Humane Society, member of all protective societies of California, and the Woman's Press Association. A prominent Roman Catholic.
LAURA CATHERINE SEARING.
Mrs. Searing was born in Somerset, Maryland, February, 1840. In her childhood she lost her hearing and power of speech through illness. Educated at the Deaf Mute University of Missouri and at the Clark Institute, Northampton, Massachusetts, where she regained to quite a degree her power of speech. Married a prominent attorney of New York, Edward W. Searing, in 1876. Has been a correspondent on many of the prominent newspapers, doing this work for the Missouri Republican during the Civil War. Is one of the American authors now residing in Santa Cruz, California.
LA SALLE CORBELL PICKETT.
Mrs. Pickett is the widow of General George Edward Pickett, C. S. A., who was a conspicuous figure in the Battle of Gettysburg, September 15, 1863. Since her husband's death she has occupied a position in one of the departments in Washington, and has done considerable editorial and literary work in the form of short stories, poems and special articles. Has lectured on patriotic subjects, and has written sketches of Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Lee, Jackson, and Grant.
ANNIE JENNESS MILLER.
Mrs. Jenness Miller, while an advocate of dress reform, is so in a much more reserved form than that advocated by the followers of Mrs. Bloomer. She was born in New Hampshire, but resided in Boston prior to her marriage in 1884. Before her marriage Mrs. Miller had won considerable fame in Massachusetts as a woman of letters. Then, as a young and beautiful woman, highly cultured, she took up with energy, combined with good judgment, the question of dress reform, or, as she has stated it, the principles and character of artistic dressing. With other prominent leaders in the dress reform movement she went upon the platform to voice her theories and views. She lectured in all the leading cities of the United States to crowded houses, and had the unusual experience of being invited over and over again to the same place. She was one of the owners of a magazine published in New York and devoted to the aesthetics of physical development and artistic designs for frocks, and containing articles by the best writer on all topics of interest to women. The influence of her work through this magazine was widely acknowledged. She is the author of "Physical Beauty," and of "Mother and Babe," the latter a work which furnished information and patterns upon improved plans for mothers' babies' wardrobes. All the progressive and reformatory movements of the day appealed to her, and have had her support and sympathy. She now lives in Washington, D. C, where she has large real estate interests.
