Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-20
BOYS IN GIRLS, CLOTHES.
One Lad Who Has Been Disguised for
Years.

Years.
OF the many devices resorted to in New
York by persons of limited means-and
often Of no means at all, says the World,
18th instant, there is none probably more
curious or interesting than themasquerad-
ing of boys and youths in girls attire.
Strange as it may appear considerable
number of persons, principally opera
tives in factories where females are en-
ployed, are of the male sex, who have
dOnned the petticOat because they declare
they can obtain employment more readily
than if they applied as males. An in
vestigation of the subject brought to
light some curious facts, showing that
while quite a number OF youths are en-
ployed in factories and stores disguised
as girls, some whose families are in COM
Portable circumstances are also personal
ing female characters for the novelty Of
the thing.
A reporter recently had his attention
directed to this masquerading, and upon
inquiry found that there are many more
Of these peculiar people than one would
suppose. One of them, rather attractive
looking "girl" Of modest demeanOr, was
found and questioned as to the DISCUSSES
and the object that prompted their adOp-
ton. Under a promise that his name
should not be made public he said:
Speaking of female impersOnatOrs, /
know of several myself, and believe there
are great many in the city. / am Is
years Of age, and have not been dressed
in boys clothes for more than eight years.
In fact, have not single article of male
attire in my possession. You see my
mother, like thousands of other women
left in this great city with very little
means, lets out our rooms to gentlemen
dodgers. am her only child, and we have
no relatives in this cOuntrr, as far as we
know. l was about IL years old when /
first dressed in girls clothes, and since
then l have worn no others. / have
learned homework, needlework and sew
eral other female accomplishments
'Haye you ever been away from homer
Yes; was absent for two years. /
worked most of the dme in a knitting
mill in Oswego Falls, n. Y. My first
name is now 'CharlOtte;' it used to be
Charlie. Some of the girls with whom l
worked became suspicious, and l came to
my present home in Brooklyn. | saved
about $3.50 out of my wages and have 1t
now on deposit in bank"
NEAT DECEPTION.
GLOW do you keep up the disguise?"
"Well, my hair has not been cut in
eight years and is now as long as any
girls of my age. My waist measures D
inches. i wear No. shoe and a No.
glove. My cOrsets are not made express
ly for me; l purchase the ordinary Alt
man article. My weight is 127 pounds.
You see my complexion is fair and fea-
lures regular. My eyes are hazel brown,
and if my hair was little lighter would
be called blonde.''
"Are those earrings you wear dia-
monds?"
eyes. l bought them myself. 1 have
no wealthy admirers. l have worn ear
rings about six years"
''Do you intend to adopt male costume
soon?'
81 don't know when l shall change my
dress. l have no desire to be boy and
shall continue to lead a girls life as long
as | can. Pm afraid I'd make poor fist
of it trying to make a living at mems
work. l know nothing about anything
except millwork and homework. My
mother and l have worked hard and
saved what little we have, and now feel
safe for the future. l don't think the
question of my sex has ever been mem
toned. l believe my mother would never
consent for me to change. my attire, at
least so long as l am a good girl and give
her no trouble. You may laugh at this,
butits true. l am just the same as any
other girl in my station. | play on the
piano and go shopping and occasionally
a young gentleman friend takes me to
Coney Island or the theatre, l am rather
shy, however, and don't care much for
company"
"HaVe you any lady frfends?'
eyes, few. We exchange calls, but /
avoid any intimacy, fearing they would
detect me-"
''Who makes your clothesY
81 have no trouble about that. get
them made at the dressmaker's, the same
as any other lady, and have never had
with the needle and do some of my plain
sewing myself. My underwear can buy
cheaper than can make it at home"
QUITE A RAGE.
"Do you know any similar case?'
''Yes, | am acquainted with three other
persons who have never worn boys
clothes. You would be surprised to see
us all together. You would never dream
we were boys. One of them, Josie o,
lives in Bergen, N. j. There are two
other brothers besides Josie in the family,
and they, are very much attached to their
supposed sister. They are we'll off, and
Josie has everything a girl could wish for.
We see each other quite often. Josie is
sixteen, l think; at least he is younger
than | am. The oldest of my other two
friends (whOm l know as Jennie Careye)
is employed as a bonnet maker at
a millinery store in Brooklyn. This
boy has been in petticoats for ten
years. So perfect is his personation
that there has never been the least sus-
picion as to his sex. / often call at the
store to see him, and we have many
quiet laugh at the expense Of the other
girls and lady customers. My other
friend, who calls himself Ella Haupt, is
of German descent, and is the prettiest
and youngestof us all. He is a clerk in
Bowery store, and says he has worn
dresses nearly five years. He makes little
effort at cOncealment, but has not been
suspected. He is the sole support of his
mother and younger brother, and they all
live in apartments in Mystic street.
YES" concluded the masquerader. 81 am
satisfied it's easier to get along as a girl
than 1t is as boy"