Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-11-21
\ REMARKABLE STORY.
\ woman who was ustamorpnose,

Farmer Charles Fear is a young man
about 80 years old, and in addition TO
farming he follows the profession Of school
teacher ia western New York. He is
handsome, manly looking fellow, and is
regarded as one of the best citizens.
Twenty years ago Charles Fear was the
brightest and prettiost little girl in the
village school, aud his name was then
Rosa Fear. The child is we'll remembered
by many citizens who know her. So apt a
pupil was she that she carried of the bulk
OF the prizes at the village school CXarll-
nation, and her family thought OF having
her educated for a teacher, but family mis-
fortunes occurred % prevent this, and at
the age Of Il Rosa Tear entered the home
of Farmer William 2. Baxter as q dOmes .
tic. She proved - be Gs good girl in
household duties "a in her studies, and the
| Baxters treated her as one OF their own
| family. At the age of IS the hand of Miss
| Rosa Fear was sought by farmer from
| Westield, but the young lady declined the
offer aud gave no reason for her refusal
beyond that she had no desire 10 leave the
homo of her kind friends.
During the succeeding year 1t WAS motto.
cd that Rosa was grOwiCg mOrOse aud that
| her features were losing their feminine
sOltEess. In time quite q masculine ap-
| pearance was noticeable and the cir!
| became less socablo than ever. She
refused to go out and no Ionger attended
the village dances and parties az which
! she had hitherto reigned as belle One
| morning she was missing, I'd letter 10
her bed room threw the Baxter family into
| a state Of widest excitement. Mrs, Bax-
ter was informed that the writer had fled
forever. That she was victim OF some
| unnatural phenOmalOn, and that q physi
cal metamoTphosis made it necessary for
her to change her home aud rairnent.
They thought her mad and every effort
was exerted to find Miss Fear, but TO no
! purpose.
When Miss Rosa fed from the Baxter
farm she went IN male attire taken from
the room Of physician and friend of the
| family, who was visiting at the time.
This was DR.. 4. A. Freeman, now of Erie,
the present alderman Of the First ward, in
the city Of Erie. Two years later sun
burned young man, with fine silky
mustachc and a flowing beard, presented
himself at the Fear homestead and extend
ed his arms to Miss Mary Fear, a younger
sister OF tho missing Rosa. Miss Mary
resented the familiarity, hut the young
man bent over her and whispered some.
thing that caused the girl to draw back
and regard him with amazement. 1t was
Rosa Fear. " am no longer Rosa" said
the young man after his explanation
" but am Charles Fear, come homo 70
work the farm"
Tho wonderful story was village GOSSIP
for the regulation nine days, and then
Rosa Fear settled down as Charles Fear
and went about the pursuits of life with
out obtrusive questioning. AS Charlie
Fear the little Rosa Of the village schoo
lives IN Ripley to day, managing the farm
with skill and Industry, and possessing
the esteem OF his fellow citizens Twic,
has he been appointed TO teach by tn,
local school board, and he has turned ou
some Of the best scholars in the village
Mr. Fear is a mystery. All the foregoinl
facts can be verified on the spot tn
, motamorphosis, the flight from home, TO
turn and recognition in society as q gentle
man being well known to the citizens O
Ripley. DR.. Sillman one Of, tho leadin
physicians Of Erie, is also we'll acquainted
' with the remarkable history Of Rosa, nov
Charles Fear.