Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-12-21
QUEER FEMALES.


QUEER FEMALES.
Among odd women may certainly be classed
those who in early years, were wild girls found
in semi barbarous state in woods aud lonely
districts Peter, the Wild Boy, and Caspar
Hauser have had parallels in the gentler sex, If
the narratives are to believed la 1881, while
nobleman shooting near Chalous, he saw two
beiugs in small lake or pond, who proved to
be girls of (apparently) ten or twelve years OF
age, They were very dark, aud had scanty
covering OF rags aud skins. Onc made her es-
cape. and was not again seen; the other was
secured. and taken to the chteau of the Vi
comte d'Epuay. She spoke no words, only
kind OF wild scream; preferred raw meat aud
vegetables to cooked her fingers aud thumbs
were very strong, owing to frequent climbing
and cingiug on trees A shepherd, to whose
care she was consigned, had much difficulty IN
retaining and tanning her; for she would scratch
holes 10 the walls and roof Of his hut, aud es-
cape into the woods. When exhibited before
the Queen OF Poland, 10 1877, she displayed
her hcetness in outruuning hares and rabbits.
She was baptised as Marie le Blanc, but did not
live to do credit to her sponsors; her health de-
cliued under the influence OF civilized usages,
aud she was sent to d convent, where she pass
ed out OF the worlds Ren. Another instance
comes under date, l767, where some Hungari-
aus were chasing the wild boar near Frauen-
mark, and followed their prey far over the
mountains. Seeing the tracks of human foot
steps in the snow, they traced them to cav
erD, where they found young girl unclothed,
and very brown in color. She set up cry,
aud gazed on the hunters, who took her away
with them. They conveyed her to hospital
near ChemnitZ, where she was clothed and
made to take nourishmcnt. At first she re-
fused ali the cooked food presented to her,
prcfcrring roots, inner bark, and other uD
dressed articles of vegetable growth. What
became Of her we have no record to tell.
Somc odd women have lived a life ot loDcll-
ness, without furnishing anything like a ra-
tioual explanation Of the cause Of their isola-
ton. Such was the case of one Louisa, whose
surname seems to have eluded Inquiry lu the
appearance at BOurton, near Bristol, aud soll-
cited food. The inhabitants took an interest
in her, and would have given her home; but
she would sleep nowhere save under hay
stack She said that trouble and misery dwell
10 houses; that there is no happiness but III
liberty and fresh air. She had refined man
ners, slightly foreign accent and evidently
experienced much mental distress, with ooca-
sioually little wilduess Of demeanor. When
Ill, she would accept the aid OF hospitals; but,
when recovered, she returned to her hay-stack.
During three or four years residence 10 the
neighborhood she obtained little gifts OF. food
from the villagers; but she neither sought nor
would accept employment. She was known as
the Lady Of the 4aystack, for something i'll
her manner prevented the villagers from re-
gardUg her as a comuon, vulgar person. Her
peculiarltes led to her temporary confinement
in private asylum near Bristol, from which she
was transferred to Guys Hospital, where she
died early 10 the present century. Nothing was
ascertained concerning her identity and history.
it was ouly at ncoherent moments that she
made remarks which led to the inference that
she had been married, had moved il good, if
not high, society, and had suffered much ILL
usage. The Book of Wonderful Characters
gives many Of her suatches of conversation;
but as we do not know the source OF iDforma-
ton, aud as they were inconcluSlve in their re-
suit, we pass them. Another local celebrity,
in somewhat similar position of isolation, but
belonging to a humber grade in life, was Jen-
by Darney, who lived alone iD hut lent to
her IN Cumberland She picked up bits OF
wool that lay about the fields iu sheep-iarms,
spun it on a spindle of her own making, and
knitted the thread with wooden needles into
garments for her own wear. She would accept
money from 90 one, but received food from
kind neighbors She refused to give her name,
mention her family, or asst ign reason for her
strange mode of life Dates are waiting; all
we learn is. that she died at au advanced age
early IN the present century.
Not so lonely as the mysterious Louisa OF
the havstack, or Jenny of the hut, but odd
enough in her way, was Mrs. LeWson. Sne
was left a wealthy widow in London 10 the
time Of George the First; and, rejecting all Of
ters of re re-marrage, passed the rest of her
days at the residence of her late husband 10
Cold Bath square. The house was large aud
handsomely furnished; and some of the beds
were kept constantly made and ln trim or
der although they had not been slept 10
for thirty years Her own room was oc.
casioually swept out. but never washed, and
the windows were SO eucruStCu with dirt as to
admit scarcely any light. She reasoned thus,
when asked for explanation 1t the room
were wetted she might catch cold if the win
dows were cleaned the glass might be broken,
and somebody hurt She never washed her
self for fear Of cold as substitute che an
milk and hogs lard, finished off with touch
OF rose pink on the checks. She was method
cal in all her habits, eating with one tavorlte
knife, fork, and plate, and drinking out OF one
cup. She bad excellent health, abhorred phys.
ic and doctors. aud ''cut two new teeth at the
age of eighty y-scven." She had no near rela-
tons, and refused to see those more distsntiy
related. One pleasant characteristic is re-
corded. She had large, well-kept garden, 10
which she passed much OF her time reading
Although she lived entirely through the regns
of the First and Second Georges, aud far into
that Of the Third, she continued to wear the
fashions of the time of George the First, as
being those OF her married life. Her powder
ed hair was turned up over tache or cush
ion; cap over it was tied under the chin; and
three or four curls hung down to the neck.
She generally wore silk gown, with long
train and deep fouuces, very long waist and
tigdtly laced up to her peck, round which
kind of ruff or irill was worn; the sleeves of the
gown came down below the elbows, and were Ss,