The Big blue union., 1865-11-04

The story Of a Woman's career of
Forty years. service as an officer
I'm the British Army.
An Eug'ish paper says: can incident is
just now being discussed in military circles
SO extraordinary that we're not it's truth
vouched for by official authority, the mar
ration would be deemed absolutely incredi-
bic. Our officers quartered at the Cape be-
tween fifteen and twenty years ago may re-
member a certain Doctor Barry attached
to the medical staff there, and enjoying
reputation for considerable skill in his pro-
fession, especially for frmness, decision,
and rapidity in difficult operations. This
gentleman had entered the army in 1913,
had passed, Of course through The grades of
assistant surgeon and surgeon in various
regiments, and had served as such in va
rious quarters of the globe. His profess
sional requirements had procured for him
his promotion to the staff at the Cape. He
was cleverand agreeable, save torlhe draw
back of most quarrelsom temper, and an
inordinate addiction to argument, which
perpetually brought the former popularity
into play. He was excessively plain, of
feeble proportions, and labored under the
imperfection of ludicrously squeaking
voice. Any natural "chafing" with regard
to these, however, especially aroused his
ire, but was at length discontinued on his
scaling out" persevering offender and
shooting him through the lungs.
+. "About 1910 he became promoted to be
medical inspector, and was transferred to
Malta. There he was equally distin-
guished by his skill and by his pugnacious
propensitives, the latter becoming so in
conveniently developed upon the slightest
difference of opinion with him, that at
last no notice was allowed to be taken of
his violent fits of temper. He proceeded
from Malta to Corfu, where he was quar-
tered for many years, still conspicuous for
the same peculiarities. When our govern
ment ceded the Ionian islands to Greece,
and our troops, of course, quilted the terri.
tory, DR.. Barry elected to leave the army
and take up his residence for the rest of
his days at Corfu. He there died about
month ago, and upon his death was discov-
cred to be a woman Very probably this
discovery was elected during the nat ural
preparations for interment, but there seems
to be an idea prevalent that either verbally,
during the last illness, or by some writing,
pursued Immediately after his for we must
still use the masculine death, he had
begged to be buried without post mortem
examination of any sort.
"This, most likely, only aroused the GU
riosity of the two nurses who attended him,
for it was 70 them, it appears, that the dis.
closure of this mystery is owing. Under
the circumstances, the fact was deemed so
important that medical testimony was called
in to report upon and record its truth. By
this investigation not only was the asser.
tion placed beyond doubt, but it was
equally beyond doubt brought to light
that the individual in question had at some
time or another been mother This is
all that is as yet known of this extraordl-
nary story. The motives that occasioned
and the time when commenced this singu.
lar deception are both shrouded in mys-
terry. But that it stands an indubiiable
fact, that woman for forty years an officer
in the British service, had fought one duel,
and had sought many more, had pursued a
legitimate medical education, had received
a regular diploma, and had acquired al
most celebrity as surgical operatorl"
A doting mother Of a waggish boy hav.
ing bottled lot Of nice preserves, labelled
them Put up by Mrs. Doc, Johnny hav.
srr> 4 L.