Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-11
A Brave Little GirI-A True Narrative.
LE,rnt,a thn Chicn 90 Trih.,,,n

In the Tribune of yesterday appeared recital
of the adventures of young woman who, I'M
der the assumed name of Harry Johnson" and
in male attire, went through a variety of ex-
periences as type-setter, and was deserted by
falthlesS lover. The information embodied in
the article was communicated by a woman,
whose veracity we had no reason to question:
and the facts were related in the belief that they
| were genuine There is reason to fear however,
that the statements were considerably distorted
and that the whole story was inspired by some
of those inexplicable jealOuses which do occa-
siOnally spring up in the female bosom.
We need not make any apology, however, for
the publication OF the article, since it has led to
an investigation Of the real facts in the case, the
result of which we cheerfully give to our read
ers. 1t appears that about the only statement
communicated by the reformer above referred
to, which can be verified, is that the young wom-
an went by the name of Harry Johnson The
true story of the "female typo is indeed stran-
ger than fiction, and reveals traits of heroic en-
durance, perseverance, and sturdy self-reliance
under adverse circumstances which reflect honor
upon the individual and upon her sex.
The young lady, whose supposed adventures
were rehearsed in the article alluded TO, called
at the Tribune office yesterday, and "did a
round unvanished tale deliver" of the truth of
which no one who listened and looked into the
truth-telng eye of the narrator could for mo-
ment be skephcal. She is a young woman of
slight frame and rather diminutve stature, of
pltdoluS lSdluICS, anu Il uldIuCT WHICH denotes
good breeding and good education. Her story
which we have found amply corroborated by the
evidence of persons to whom her history is well
known, is as follows:
She left her home in New England some three
years ago, and went out into the world to earn
her living. She first went to Cleveland, Ohio
where she was acquainted with a few families,
and made an effort to live by the needle. 1t
was hard work, and the remuneration was so
meagre that, after struggling for some time, she
was Obliged TO give it up and seek some other
means. TWAS about this time that the move
ment for the education of women began TO ari-
| tate the community. She was deeply i'm
| pressed with some of the ideas then
| promulgated, and, putting them into
| practice, she went to work in a printing office
| for year. During that time she succeeded
in picking up practical knowledge of the bust
ness sufficient to carry her along, and then she
| struck out for Michigan, and obtained employ
ment in country printing Office. While there
| she became accldently acquainted with the edi-
| tor of an agricultural paper in Chicago in
| whose office female printers were engaged. At
his suggestion she came to Chicago and went to
| work, getting "leaded matter to set, and book
| work, by means of which she was able to earn
| about sl5 per week. This comparatively easy
| kind OF work did not long continue, so she had
| 10 go to work on the newspaper on clean
| bourgeois, out of which she found it hard to
| extract decent wages After a while she went
on religious weekly paper on Clark street.
| where they set solid matter This also proved
| lean" work for the young girl, and getting
| somewhat discouraged with the business, she
left Chicago and went to st Louis. This was
| year ago. She obtained good employment in
| one of the st. Louis offices, and for time all
went well with her. She found a nice boarding
place in the house of German lady who rented
her back paror. She had good clothes and was
| making enough to carry her along smoothly
One day, however, she fell out of employment
and, as natural consequence, she soon fell out
| of money. She had no friends TO help her in
| her hour of need and by and by she bepan 10
| pawn her dresses TO buy food. Her wardrobe
| gradually disappeared under this disastrous pro-
| cess, and then her furniture went. In short
time she was reduced to the point of starva-
| ton and to her last dress.
| In this unhappy strait, with no one to advise
| or aid her, our heroine bethought her of domes-
tic service as the only door left open to her
She hestated to take this step, however, think
ing that her natural abilities, aided by sub
stantial education, fitted her for something bet
ter. After mature deliberatOn she passed
resolution that woman's garment was only an
obstacle in her path to prelerment, and she ac-
cordingy determined to discard it, and adopt
that OF the lords Of creation. She sold out her
female raiment, and with the proceeds purchased
coat Tor 50, pair of pantaloOns for S3, and
ct ceteras amounting in all to about SIS. That
| purchase left her dead broke, and sheehanged
| her boarding place.
Inc transformation proved fortunate one.
AS man she found immediate employment,
anu performing mans work she received a
man wages. She was Il little shy however, of
meeting herold acquaintance, for fear of de-
| tecuon and ITS consequences and in August last
sue removed once more to Chicago, where she
| got permanent employment upon one of the
aahy papers. Here she was kindly treated by
| her associates, many of whom took guite n
liking TO the '1ittle fellow" who was handy
enough but found some difficulty at first in
] handling the small type