The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-04-17
From Our Regular Correspondent
OUR MAsHINGTOS LETTER
WASHINGTON, April 10, 1878.

WASHINGTON, April 10 1878
Much has been written about Con-
gressional stars, as well as about So
ciety queens, aud lobby queens, in
Washington. Such are the wonder
full facilities for the transmission Of
news and gossip, from the Capital TO
the town, mat, for any n
10 become famous or Infamous in
Washington, Is to gain national dis
tinctlon or notoriety. Who has not
heard Of Boss Shepard, Belva A.
Lockwood, aud DR.. Mary Walker (?
Ii any one protests against the trip
ling of these names, | will say it Is
only for the sake Of argument. The
great street grader, the fantastic fe-
male in pantaloons, aud the woman
lawyer. have nothing in common, ex-
cept in the fact that they are conspic-
uous characters. The sketching Of
Congressional stars, and telling the
most trivial things about them, has
been a little overdone, and | pro-
pose to write about a few famous fe-
male personsges, who are as incon-
sistent in their Inconsistencies as
Blaine, Bsyard, Cox, or Butler.
Mrs. Belga A. Lockwood, by her
persistent knocking a: the doors Of
Congress for admission to the Su-
preme Court Of the United States,
has become somewhat famous
throughout the country. There is
some difference OF opinion as TO her
ability as q lawyer, but she is GER
tainly a ready and effective speaker
excelling, perhaps, like many law
yers, in what may be called senti-
mental law, She is shrewd and sue
cessful in the management Of her
cases, and, whatever advantage she
may take Of the opposition, she is u
little unique in that she has not been
known to take advantage of her eli
ents. The late bill which passed the
House of Representatives 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 debarred from
pleading on account of her sex. 0ne
of the cases is a Cherokee Indian
claim involving 50, 000, 600. 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 al enabling act was not neces-
sary, since the court itself had exclu.
sive jurisdiction in the matter. This
view of the Senate would seem to
involve a deadlock, on a nice ques.
ton, between the highest judicial
and highest legislative body in the
land for when Mrs. Lockwood ap.
piled for admission at the bar of the
Supreme Court, two years ago, one
of the reasons for refusal, as given in
the opinion of Chief Justice Waite,
was that there had been no legisla.
ton for the admission of women.
Mrs. Lockwood is now 10 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 specially is
government claims. When she be-
gan, her property consisted of a few
feet of real estate in a cemetery, now
she is worth $40, 600, and her prac-
iice brings her a yearly income, about
five times as large as the salary of a
clerk in the Treasury Department.
Mrs. l.. is a widow nearly fifty years
of age; she is quite able TO support a
husband, but eyinces no inclination
to marry again. She has dark eyes,
white hair, kindly intelligent feat,
ures; her dress is quiet, elegant, and
black: her jewels a gold thimble.
which she sarcsstically wears as g
breast pin.
Or. Mary Walker, distinguished
for her persistent parade of semi
male attire, is a native of 0swego,
New York, aud her family is one d
standing and responsibility. Long
years ago she was married to a Mr..
Miller, but whatever distinction he
may have gained from that union, be
has no right to claim, for. be was
divorced about twenty years ago,
and DIR. Mary has resumed her maid.
en- name. Congress voted her a
gold medal for services during the
war, and the Secretary of the Treas.
ury had her elected from his Depart
ment, not long since, because she
was a~nnoyingi DR.. Walker has a big
boot, but wears a little foot. She
hes suffered for years chronic mar
tyrdom Of ridicule, in the cause OF
comfort, health, and principle; at
least that is her view of il; and tine
air of mingled resignation and resist.
ance which forty-nine years of per.
verse hesoism have stamped upon
the face, form and gait of the little
woman, is pathetic rather than fun-
ny. 1t is impossible for me to de.
scribe her clothes, ever specifically
She wears a kind Of dress, with a
demi-skirt, in fact, the demiest skirt
you ever saw a cane and a pair OF
pantaloons. 1t was the intention Of
your correspondent TO interview Der
tailor, but he learned on inqairy,
from one of her friends. that she cut
her own trowsers, and cries like O
woman when she cannot make them
lit.
c. q. S.
ofar AvxIIIA