I38 VALUABLE AIDS. 
liberal assistance of the public, especially all those 
interested in higher education. 
To diminish the liability of pecuniary failure, 
however, it was determined to add a collection 
of foreign curiosities. It seemed desirable to 
procure these upon the Pacific coast, as most of 
the population of Colorado is from the East and 
South, and would feel more interest in curiosities 
that naturally find a market in San Francisco. 
Through the kindness of a friend a ticket was 
assured her to that city. She also came into pos- 
session of some property she had inherited; and 
as the spring opened, the work of collecting for 
the projected museum became an acknowledged 
business. Exchanges of duplicate shells, skins, 
etc., were made with naturalists in many places 
both East and West. Dr. McL , a man of 
some experience as a naturalist, was engaged ; and 
accompanied by him and Mr. H , a gentle- 
man of ornithological tastes, both Mr. and Mrs. 
Maxwell set out to collect specimens of every- 
thing needful to a complete representation of the 
natural productions of Colorado. Of their many 
and varied adventures I shall give but a few of 
those most distinctly remembered. 
