Christian Association, and for years was its president When, later, she had her home in Oakland, Cat, she remained its vice-president and one of its most active workers. In 1877 she was elected president of the Woman's Occidental Board of Foreign Missions, an office which she now holds. Many perplexing social and political Issues have come into the deliberation of the Occidental Board. The entrance into this country of Chinese women at first, and later the coming of Japanese women of the same class, the management of the home which is intended to be their asylum from slavery, the cases in courts where young Chinese girls are called to appear scores of times before they are finally awarded to the guardianship of the home, as in the famous case of the Chinese child, Woon Tsun, are some of the most perplexing questions for the society. In her broad, catholic spirit. Mrs. Browne was ready to help forward the Hyacinthe movement, under the patronage of Pere and Madame Hyacinthe. She has been a constant writer for periodicals and is the author of the interesting temperance book, "Overcome " portraying the evils of fashionable wine-drinking and intemperance. She assisted in organizing the noble army of Christian temperance women of California into the State Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and served the union as president for several years. She was also editor for a considerable period of the organ of the society in California. In 1877 she organized the Young Women's Christian Association in Oakland, in the suburbs of which city is located her "Highland Park" home. Of that organization she is now president A home for young women, a day nursery for poor laboring mothers, a kindergarten and station for gospel services are some of the plans provided for in the new building about to be erected by that association. For several years she was president of "The Ebell," an art and literary society in Oakland. The first free kindergarten in Oakland had its inception in Mrs. Browne's Bible class of young ladies. She is the mother of three children, two sons and one daughter.
BROWNELL, Mrs. Helen M. Davis, educator, born in Ossian, N. Y., 31st January, 1836. Her childhood was spent in a Christian home. At an early age she manifested an eager desire for knowledge, using with avidity the means within reach to fit herself for the position of teacher. She became a prominent educator in the public schools of Bloomfield, Lima and Geneseo, N. Y. Having attained success as an instructor in English branches, she entered the seminary in Lima, that she might fit herself for more advanced work in her profession. For some years she continued her studies in th.it school. There she met her future husband, W. A. Brownell, then a student in Genesee college. On the completion of his college course they were married, in July, 1865. In September, 1865, her husband became principal of Red Creek Seminary, N. Y. and she became preceptress. Later, her hus*band was called to the chair of Latin in Falley Seminary, N. Y., where she again took the position of preceptress and teacher of French. At that time Falley Seminary stood in the front rank of collegiate preparatory schools. Upon the call of her husband to the principalship of Fairfield Seminary, N. Y., she discontinued teaching, and during their three years' residence there her first son was born. In 1871, her husband having accepted a position in the high school in Syracuse, N. Y., they removed to that city, and there they still reside. Mrs. Brownell gave herself heartily to the making of a home, meanwhile carrying on with enthusiasm her studies in general literature and natural history, particularly in the department of botany. Her home has been not only a safe retreat for her husband and children, but its doors have always been open to receive to its sheltering care young men and women who were
HELEN M. DAVIS BROWNELL.
struggling to prepare for life's duties. To these young people she has given advice, inspiring and inciting them to the highest aspirations, and aiding and directing them in their studies. She has enjoyed the advantages of travel, both in America and Europe. Within the last few years, since her household duties have been less imperative, she ha« given herself zealously to the work of the Woman's Home Missionary Society, speaking often
in various conventions and conferences.
BROWNSCOMBE, Miss Jennie, artist, born near Honesdale, Pa., 10th December, 1850. Her father, a farmer, was a native of Devonshire, England. Her mother belonged to a family conspicuous among the Connecticut pioneers, who came to the Colonies in 1640 with Governor Winthrop. Miss Brownscombe was the only child. She was studious and precocious, and about equally inclined to art and literature. She early showed a talent for drawing, and when only seven years old she began drawing, using the juices of flowers and leaves with which to color her pictures. In school she illustrated every book that had a blank leaf or margin available. Her father died before she left school, and her mother in 1891. When Jennie was eighteen years old, she began to teach school, and at the age of twenty she became a student in the Cooper Institute School of Design for Women in New York, from which she won a medal at the end of a year, and for several succeeding years she studied in the National Academy, winning first medals in the life and antique schools. In the second year of her study she began to make drawings on wood for "Harper's Weekly" and other periodicals, and to teach drawing and painting. She devoted her study mainly to genre figure
