74 
CONSTANCE C. W. NADEN. 
Apr., 1890 . 
The cause of evolution has suffered severely by her 
premature dissolution, for she brought to bear on its pro¬ 
mulgation, not only a woman’s sympathy and a poet’s instinct, 
but also a philosopher’s acumen. And now, indeed just at 
the very commencement of her work, and enriched as she 
was with the rare combinations of genius, will, leisure, 
and ample means, one of its ablest and most devoted expo¬ 
nents is abruptly silenced for ever! 
It is impossible within the brief limits of space allowed 
by a scientific journal, to do adequate justice to the merits of 
this many-sided and beautiful character. The writer’s experi¬ 
ence of his lost and highly valued friend only extended from 
1884, during the time of her later studentship at the Mason 
College, and subsequently until the end came in 1889 ; but 
a few details of her early school life—and later student life— 
have been supplied from several trustworthy sources; and such 
particulars relating to her college career, from a professorial 
point of view, as are of public interest, have been most 
ldndly and sympathetically written by Professor Tilden, 
D.Sc., F.R.S., one of her teachers, as a supplement to this 
notice. 
Constance Caroline Woodhill Naden was born at No. 15, 
Francis Road (formerly Francis Street), Edgbaston, January 
24th, 1858, and was the only child of Mr. Thomas Naden, 
now President of the Birmingham Architectural Association, 
and Caroline Anne, only daughter by his second wife (a Miss 
Field) of Mr. J. C. Woodhill, Pakenham House, Charlotte 
Road. Mrs. Naden died on the 5th of February following, 
and it is touchingly recorded that when the final parting 
came between her mother and the young wife, the latter said 
“You will have baby!” That sacred trust was at once 
acknowledged and faithfully kept, for the little infant was 
taken and adopted by the grand-parents (Mr. and Mrs. 
Woodhill) when only twelve days old, and with them she lived 
until their decease, and for whom she ever entertained the 
most loving and devoted affection. Mr. Naden, on the 
death of his wife, left Francis Street, and also resided at 
Pakenham House for some considerable time. Twenty- 
three years afterwards her first volume of poems, “ Songs 
and Sonnets of Springtime,” was dedicated in a sonnet 
to these “ guardians trueand it may be doubted if 
the English language contains a much more beautiful 
or tender memorial of filial gratitude. It was a happy 
home at Pakenham House. “Little Consie,” the pet 
name by which she was endearingly called, was perfectly 
