The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-04-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Some Washington MOTORCYCLES who are not In
Congress. Professional Women-Mrs. Inv
yer Lockwood and DIR. Mary Walker.
From our rcsular Corre.pondent.

stars, as well as about society queens anu loD
by queens in Washington. Such are the won
dcrtul facilities for the transmission of news
and gossip from the capital to the remotes'
town that, for anyone to become famous or III
famous in Washington, is to gain national dis
tinction or notoriety Who has not heard OF
Boss Shepard, Beloa a. Lockwood and Doctor
Mary Walker? If any one protests against
the trifling OF these names, | will say that il
is only for the sake of argument The great
street grader, the fantastic female in pantaloons
and the woman lawyer, have nothing in COM
mon, except that they arc conspicuous charac'
tiers. The skctchlng of congressional stars,
and telling the most trivial things about them,
has been little ovcrdone, and propose to
write about a few famous female personagcs,
who are ~ consistent in their inconsistencies
as Blaine, Bayard, Cox or Butler
Mrs Bcloa A. LOCKWOOD, by her persistent
knocking at the doors of congress for admis-
sion to the Supreme Court of the United States,
has become somewhat famous throughout the
country. There is some difference Of opinion
as to her ability as lawyer, but she is certain
" ready and effective speaker, eXcelling per
haps like many lawyers in what may be called
sentimental law She is shrewd and success
full in the management Of her cases, and what
ever advantage she may take of the opposition,
she is a little unique in that she has not been
known to take advantage of her clients The
late bill which passed the house of representa-
tives to permit female practitioners to appear
at the bar Of the Supreme Court, was for her
benefit. She has at present two important
cases pending before that court, which she is
declared from pleading on account Of her sex.
One of them is Cherokee Indian claim invOlv-
ing $3OOO,0O0 The bill which passed the
house in her favor has failed to pass the senate,
but not, it would seem, from opposition of that
body; the learned judiciary committee of the
senate assumed that an enabling act was not
necessary, since the court itself had exclusive
jurisdiction in the matter. This view of the
senate would seem to involve deadlock on a
nice question between the highest judicial and
highest legislative body in the land; for when
Mrs. Lockwool applied for admission at the
bar of the Supreme Court two years ago, one
of the reasons for refusal, as given in the opin-
ion Of Chief Justice Waite, was that there had
been 40 legislation for the admission of wo.
men. Mrs. Lockwood is now IN the fifth year
of her practice and has all the business she
can attend to. She is distinguished for great
perseverance, patience and tact Her speciality
Is government claims. When She began
practice her property consisted of few feet of
real estate in cemetery, now she is worth
100000, and her practice brings her yearly
income about five times as large as the salary
OF clerk in the treasury department. Mrs. l..
Is widow, nearly fifty years of age; she is
quite able 10 support a husband, but Cvinccs
no inclination To marry again. She has dark
eyes, white hair, kindly, intelligent features;
her dress is quiet, elegant, and black; her
jcwelry is gold thimble, which She sarcastic
ally wears is Il brcaSt-pn.
DR. Mary Walker, distinguished for her per
sistcnt parade of Scml-malc attire, is a native
of OSwcgo, New York; and her family is one
OF high standing and reSpectability. Long
years ago she was married to Mr.. Miller, but
whatever distinction he may have gained from
that union he has now no right to claim, for
he was divorced about twenty years ago and
Or. Mary has resumed her maiden name. Con
grcsS voted her gold medal for services dur
inG the war, and the Secretary of the treasury
had her elected from his department not long
since because She was annoying! DR.. Walker
has biz boot, but wears little foot She has
suffered for years chronic martvrdom of ridi.
culc in the cause of comfort, health and prln-
ciple; at least that is her view of it; and the
air of mingled resignation and resistance which
torty-nne years Of pcrversc hcroi>m have
stamped upon the face, form and gait of the
groteSqun little woman is pathetic rather than
funny. II is impossible for me To describe her
clothes, even specifically. She wears kind
of dress, with dcmi skirt in fact the dcmic>t
skirt You ever saw, a cane, and pair OF panta.
looms. 1t was the intention of your correspond
cnt 10 interview her tailor. but he learned on
inquiry. from one of her friends, that she cuts
her own trowscr>, and cries Ike woman
when she cannot make them it, CAS-