• It makes a kind of sense. The town is far enough away from the river that forms the area's main transportation route means that hardly anyone ever moves to Maycomb or away from it. Families have known each other for generations, establishing the reputation for having "streaks."
• Scout mostly ignores her aunt, unless she gets called in to make an appearance at a luncheon or tea.
• Alexandra also attempts to instill family pride, by, for example, showing them a book their cousin Joshua wrote.
• Unfortunately, the kids already know his story from Atticus: he went crazy at college and tried to assassinate the president of the school.
• After this Aunt Alexandra sends Atticus to talk to the kids about being proud of their superior heritage, but he just scares them because he doesn't usually talk to them in that way.
• Scout ends up crying on his lap, and Atticus tells them both to forget it.