Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-19
Another Strange Case.

Correspondence Chicago Inter-Occan.
1.-The Strange Case Recalled" In Wednesdays
issue OF your paper, Is not so strange as to be
entirely novel. similar case occurred in the
home of my boyhood which is well remem-
bered.
My father and mother were very friendly with
a family named Freeman. They had several
Children among them a black-haired, gypsy
looking girl, named by them Martha The
father of the family was a carpenter employed
in large mill. and he gave the children the best
OF training and education his circumstances al
lowed him. This girl Martha was the PLAYMATE
OF my elder brother and sisters a tOmb0y for fun
and rOmping. Our family moved to another
mil owned by the same company, some miles
distant from the lower mills, hence lost the daily
cOmpaniOnshp of this Martha.
As time rolled on my brothers grew into man.
hood. and occasionally visited the old mills
They came home from a visit with a strange
story that Martha had developed into aman wear
ing handsome black mustache ana was grow
ing heavy set of whskers. She had been sent
from home to visit some friends, and came back
in mems attire. and had adopted the name of
Martin Freeman
The father had told my own father that at
seventeen years Martha had begun to show signs
OF growth OF hair on the uufer lin then of
hair on the sides of the face until the fact couId
not be disguised, the soi-diSaut girl had devel-
oped into bearded man. The voice lost its
feminine softness, the hands grew firmer and
muscular and somewhat masculine though I'M
deTsiZed for man. as he was not more than five
feet four and a halt inches in height weighing
perhaps 12J pounds.
He was afterwards sent to the mills to work
close to our new home. My brothers and sisters
renewed their acquaintance with him; hence we
all knew him quite well.
Now for the strange part of the story. He was
intensely fond of women's society always ready
to take the Girls. to any picnic, froIic or fun in
the neighborhood, but never danced with them
We nave seen him chase girls around the ring
and kiss them with all the vim and force OF IA
strong. passionate nature; was general favor
lite, always the pet Of the handsOmest girls 1t
was rum0red that lie intended marrying a good
looking girl. In some way her friends broke I'D
the match
At twenty-five years of age he became very
religious. and was prominent member in d
Methodist church: was successful Bible class
teacher, thorough student and exerted "a
wide influence among the young people in the
village
Strange to say. he married a young girl had
known since we were children together; made
model husband. so far as relieving his wife of
the drudgery Of their pleasant home. He used
to get up in the morning and light the fires and
get in wood, coal. and water while his wife pre-
pared the breakfast. The wife came from a
family noted for their strong passions and the
large number OF children in their families yet
IN spite of this the married life of this strangely
mated pair appeared pleasant one. They had
been married seven years when came to Chi
cago, hence have known but little of them since
1863 They were living in the same place in
1879. and since that time have heard but little
Of them.
The metamorphosis was singular one, vet
friends who knew him well asserted it was com
plete. excepting that full development physi-
cally that should be found in q man of twenty
five Years of age.
This is no hearsay story daily association
with him for eight years in tine same mill. a
close intimacy with him in objects to interest
and advance the well being of factory hands,
both during the week and on Sundays; a knowl-
edge of him fer fifteen years, while the family
were acquainted with him for more than twenty
years previous to his marriage, all preclude the
possibility Of any mistake in the individual.