Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-11-11
A Young Lady in Male Attire Made a
knight of Pythias.

The following strange romance is COM
nunicated to the N. Y. Express in let
ter from Cleveland:
Strange as it may seem even to MEM
,ers of the Order of Knights of Pythias
lsewhere, a lodge in Bay City, Michigan,
las had the experience of Inducing fe-
male into the mysteries of two degrees of
he order, and partially through that of
he third degree before her sex wsss discov-
4red. 1t has placed the lodge in Il sad di
emma, and none Of the members are able
predict what will be the outcome there
f. They have been very reticent regard
ng the particulars OF the case, but \ re-
'orter who belongs to the order has,
through diligent inquiry among the mem
,ers thereof, b.en able to CLEAN the follow
g facts in the case: About two years ago
young man Of progressing appearance
all and handsome. with a smooth face,
lark hair, and bluish-gray ewes who gave
us name as Frank Chambers and his place
f nativity as Cleveland, applied at a large
clothing store on Centre street. Bay City:
or Situation as clerk, and his appear
lnce made such favorable impression
pom the younger of the three brothers
Who kept the store, that being IN want Of
clerk he engaged the services Of the new
..,mer, aud did not even ask for references.
Go this the other brothers demurred. but
he new clerk took hold in such handy
manner. had such winning ways, aud prov
d such an excellent salesman, that no
IRE was thought or spoken of references.
From the start, being apparently about
he same age, the young member of the
itm and the new clerk became on very
,Dicable terms, and were inseparable COM
,anions, with the exception that the new
clerk took room and board at a private
,ouse, and would not listen to the propo-
al. often made, to occupy a room and
,oard with him. Matters ran along
Amoothly in this way for nearly two years
When the young merchant. after repeat
d solicitations, prevailed upon the
Jerk to join the order of Knights of
oythias Thereupon his application was
resented to the lodge, approved, and the
candidate elected. When, however, at
he next meeting the clerk was requested
be in readiness for initiation, ha did not
nut in an appearance. and gave as an ex-
.use that he felt timid about the matter;
,ut at the next meeting thereafter he was
.romptly on hand, and indicted into the
mysteries of the Pages or first degree Of
he order. At the next meeting the new
y-made Page was reluctant 60 take the
Gsqnire's or second degree, but was after
time prevailed upon to do so. and that
light became an Esquire. When the time
rived to receive the third degree the can
ldate hesitated still more than before,
nut not one of the brethren suspected the
5rue cause thereof-they attributed it to
lis usual timidity, and after several of
hem had talked with the young clerk,
whom they all had come to admire and re-
pect, he entered the lodge-room, witness
the first degree conferred upon new
'andidate, and had nearly passed through
he third degree before the sex was discov-
red. just exactly how this came about,
The unwritten work of the order will not
permit the writer to disclose; but the
members were struck with CONSERVATION,
and then and there all further proceedings
we're suspended. The young lady had
'ainted upon finding out that her sex was
discovered, and upon regaining conscious
less was thrown into Mysteries, and no CO.
'erent story could be wrung from her
'ither by the gentle pleading of her en-
'loyer or the threats of members, and, her
,ysteria increasing, she was conveyed to
Ter clearinghouse In close carriage, and
doctor called to attend the case. The
bove incidents occurred about five weeks
,go, and are now made public for the first
5me. The young lady had trunk full of
emale wearing apparel and in day or two
after the doctor had quieted her nerves,
she donned her natural garments, sent for
Ter employer friend. and to him she made
clean breast of who she was and where
her parents resided, but he refused to dis.
close any of the facts about her. She still
eemains in Bay City, and rumor is busy
With the report that the younger member
# the firm for whom she worked will mar
y her, and thus make a stronger bar to
secrecy On the part of the young lady. Ru-
nor also has 1t that the young lady met
he young man on certain occasion, fell
u love at first sight, but being unable 20
cake his acquaintance took that method
do so