The morning call., 1893-06-11

time the now common argument that
woman's more complete organism raises
her above man in the scale of animal life.
Her personal history is full of romance
and would itself make novel of intensely
interesting reading.
Mrs. Farnham before coming to Califor-
MIA was matron of Sing Sing Prison and
/ Mrs Kirby was her assistant. Many re-
formatory measures were inaugurated al
her instance, but it was for the intimate
association with criminals-and females
in particular, for Mrs. Farnham had al
ready conceived her idea of the book she
aiterward produced = and the oppor-
! tunities for character study that she
| sought the position.
Her husband had preceded her to Calf
! fornia, where he accumulated some little
| property. He was lawyer of good
ability, and after building a home for his
wife sent East for her. Mrs. Farnham re-
| signed her position at Sing Sing and
crossed the plains in 1913, only TO find, on
her arrival in the far West, that her hus-
band was dead. Old timers tell of her
arrival in Santa Cruz in boomers. an in
novatiOn in feminine attire which at
tracted a great deal of attention and
excited no little mirth. She was soon
joined by Mrs. Kirby, who also appeared
IN boomers. and the two took possession
of the Farnham property.
This property consisted OF q small farm
which Mrs. Kirby. whose experience at
| Brook Farm now probably served her in
good stead, aided Mrs. Farnham in tilling
With spade and hoe they broke the soil
with their own hands, when tired throw
ing themselves upon the ground for n nap
In the warm sun, and rising rested to
pursue their outdoor occupation. In those
| pioneer days, when people were found in
the most unexpected ploymeuts, moth
ing was thought Of a woman's tiIlipg the
soil, and Mrs. Kirby often spoke of her
farmer days as the happiest in her life.
Mrs. Farnham's leisure was devoted to
writing. Besides the works above referred
to she produced MY Early Days" Ideal
Attained, California. Indoors and Out"
and numerous magazine articles. Mrs.
Kirby was her constant companion and
collaboration.
This lady's maiden name was Bruce.
She traced an uninterrupted descent from
Robert Bruce and the Prince de Conde.
Her early days had been spent in cult
waiting mind of UNUSUAL keenness and
strength. and when 1S years of age Mrs.
Kirby sojourned at Brook Farm, where
she was highly esteemed by the visionary
celebrities who conceived that colossal but
interesting failure In modern civilization,
She was woman of wide sympathies and
devoted her mind and energies TO the ac-
complishment of many public-splrited
works.
Her literary productions were not mapy
but such as exist show the strength and
breadth OF her understanding. Besides
articles published in leading periodicals of
the day, Mrs. Kirby wrote an interesting
work On heredity and book entitled
Years of Experience" both of which have
received marked attention.
For some time Mrs. Farnham and her
companion found little that was congenial
IN Santa Cruz. the residents being gener-
ally narrow people, little in sympathy with
a an n nan VIII Of h.,
and positively hostile to their liberal re-
ligious beliefs. Living not far from there,
however, was an intelligent family. Marie
Valhasky," as she is known to the world.
was one of the daughters who became
acquainted with the ladies and much
interested In their work. They, in turn
showed much interest in the young girl
and impaired to her much of the knowl-
edge derived by years of experience and
study.
Marie became constant caller at their
house, much 10 the disgust of her neigh
Dors, and formed the third member of the
circle, which from that time constantly
wdened. She. too. devoted herself TO
literature, and wrote the numerous Rus
sian articles which have appeared from
time to time.
Tho fourth addition TO the circle was a
young lrlshman named Fitzpatrick. 1t is
related that the handsome son of Erin was
one of the four who had undertaken and
secured the third Napoleon,s release from
prison, to which he had been consign ed
after his first return from banishment and
thwarted attempt TO restore the house of
ms uncle to tie throne. Coming to Cali
1ornla after this escapade, he located
in Santa Cruz, where he met. wooed
| and won Mrs. Farnham, who was
| captlVated by his noble bearing and hand
some lace. They were married, and after
Drief period of conjugal felicity Fitz-
patTick gave way TO his love of liquor. His
Jealousy Tor his wife was as fierce as it was
unreasonable. and extended even to her
much-prlzed books, many of which were
pierced from cover to cover with FitZpat-
TICKS dagger. The result was that a
Judgment of divorce separated the two and
Mrs. Fitzpatrick became MRS. Farnham
again.
Miss Wells. who was the fifth conner. is
sun resident OF Santa Cruz and nearly