The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-09-12
A WOMAN METAMORPHOSED.
A Story Told for Truth and V0uched for,
but which the Reader May Believe Or

From The Missouri Democrat, august %.
Some fifteen years ago, at one of the
principal seminaries in Ohio were two be
autiiul young ladies, whom circumstances
threw unusually close together. They
became like the friends in Shakespeare,
IA double cherry growing on one stem. >"
They studied together being in the same
class, roomed together, ate slate pencils
| together, and in their noctural envelopes,
sat at their room window to gaze upon
the moonlight and tom cats, who slept on
the adjoining roof. In the course of time
they graduated, and each went to her
home. But their friendship was not i'm
paired by distance, and the national re
venue was considerably increased by the
postage on daily letters from each to the
other full of affection and not crossed
more than twice. In 1868 one of them
became acquainted with gallant soldier
from Iowa, holding the rank Of colonel,
who had distinguished himself during the
war. 4 brief acquaintance formed dur
ing the furlough soon ripened into love,
and finally eliminated in happy mar
riage. For two years they lived together,
and under their roof no guest save happi-
ness seemed to have been admitted One
chill, the idol Of ats parents, acas born to
them Towards the end of 1865, how
ever, people began to notice that Mrs.
had changed considerably in appear
ance. Her voice, once soft and silvery,
had now genuine masculine ring. Her
hands seemed no longer small and fragile,
! ,,r,lar ha, xrni,,hf nf h,,t l,r,,o
and bony. An indescribable change in
her walk was apparent, and at last lux
uriant beard forced its way upon her
face. 1t was painfully evident that her
sex was changing. Physicians and sur
geons were called in, aud all were aston
ished. but none could prevent nature from
carrying out her strange freak. The uu-
fortunate wife, almost broken hearted,
begged of her husband to apply for di
vorce. He applied for it, and it was
granted. Mrs. -, throwing off the pet
ticoat and panicr, which were hardly com
patbie with the beard, gave up her
feminine accomplishments and pursuits,
! forsook the sewing machine, treated talk
! ing as Il lost art, and earned her way by
giving music lessons on the piano. Oh
music she had always been very fond, and
her rare accomplishments now stood heI
| in good stead. Through all this time
even when parted from her husband. she
had been in correspondence with her faith
full friend aud schoolmate of years before
The changes which caused husband and
friends to forsakc her had 10 effect upon
the faithful heart of her girl friend. And
now comes the straDgest part of this
truthful and wonderful story. The school
| girls of tea years ago are now man and
wife. When MEs.-developcd into
| Mr. -, she naturally turned for con
ISOLATION and friendship TO her old friend
| and talked love, not as the school girl
! but as the man. In the new character
she won again the heart which was al
ready hers. They were betrothed and
married, and now live together happily
in the State Of Iowa, prosperous in busi
uess and highly respected by all who
know them. As matter of course the
names of the parties are withheld, on ac-
! count of the prominent positions they
hold in society, aud to shield them from
! the curious gazes of all who visit their
city. a correspondent Of the Dcnocrat
while travelling there heard this strange
! story, went into their store, and made a
small purchase 10 order to obtain view
OF this strange couple. He found them
! both in the store. The husband may be
some twenty eight or thirty years of age,
but does not look older than a man o!
twenty FIVE. His figure is slight and well
knit. His height is about five feet five
inches, and his weight may be l30 or l40
pounds. His hair is a wavy brown. al
most black, and he wears neat little
mustachc but no beard, though his "chin
new reaped showed like a stubble field in
| harvest time" His features are regular
and pleasing; eyes dark and mouth small
and firm The face is not that of "A wo-
man, but Of keen, active and cultivated
man. His wife Cor her wife, as the read
er may prefer), is about twentysiz OF
twenty seven, worry young looking, with
an abundance of blond hair and very
sweet dark blue eyes. She seemed very
fond of her husband, and followed his
every motion with her eyes, never speak
ing to him without addressing him as
''dcar" Their life, according to the
neighbors, is an uninterrupted honey
moon.
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