The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-07-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent ]

WASHINGTON. D. c., July 81 1888
With all the other queer characters in
Washington we have a few notorious
female cranks who are every now and
then doing something to make themselves
still more famous CD Among these DR.
Mary Walker and Belva Lockwood are
perhaps the most conspicuous, and they
both belong to the cheeky, strongminded,
so-called women's rights order. There
are women here who can earn their liveh-
hood in the avn"a..Ons usually followed
by men, and who are still ladies, modest
and proper in their departments, not
presuming on their sex for special priv
leges or favors, and taking their places
on a level with their brethren in the same
business. But there is one | won't name
a supposed lawyer ard claim attorneY,
who belongs to different breed She
rides about town on tricycle., and has
hand in great many things. Depart
ment officials had rather see full grown
pestilence come into the room than have
to confront her She talks loud and
never consults the conveniences or wishes
of anybody else when she has business
to attend to. The other day she invaded
the Office of Commissioner Dudley and
insisted ON being heard in advance of
twenty or thirty persons who were
in waiting when she came in. The
Commissioner shut down on her politely
and informed her courteously three or
four times that she must take her turn
She persisted in having her say then and
there and planted her self in front of
his desk with the intention of compelling
attention Finally, in self defense, he
informed her point blank that he was en-
gagged in p ivate conversation with gen
tleman; that he did not want her to over.
hear what was said and that if she did
not take seat he would be compelled
much as he might dislike it, to ask her
to leave the room. For the first time in
her life the cheeky claim agent was taken
aback, and after giving him stony stare
for moment she gathered herself up and
trisked out of the room in towering rage
In the court room her conduct is much to
the same purport. have heard Judge
Wylie repeatedly tell her to sit down,
and one day Judge Carter, all out of
patience with her coarse persistence and
ignorance, told her that she knew mo
more about law than Nichodemas did
about second birth
The irrepressible Dr. Mary Walker fol-
years beseiged the head of every executive
department with opportunities for posi-
ton. Her pertinacity finally had such an
effect on the cold nature of Ex-Governor
Boutwell, at the time Secretary of the
Treasury, that he yielded to the ex
tent of telling her that she shoulC
have an office if she would take of men,
clothes and array herself in the habilmen
of her sex. She Indignantly refused t
accede to the conditions, but year or twt
afterwards she astonished the TTeasur,
officials by presenting a demand for pa.
as clerk from the period of GOverno
Boutwells conditional promise. Of cours
she did not get it. When that warm heart
ed and impulsive child of the west Teller
was made Secretary of the Interior b
President Arthur, her Establishments pre-
vailed, he appointed her to clerkship i
the Pension bureau, and she was assigne
to q division in which u considerabl
number of ladies were employed. Thes
ladies never became accustomed to he
peculiar style of apparel and kept them
selves aloof as much as possible, whlc
she repaid when the opportunity oiere
with looks and tone of scorn. She SCENE
always to take the greatest pleasure i
marching into their midst when they wer
gathered in their dressingroom maxim
their toilette. DIR. Mary is, undoubtedly
very remarkable and able parsonage
but she has not proved herself to be muc
of clerk Commissioner Dudley ha
for long time been convinced of he
inefficiency and has limited such TO tn
Secretary, but not daring to beard tn
lioness in her den. She went on her an
nual vacation several weeks since, au
Commissioner Dudley seized the happ
occasion to address her note that he
services would not be required after july
He received letter from her in reply say
ing that she should return to her desk
a short time and that if he unnertook
discharge her she would make it war;
for him. She returned this week and re
ported for duty, but was told that ht
chair was already occupied by her succe
sor. She retired and al. yet no demonstra
ton has been made. Commissions
Dudley is a battle SCARED veteran, but
is no reflection on his courage to say TIL