The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1872-09-12
Changing Sex.

w ueHefer u HemSpapoi uiah Ne~' ""J '1''
to write about, he invariably commences by
the remark-truc, though somewhat trite-
that = truth is stranger than fiction" In
giving this story, to-day, the. reporter of the
Democrat does not follow this time worn ex-
ample, but by due breach honors it more
than he would by observation. The story
which it is his to tell is a singular one, but
perfectly true. 1t was narrated to him at
Burlington Iowa, during a recent. visit, and
it was there an opportunity was afforded
him Of seeing the parties whom it affects.
There have been three or four similar cases
recorded, but so rarely has change of sex
been carefully observed and accurately no
tep, that the present case derives largely In
creased interest.
Some fifteen years ago. at one of the princi.
pal seminaries in Ohio, were two beautiful
and accomplished young ladies, whom cir
cunstances threw unusually close together.
They became like the friends in Shakespeare,
"a double cherry growing on one stcm."-
They studied together, being in the same
class, roomed together, ate slate pencils to-
gether, and in their nocturnal envelopes,
sat at their room window to gaze upon the.
moonlight and the tom cat, who gently steps
upon the adjoining. roof. In the course OF
time they graduated, and each went to her
home. But their friendship was not impair
ed by distance, and the national revenue was
considerably; increased by tho 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 a gallant soldier in Iowa, holding the
rank of Colonel, who had distinguished him.
self during the war. A brief acquaintance,
formed during his furlough, soon ripened in
to love, and finally eliminated in happy
marriage. For two years, they lived togeth-
er, and under their roof no guest, save hap
piness seemed tohaye been admitted. One
child, the idol of its parents, was born to
them. Towards the end of 1865, however,
people began to notice that Mrs - had
changed considerably in appearance. Her
voice. once soft and silvery, had now genu-
inc masculine ring. Her hands seemed no
longer small and fragile, under their weight
of rings, but large and bony. An indescri-
bale change in her walk was apparent, and
at last, luxuriant beard forced its way up
on her face. 1t was painfully evident that
her sex was changing. Physicians and sur
geons were called in, and all were: aston
ished but none could prevent nature from.
carrying out her strange freak. The unfor-
tunate wife almost hcart.broken, begged Of
her husband to apply for divorce. He ap-
piled for it and it was granted. Mrs. -.
throwing off the petticoat and pannier,
which wore hardly compatible with the
beard. gave up femin ne accomplishments
and pursuits, forsook the sewing machine,
treated talking as lost art, and earned her
way by giving music lessons on the piano.
Of music, she had always been very fond,
and her rare accomplishments now stood her
in good stead,
Through all this time, even when parted
from her husband, she had been in CORES
pondence with her faithful friend and school
mate of years before. The change which
caused husband and friends to forsake her
had no effect upon the faithful heart Of her
girl friend. And now comes the strangest
part of this truthful and wonderful story
The school girls Of ten years ago are now
man and wife.
When Mrs, - developed into Mr..
-. she naturally turned for consola-
ton and friendship to her old friend, and
talked love, not as the school girl, but as the
man. In her new character she won again
the heart that was already hers. They were
bctrothed and married, and now live togeth-
er happily in the State of Iowa, prosperous
in business, and highly respected by oil who
know them. As q matter Of course, the
names of the parties were withheld on ac-
count of the prominent positions they occu-
py in society, and to shield them from the
curious gaze of all who visit the city. 4
correspondent Of the Democrat, while visit
ing there, heard this strange story and went
into their store and made small purchase
of drugs, in order to obtain a view Of this
strange couple He found them both in the
store The husband may be some twenty
eight years of age, but does not look older
than a man of twenty five. His figure is
slight and we'll knit. His height is about
five feet ton inches, and his weight may be
13O or 14O pounds; His hair is wavy
brown, almost black, and he wears neat
mCustache, but no beard, though his "chin
new reaped showed like stubble field after
harvest time" His features are regular and
pleasing; eyes dark and mouth small and
firm. The face is not that of woman, but
of a keen, active and cultivated man. His
wife Cor her wife, as the reader may prefer, y
is about twenty-six or twenty-seven, very
young looking, with an abundance of blond
hair, and very sweet dark blue eyes. She
seemed very fond of her husband, and fol-.
lowed his every motion with her eyes, never
speaking to him without addressing him as
"dear" Their lives, according to their
neighbors, is an uninterrupted honeymoon.
st. Louis Democrat.
WHAT ARE DREAMS ?-Deeply buried
beneath its Opaque and sluggish veil of flesh,
the soul carries on its neutrality-suspicious.
n.oo 70 rpbap bu