The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-10

been. taken up by only a few nature
writer's. Among these may be mem
toned Mrs Elizabeth Cabot Agassiz
and Mrs. Augusta Foote Arnold of New
York city, whose recent death left
this field practically unoccupied. Mrs.
Arnold was also the author of the Cen
fury Cookbook under the name OF
Mary Ronald and under her. own OF
the -Seabeach at Ebb Tide" a book
which has revealed the wonders of the
deep to many appreciative eyes. She
was born at Seneca Falls, N. Y, but,
like many persons of inland nurture,
the sea had always great fascination
for her. and she wrote of it most ac-
ceptably. She was a member of the
Torrey Botanical and q she Mycolog-
ical clubs of New York. Another writer
in the marine line is Mrs. A. S. Hardy.
whose Hall of Shells is designed to
meet the requirements of youthful read
ers.
Mrs Efne Mott Bignell, who wrote
Mr.. Chupes and Miss Jenny" MY
Woodland Intimates" and "A Quintette
of Graycoats," born in Vermont
and educated in a Canadian convent
A convent is not just the school from
which one would expect a naturalist to
emerge, but it happens that some of
the best teachers of natural history
may be found in rural cloisters. for in
their quiet, secluded retreats the gentle
sisters have many opportunities for
outdoor observation and become much
absorbed in scientific Investigations.
Mrs. Bignell is a member of the
American Ornithologists' union and
now lives at New Brunswick, N. ].
Mrs Florence Merriam Bailey, au-
thor of birds of Village and Field"
"Rirds Through an Opera Glass"
Handbook of Birds of the Western
United States" etc, is another of the
Smith college coterie of writer's, hav-
ing been graduated in the class of SO.
She is a native of Locust Grove, N. Y.
but is now resident of Washington.
Mrs. Bailey is member of the
Washington Biological society and of
the American Ornithologists' union.
| Some of the most pleasing nature
books for younger readers have come
| from the pens of Miss Margaret w.
Morley and Mrs. Julia McNair Wright.
The former is resident of Boston,
/ teacher and lecturer having been
! graduated from the New York City
Normal college in 1878. 'fWasps and
/ Their Ways" Insect Folks" Butter
! flies and Bees "The Honey Makers"
1.-THE Bee People" "a Song of Life"
Il
publications. Mrs. Julia McNair
! Wright, who has been doing literary
work since she was sixteen years of
age was born at Oswego, N. Y, in
| 1910 and married DR.. William James
| Wright, the mathematician. She has
written many books on many subjects,
some of them having been translated
even into Arabic. Her Mature Read
ers" are so entertaining that they ap-
peal to adults as we'll as children.
Among the women who have written
/ of the plant world may be included
Mrs. William Starr Dana, who is in
private life Mrs. William James Rus
sell Parsons; Mrs. Rutherford Ely,
Maud Going, Alice Lounsberry, Julie
E. Rogers, Nina Marshall, Belle s.
Cragin, Dora Read Goodale and many
| others
! So as the controversy in regard to
nature taking goes merrily it is
well to remember that, although women
comprise the majority of writers in
| this field, the charge of inaccuracy has
been brought against none of them
And so when parsing the term don't
| forget that nature faker should be
masculine gender.
CAROLINE WETHERELL