Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1884-02-23
ARcoLA, ILL.,, February 9th, 1884.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer


ARcoLA, ILL.,, February 9th, 1884.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer
The Winchester Va correspon-
dence of the ENQUIRER, giving the de-
tails Of the metamophosis Of sex and
marriage of Miss Lydia Rebecca Payne
of Frederick county, Virginia, the al
legged man-woman, created quite sem
sation, and was extensively copied by
the press. The case is a very singular
one, and until / received information
direct from Virginia l was inclined to
be somewhat skeptical as to the main
facts; but the bona fide authority of my
friend, DIR. Mcclure, of Winchester,
settles the matter so far as the sex Of
Miss or Mr. Payne is concerned. AS !
am asked great many questions
about the matter, it may be of general
interest to your readers to know some
thing additional of these Virginia
Paynes and what manner of people they
are.
Among the recollections of my early
manhood linger some pleasant memo
rIes If the Paynes, and of this particu-
lar family to which Miss Lydia Rebecca
belongs. The Paynes were an extern
sive family connection III Virginia, and,
like all old families, striking root in the
same soil for many years, had acquired
a reputation for certain traits which
distinguished them. They were hardy,
resolute, thrifty race, perfectly upright
and honorable; except on the female
side not remarkable for superior intel
ligence; earnest, plain, common-sense
people, the men noted for their great
size and prodigious strength and the
women for their singular beauty.
Miss Mollie Payne, Il daughter of Ma
than Payne, of Darkesville, w. Va,
twenty or twenty-five years ago was re-
garded as the most beautiful woman in
the Valley of Virginia. / recall as |
write a charming day III long ago spent
with her in genial Virginia home be-
fore the omnous clouds of war had
lowered on Il careless, happy people.
She made Al wonderful impression on
my boyish senses. She had that rare
combination, brilliant blue eye, with
hair dark as the plumes OF poe's ravin.
Tail, with tas,t wonderful suppleness
which the IN ,uern novilists have made
nearly ridiculous by attaching it 10 all
their heroines, whether they adorn the
drawing room or walk the heather:
large of feature, with that marvellous
complexion which can only come To
maidens on the hilisides. and where the
winds which famed their cheeks blow
from the mountains; with teeth the
whiteness and the eyenness of which
no daughter OF the S3utn has ever sur
passed; her features radiant with The
endless play of the most fascinating
smile ever seen Oh amy iace, after the
lapse OF nearly tWtnty-tive years / re-
call her as the mos. beautiful of all the
women | have ever met. he married
Richard Brierly,of the wel-kno Hil Nir-
ginia Briefly family. who was her IS
cort that day recall, and her charm-
ing home ha, long been noted for its
elegant hospitality. / met her at an
entertainment two wears ago, accom-
panied by her loving daughters, grown
TO womanhood, and, while time had
written some tell-tale marks upon her
face and form, there were still the
traces Of that marvellous beauty which,
quarter Ofa century ago, had made
her famous through all the country
side.
Indeed, all the Payne women were
singularly handsome. There used to
be saying in the Valley that ''among
all the Paynes there We're no ugly wo-
men or smart men, But the Payne
women were also handsome in that
better sense of 'handsome is as hand
some does" There is something of ex-
aggeration, am sure, in these reports
ofthe exploits of Miss Lydie Rebecca
Payne, better know as sMiss Becky
and hereafter to be known as John Cal
hOun Payne--that is, if the Legislature
be complaisant. Its claimed by your
correspondent that she was masculine,
hoidenish. | think not. | think she
only displayed, at most the well-known
energy of her race. / knew her very
well; have met her at entertainments;
have visited her home; think once had
a sleigh ride with her over those Nir-
ginia hills, and certainly there was
nothing, either iu her appearance or
demeanor, to create the slightest sus-
picion that she wore the garb of the
wrong sex. She was a charming and
accomplished girl, with the well, known
Payne beauty and yivacity. recall
perfectly the first time saw her. Miss
Bette l.. Payne, her sister, for many
years has been the principal of a female
seminary at Brucetown, Va. Miss
Bette l.. Payne, is one of those noble
women whose life is a perpetual bene-
diction, consecrating her entire life to
the education of her own sex, "A woman