Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/775

734 In 1863, after private study at home, she entered Bridgton Academy, of which the late Charles E. Hilton was principal. Here she spent two years in fitting for Mount Holyoke, and was graduated with honor from that well-known institution in 1868. Returning to South Bridgton, Miss Farnham spent several years of quiet usefulness in the home of her childhood. It was during these years that she served the town most faithfully as a conscientious member of the school committee, a superintendent of schools from 1887 to 1890. During the latter year the opportunity came to her which resulted in her accepting the vice-principalship of the Bloemhof School, in Stellenbosch (thirty miles from Cape Town), Cape of Good Hope. This is a large boarding and day .school for the daughters of European colonists and, under government supervision, prepares pupils for higher examinations and degrees of the University of the Cape of Good Hope. In addition to school duties much time was spent in working on the flora of the Cape and Stellenbosch districts of Cape Colony.

Leaving Africa in 1888 and visiting the Island of St. Helena, on the way to Europe, she traveled extensively in that continent, remained a long time in London, and reached the United States the same year.

We next find Miss Farnham in the capacity of preceptress and teacher of English and history in Burr and Burton Seminary, Manchester, Vt. ; then she accepted a similar position in the Forest Park University, St. Louis, Mo. Four years as preceptress of Fryeburg Academy, Fryeburg, Me., followed, which brought her to 1895. While occupying these last three positions Miss Farnham was brought into contact with a very large number of boys and girls, and had the great privilege of training many for extended courses of study, as well as for business life.

In 1895-96 she was a student at Radclifife College, Cam-