The Republican journal., 1874-03-19
A Woman in TrOwsers.
PHILADELPHIA. March |,


second look ut him The tacc was dainty
and oval, the eyes full and sparkling, the
nose Grecian, the lips full and delicately
moulded and the forehead crowned with a
wealth of coal-black hair. "A little Italian
lad" | thought to myself; the fair serf Of
some cruel and hcartless padrone caught
plyingan gal occupation upon the street
and before Il justice to explain"
''Let me tell youn said officer Levy, 81
made her arrest this morning, found her
away up in the attic of a shooting gallery
on Chestnut street. She was crouched be
hind Il partition like a little animal. |
| brought her from the shooting gallery to
the office. She put her hands in her pock
cts, walked quietly by my side laughing
and chatting meTily as Il sprite, and arOus
ing in the pedestrians hurrying along not
the slightest suspicion Of her sex. tell
You she is true and as bright rs a dollar
Go in and talk to her
THE LITTLE WOMAN ACCOUNTS FOR
HERSELF.
| ..What is your name?1 | asked. "Bertie
| Winkler,n She answered, promptly raising
her head and fixing her full eyes steadily
upon me Her quaint costume contrasted
strangely with her bright healthy, hand
some face. The dingy breeches, the tight
ting coat, the rude shoes, and the coarse
cl.eyiot shirt, il. became one 50 dainty and
so Young Her dark raven hair was crop
ped short, and parted low upon the side.
Just like boys Where is your home
Iasked I'm keysville, Charlotte county,
Virginia. she replied,
why did you leave home? Tell me al
about YOURSELF | went on. About your
parents Your age, your life and your con
ditiou
Her answer was plain. straightforward
and frank, bright honest and humorous
| give it in her exact words.
MY parents are German and they 1rr
very old they are also very poor. II wa
as much as they could do to support them
selves Often have looked upon my poor
mother and pitied her she was 50 old and
her family so large to keep. | am only
sixteen One day thought could assis'
my mother by going out in the world and
working tor myself told her al. my
thoughts, and She said that | might 90
She kissed me when went away and told
me never to forget that ! was lady and
that She was my mother went to Rich
mond, the conductor of the cars allowing
me TO ride free there first put upon me-
The clothes of Il boy
bREECIIEp FOR PROTECTION.
why ?" ] asked.
We'll, =" she answered, modestly, II dId
not want to be insulted, and thought q
bows outfit would protect me better than
girl lust laughed when ! put the
clothes ON. thouoh " She continued. lmil-
me, because everywhere | placed my
hands there seemed to be a pocket went
to the captain of a steamer bound tor Phil
ad4Ipbial and, telling him how poor wa
and how much | wanted to help my mo-
tbcr | asked him if he would not let me
nav nv way TO thp North by working upon
hi; vessel The CAPTAIN was very kind,
and told me | was too Young to do work
and that he would let me ride lust like
nassenopr The CAPTAIN never dreamed
That was = little oiri He never once sus-
nectnd if never told him he does nol
know il vet. All were generous and good
to me on the steamer; no one ever spoke
an unkind word. | arrived here about
January. | was idle for some weeks and
found ii 50 hard to live BY and by went
into the shooting gallery, and he gave me
4 place | have been there until to-day,
No one ever suspected my being girl
no one ever insulted me Ihe proprietor
himself did not know Of my sex until thi~
morning when the officer came. learned
to shoot first rate. hit the centre OF the
target ten times once one right after the
other One day a great big man came IN
the gallery and he was drunk. lie Nh"l
many times and then would not pay /
| made him pay, and then he began to swear
One OF the people then opened the door.
| Just put all my strength against him and
| pushed him right out All the men laughed
and felt afraid Of what had done. h1d
anlce boarding place, ! roomed alone ny
myself; You can ask the woman who owns
| the housA if did not. My mother knows
where | am, only she is a German and
when she hears that | have been arrested
she will think that they have taken me tn
Jail. | have never done ANYTHING wrong
| ! was known at the gallery aS LoUlS w INK
| Ter
| NlETUora AND FEARLESS.
| "Krt your CORRESPONDENT interrupted.
.eyere Won NOT in constant dread of being
| insulted9"
| mo - she answered "Why should /
have been. | was doing my duty. and wa
not ashamed to work. If a ppraon does
ripht She will never suffer NV BOYS
clothes kept me from insult, and no ON
ever tound me out. | have ALWAYS sent
nv mother monpy-illst asmuch H. could
SPARE Ask the Chief of Police If he viii
not let me write letter to my mother now
| | want 10 so much. She viii be worried
about her little Girl.
Such was the story Bertie told me The
| her statements no discrepancies on contra