Her mother wanted to give Mary an education that was free of the rigidity of the traditional educational methods in the country, and established the first Montessori school in Canada at their residence, and Mary attended the school.[1] Maxwell began reading and writing at a young age and her pastimes included writing poetry, novels and plays.[2] She spoke English, French, German and Persian fluently.[2] During her youth, she twice traveled to the Baháʼí World Centre in Palestine for pilgrimage – the first with her mother and the second with her mother's friends, aged fifteen.