Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-03-26
5nlsttIlanp.
4 Maine Woman tchO a. a
Millionaire.


A correspondent writes 10 an exchange
the following interesting account OF the
business success of A Maine woman and
of the enterprise in which she has en-
barked. Miss King is 4 native ct Cor
ham. Maine. and sister OF the NessrS.
King. successful merchants OF Saccar-
Kappa;
NEW YORK, February, 1872.
Probably YOU have seen IN your met
ropolitau exchanges, frequent mention OF
. woman who recently travelled alone To
indeed. | might say through-China;
but possibly YOU may not be aware that
this same enlerpyising lady, Miss Susa"
A. King. Is a daughter of Maine VINO ~
main IQESe f6 S4aSSt7E h9bai II AAJ RsE ON
position as 4 woman OF business, and a.
a courageous traveller.
Born and educated in one OF the small.
es. towns OF Maine. She when quite
young lett her native State TO become a
cosmopolitan. and TO exercise those
talents which have had 50 brilliant iID-
ition in success and wealth.
She engaged in business which. large
" increasing through her indomitAble
energy. compelled her 10 travel eNten,
sively over Ihe mountainous country OF
the Middle States, the prairies OF the
West, and the sayannAhs OF the South,
until every section" WAS - home 20 her.
and she could eat Southern Tho. and
with the zeal ald serenity orah Gtehse5h
ell traveller.
In this school OF MISSISSIPPI, ->-------
Of corduroy roads, aud frontier fare. she
was disciplined Tor her latter experience
of Chinese junks, sedan chairs. and chow
chow. not to mention such dehcacies 1t
Mandarin banquets, as birds nest
pudding, and shaga's tin soup.
The outbreak OF the rebellion render
ing the business she was engaged in no
longer lucrative OF sale, Miss King with
drew from that large field 20 enter the
far more difficult busiuess-tor woman
of real estate speculation.
should qualify the above remark by
stating that il is generally which will
not apply TO Miss King in particular.
since. for her. the rise and TALL, the sale
and purchase OF property, improved or
unimproved, had no difficulties whatever.
She bought-snd protited; she sold-and
protited again think the secret OF 50
much profit. and so little loss. lay in her
just understanding what she was about.
The men and women who don't tail; Tor
her evidently there i mo such word"
Wearied OF the labor that possession
brings, for increase OF millions is also
increase OF care, Miss King finally re-
tired from business, and brilliantly sic
nalized the event, by her closing sale OF
plot OF over ninety city lots tor the use
of the Protestant Theological Institute,
for the sum of $3.50. 600
But neither habit nor inclination would
suffer her 10 rest, and she now had leisure
to devote 10 the work OF the World Of
its many prob'ematic phrases. the condi-
ton OF working women had come often
under her observation, and Interested her
most deeply. Two years ago, while
Jennie Collins. Sarah F. MoItod, Elanur
Kirk and Susan b. Anthony were discuss.
ing this question and endeayoring to talk
out better state OF things, Miss King
and other ladies of wealth and influence
whom she had interested ia the matter,
were revolving practical means for help
ing women ana ennobIing their work.
They formed an Association which
they named the "Woman's Te2 Com
pany;;n elected for its President Madame
Demorest whose establishment on Broad
way has gived styles" To- The fashionable
world for the last decade; and named for
its treasurer, Miss King, who. in its in
terest undertook this voyage to China.
En- route, she visited Japan, where she
rented several tea fields for the purpose
of experimenting in the culture of the
plant with the view OF producing new
and superior varieties; but this was
purely private enterprise.
In China. where she resided something
ess than two years, she emulated the
daring Of the few women travellers whose
story we know penetrating far beyond
the treaty boundaries with Only her cool /.
les, now trayersing the native forest,