The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-10-29
EDEN WITHOUT ADAM.
Female Colony That is to Turn Out
New Women.
DR.. Mary Walker to Conduct Farm
and the Women to Wear
Boomers for Life.

DR.. Mary Walker, who about forty
years ago preached the gospel of dress
reform to the women of this country,
and who was arrested in many cities for
dressing and appearing in public IN
male attire, is the apostle of scheme
for the bloomer girl, says an Oswego
dispatch to the New York Herald.
Through Lawyer Henry c. Benedict
of this city, DR.. Mary Walker has
bought a farm containing 135 acres Of
land seven miles west of this city, and
proposes to form colony in which
man shall have no part. Only females
who will bind themselves to life OF
celibacy while members of the commu-
nifty and to wear boomers for life are
to be eligible. They will work the
farm in all its details, plant and har-
vest the crops, dispose of them in mar
ket and take care of the stock.
I'VE will all live in a large, comm0-
dious farmhouse, for which 1 am having
plans prepared DR.. Walker Informed
me to-day. Every member will have
her own room. PortiereS will take the
place of doors. Steam will be employed
fer heating purposes and there Will be
bathrooms and every convenience to be
found in a Well-regulated and modern
house.
Il shall give my personal supervision
to the establishment. Members, now
ever, vii elect officers twice a year to
conduct it. There will be an Auditing
Board to look after accounts an I'm
provement Board to look after improve
mentS to the property, and Governing
Board.
1T shall be the duty of the Chairman
of the latter to report all infractions of
rules by members. There will be two
judges chosen. One will have powers
similar to a police magistrate; the other
will have a position analogous. to our
General Term. Those accused of IN
fractions of the rules will be tried by a
jury of five, and if not satisfied with the
judgments of the lower courts, they can
appeal to me. 1 will sit as court Of
last resort.
1.-The rules of evidence, as governing
our State judiciary, will apply. There
will be no imprisonments; all punish
mentS will consist of withdrawal OF
privileges for a certain length of time.
If we should get into our fold undesir-
able women, who flirt or CAD about with
men when they go to market or on
other occas iOns, they will, after suitable
warning be expelled. All females Of
good character between the ages of -
and 30 years are eligible for member
ship. I am certain that the farm can
be made to support fifty or seventy five
persons.
Each member will have a share in
the profits after the expense for board
and clothing has been deducted The
remainder will go into a general fund
for betterments and the purchase of ad-
joining lands, if it is deemed necessary
and the community grows rapidly, as
believe it will [ have not decided
whether it would be wise to exact an
initiation fee or not. If it is so decided
it will be comparatively small
Any member viii, after three years
in the community. be eligible to retire,
taking with her the amount of the mi
itiation fee. if one has been charged.
and seven-eighths Of her share of the
earnings, the other eighth to go into the
general fund.
MY great object is to educate and to
turn out new women. as the newspaper
men term them. They will be women
who have governed themselves. l eX-
pect lots OF politics in the community,
and the members will soon be able to
hold their own, l warrant, with some OF
the so-called statesmen Of the present.
day.
Besides, it viii not be all farm work.
There viii be many hours each day for
study. and the curriculum will be rs
broad and extended as that in any Of
cur universities. There will be frequent
lectures in a large assembly room that 1
propose to have, and current literature,
politics and questions Of the day will he
discussed. The members can ride BIZ
cyles, and a number viii be kept for
their use.
There will be horses, but no side sad
dies. My girls viii ride astride as do
the men, and 1 predict that three years
OF life in our institution will make the
members the peer of any man, physi-
cally or mentally. ] viii not make rules
that defy all the laws of nature and eX-
act pledges binding for life That of
dress will be the only life pledge that
viii be asked.
Il expect that many Of those who
come to us will go forth from our tute-
lage to enter the homes Of men TO be-
come wives and mothers. When such
time comes they viii know how to be
both, and how to raise and educate fam
lilies that will reflect credit upon the ma
ton of new women
1.-The site selected for the colony is a
delightful one in the very heart of the
finest fruit country in New York State
Several acres of the land have been used
in raising the famous Oswego straw
berries. There is a fine apple orchard
several hundred pear trees and four
acres devoted to vineyard It is a
beautiful place, and unless all my plans
fail il will be a perfect garden of Eden
but without an Adam.
What will it be called? On January
1st next / hope to be able to announce
the name. It has not yet been selected y
The doctor is enjoying good health
and her plans are being carefully made
Many prominent women of this city in
terested in the advancement Of women
have been consulted, and approve of the