St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-01-07
AN ENTERPRlSiNG LADY.
Mrs. Buckingham's Success in New Fold
of Work for Women

Aas Decoue conspicuous not only upon
the Pacific coast, but upon the Atlantic
as we'll, by the fact that she has
wrought out SO successful an important
problem in behalf of her own sex A
'Lagunita Rancho she has demon
strated that a woman with money,
brains, persistent energy and hard
work can cultivate the soil quite as
successfully as her lord. Leaving her
luxurious apartments of the Palace no.
tel, in San Francisco, less than four
years. ago, Mrs. Buckingham took up
her abode in lovely valley, forty
miles away, shut in by beautiful hills.
She had purchased two hundred acres
of land which, with the exception of a
few fig trees, peach trees and small
vineyard of grapes thirty-six years old,
was covered with stubble. After care
full nursing of these trees and vines to
bring them back to their best POSSIBLE
ties, she planted twenty acres more of
fruit trees of different kinds.
Commencing with superintendent
or foreman, who professed to have spe-
cial qualifications for his position, she
labored assiduously for q time, but
failed to accomplish what she had
hoped. Convinced that her Fright
hand man. was not a success, except
as a figure head of immense proper
tons, she dismissed him and courage
ously took her place at the helm. Call
ing to her side her son, with his friend,
neither of whom had long been out Of
college, she persuaded them to share
her care and labor From that time
the machinery has moved smoothly and
satisfactorily.
Mrs. Buckingham has studied the
methods of her neighbors, and, with
her clear brain, has chosen the best, as
the result shows. She has added grad
ually apricots, nectarines, prunes, cher
ries, plums and pears, until she has an
orchard of four hundred acres under
the highest state of cultivation. Not a
weed, not blade of grass, can be seen
over the whole expanse. Each tree has
become to the owner a child to fondle,
and is watched with tender solicitude.
The first symptom of dropping or dis
ease receives her personal attention,
and sick ones seldom fail to be brought
back to health.
Looking at some trees in neighbours
orchard that plainly betrayed neglect,
Mrs. Buckingham said: "Poor things!
they can't help it. They are doing the
very best they cam"
The secret of this lady's success lies,
no doubt, in her unwearied attention
to all the details of her business. As she
walks in the shadows of her own "vines
and fig trees she talks with them as
with loving friends, and finds unceas-
ing delight in their companionship.
She is sure that they are conscious of
her presence, and that she can inter-
pref their thoughts toward her.
While what Mrs. Buckingham has
accomplished has cost incessant watch
fulness and thought, a plain, tumble
down Spanish cottage has been trans
formed into home that an artist might
covet. This lady, who enjoys every
thing that the city can afford--art in
every form, music and literature
could not brook rude surroundings,
and so offers her friends not only the
generous hospitality of the well-to-do
farmer, but adds the grace of the high
est civilization.
Last year, while visiting friends in
Boston, gentleman was invited to
call upon her. She was represented
as woman who ploWed more land
than any man in the country, and
could drive a four-in-hand with ease.
Expecting to see brawny Amazon,
he was conscious of keen embarrass-
ment when presented to lady whose
bearing was Enthusiastically that of
person of refinement and culture. In
stead of rough. home-spun, an imported
costume seemed not at all out of place.
He found it quite unnecessary to intro
duce the subject of the price of stock,
or the crops. but, instead. was soon in
the midst of discussion upon the lat
est books, pictures and music, ending
with the most interesting political top
les ofthe day.
The question naturally arises: Why
should lady choose to make change
like this without compulsion? The an
swer can be given by many woman
dissatisfied with the round of dufies
that society demands, or who longs for
some place away from the watchful
ewes of too assiduous friends. Mrs.
Buckingham is in correspondence with
ladies who hope through her to find a
way out of idleness or poverty. Should
this be the outcome of her enterprise,
she will be well satisfied and count
that the fulfillment of the promise made
to her, that her trees would not only
care for and nourish her in her old age,
but would help her to care for others
less fortunate than herself. On Mrs.
Buckingham's ranch a cannery is al
ready in running order. Fruit is put
up in the most approved manner. The
high st medal given at the Mechan-
les fair held in San Francisco was won
by her. Fruit dried in the sun COM
mands the highest prices because of the
s,,oeial cara and studv DlVen to secure