl reiterated the same story to her； even though it was clearly intended that the case should be investigated。 Janet's boarding…house was visited and there she was found to be living with distant relatives whom she had searched out upon her arrival in the city。 They knew she had run away from home and； indeed； by this time the mother herself was already in New York； having been sent for by them。
The situation then became more complicated through the girl's giving more explanatory details to the social worker； somewhat accusing her own family。 It was at this time I first saw her。 She then acknowledged that this story of a man who had saved her life was purely an invention。 Now she stated that in the western town where she lived she had been engaged to a young man who was discovered to be a defaulter and who had recently died。 When this fellow was in trouble； his mother； while calling on Janet's family； used to make signals to her and leave notes under the table cover； asking for funds with whic