The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-04-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Some Washington MOTORCYCLES VINO are a"' J."
Congress. Professional Women-Mrs' Inv
yer Lockwood and DIR. Mary walker.

Z -
Much has been written about congressional
stars, as well as about society queens and lob
. by queens in Washington. Such are the won
dcrful facilities for the transmission OF news
and gossip from the capital to the remotcst
town that, for anyone to become famous or IN
1 famous in Washington, is to gain national dis
/ tinction or notoriety Who has not heard OF
Boss Shepard, Bcloa A. Lockwood and Doctor
Mary Walker? If any one protests against
I the trining of these names, | will say that it
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 are conspicuous charac-
tiers. The skctChlng of congressional stars,
has been Il little ovcrdonc, and propose to
write about a few famous female personagcs,
who are as consistent il 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 Il lawyer, but she is certain
" a ready and effective speaker, cXcelling per
haps like many lawyers, in what may be called
sentimental law. She is shrcwd 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
e 81; Tb,
late bill which passed the house Of representa-
tvcs, 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 a Cherokee Indian claim involv-
ing S3,00O,O0O 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. LOckwoOil applied for admission ut the
bar of the supreme Court two years ago, one
Of the reasons for refusal a. given in the opn-
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 specially |
IS government claims When She began .
practice her property consisted of a few feet of
100000, and her practice brings her yearly |
income about five times as large as the salary |
OF Il clerk in the treasury department. Mrs l.. |
Is widow nearly fifty years Of age; she is |
quite able TO support husband, hut cylnccs !
no inclination 10 marry again. She has dark |
eyes, white hair, kindly, intelligent features
her dress is quiet elegant, and black; her |
icwclry is gold thimblc which She sarcastic |
ally wears Is It brcaSt-pin.
DIR. Mary Walker, distinguished for her per !
sistcnt parade Of scmlmalc attire, is Il 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 |
pr Mary has resumed her maiden name Con- !
grcs~ 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 a big boot but wears a little foot. She has |
suffered for years chronic maryrdom OF rdi. |
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 /
tOrtynine years of pcrvcrsc hcroism have !
stamped upon the face form and gait of the I
croteSqua little woman is pathetic rather than /.
funny. |, 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 "a pair OF panta- .
looms. 1t was the intention of your correspond !
cnt To interview her tailor but hr learned ON .
inquiry from one of her friends, that She cuts .
her own trowScr>, and cries like 20 woman
when she cannot make them it, CAS-. /