Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-01-26
REMARKABLE If TRUE.


REMARKABLE II TRUE.
A Wheeling, West Virginia, dispatch of
the 95th, says: This afternoon iu the
little brick church at Martinsburg, w. Va,
used by the Southern Methodist congrega-
ton Of that town, two people were married.
Rev. John Laudstreet, formerly chaplain OF
"Jeb" Stuarls confederate regiment Of cav
airy, performed the ceremony. There was
nothing peculiar about the affair, except
that both parties to the contract have been
known for thirty-fve years as respectable
women in that vicinity. The groom, if such
name be applicable to the leading spirit in
the transaction, has been known for ten
years in Martinsburg as woman of correct
habits, modest demeanor, and marked in
telligence and refinement. His or her,
name is Jane Catherine Payne. During ten
years referred to Jane Catherine kept lit
tie store in Rest, on the Winchester pike.
There is no better family i'll that region
than the Payne's. The mother was left q
widow in comfortable circumstances some
years since and married again, but subse.
uuently separated from her second husband
in Frederick county, Va, near the town Of
Rest, before mentioned. She brought up
seven children successfully, four of whom
married prosperous farmers in the neighbor-
hood Another lives at this time with her
mother. Still another conducts flourish
lug school for young women near her moth
er's home, and the remaining, Jane Cathe-
rne, who from childhood evinced remarka-
hie business talent, has, FROM the time Of
her attaining years of maturity, been engag-
ed in commercial pursuits. No one in that
vicinity was more favorably known than
the last mentioned, the woman living quietly
and attending closely to business, so that
her neighbors gradually came to look upon
the proprietress Of the little store as an old
man. Judge, therefore, of their astonish-
mcnt when, on last Tuesday, Jane Cathe
rue appeared in Martinsburg, boldly an
uaunced her conversion from the gentler to
sterner sex, purchased and arrayed herself
in suit Of masculine habiliments, nclu-
ding silk hat aud a pair of red topped
boots, and followed the performance BY
stating her intention TO marry Miss
Annie Hinton,a lady who for years had been
her associate in the town of Rest. In the
explanation furnished some stated that
there had not been any occasion to doub:
her femininity until about fortnight since,
when she was led to visit Drs. Mcclure and
Love at Winchester. These gentlemen per-
formed a simple and painless operation, and
announced to the patient that there could
be no doubt as to the perfect masculnity,
and that the ignoramus who superintended
Jane GATHERINGS advent into the world de
served W be prosecuted for the dense stupi-
dity which brought about her subsequent
wearing of petticoats instead Of trousers.
Armed with this information, Jane Catha
rue lost no time in carrying out the pro.
gramme before mentioned. The license
issued for the ceremony was made out in the
name of G. Payne instead of Jane Chthe-
rue Payne, it being J. C's. intention to have
his feminine name Jane changed to a
more suitable name Of John as soon AS an
act of the legislature can be procured for
the purpose. OF course the community in
which this startling metamorphosis occurred
is considerably stirred up over the event,
but there is no doubt as to the facts stated !,
as no Que questions the purity and sincerity
of the parties to the matrimonial contract.
There are no more reputable physicians
in the valley of Virginia than the medical
gentleman credited with the emancipation
of Jane Catherine from pettitcoats. DR..
Mcclure is widely known as skillful sur
geon, and DR.. Love, the other physician, is
son-in-law Of Charles James Faulkner, and
highly esteemed physician and gentleman.
The parties who were to-day joined together
in matrimony, not only have been associated
in business, but have lived together for years
in the closest social intimacy, walking, eat.
ing, and sleeping together without the
slightest suspicion of their belonging to op-
posite sexes. Some indignation was at first
expressed among the neighbors over the late
discovery.
As these people, so strangely brought to-
gether, stood at the altar to-day Jane Cath
crime presented somewhat manly and de-
termined appearance. His hair was cut and
closely trimmed, and his radient counte-
nance, guiltless of moustache or whiskers,
looked positively handsome in compa-
rison with that of his bride, who is appar-
eutly two or three years older and hardly
al progressing in personal appearance as
her companion. The newly welded pair
will, after short visit among friends and
relatives, settle down in their former home,
and it is hoped will enjoy present happiness
indefinitely, while at the same time con-
tinung the present striking illustration Of
the proverb that truth is stranger than fic-
ton.
A STRANGER HANGED.-Geo. A. Wheel
er, q native of Gorham, Me-, where he was