Summary

The Governor’s Council sent a committee “to inspect the settlement and residents of Apple Island” (49). The committee doctors were “members of the Section on Eugenics in the American Breeders’ Association” (49). They were accompanied by a photographer and Matthew Diamond. When the committee arrived at Iris and Violet’s house, the women tried to keep them. Despite their efforts, the doctors “measured the women and children’s skulls” and bodies (51). During the Honeys’ examination, Matthew felt guilty. Knowing how smart they were, he disliked that the committee treated them worse than livestock (53).

A week after the committee’s visit, an article “appeared in the Foxden Journal” deeming the Apple Island residents queer, degenerate squatters (54). Then a photograph of the students arrived for Matthew. “Four weeks later,” postcards with images of the residents also arrived (55).

Matthew began to notice Ethan’s artistic...