The National tribune., 1885-12-31
A QUEER LITTLE WOMAN.

The strangers mistake as to sex was very
natural one. Imagine a small, trim figure,
dressed from top to toe in masculine garments.
The little feet are encased In glossy patent
leather shoes. The hands are tightly glOved,
and one of them carries tiny rattan. An
overcoat, closely buttoned, reaches below the
knees. The head is surmounted by nobDy
plug" hat of the regulation pattern, which
she politely takes off while talking to the door
keeper, disclosing a head as round as an apple,
with hair cut as close as schoolboy's. Her face
is white, and not strikingly pretty. 1t is, per-
haps, not singular that the crows-feet begin TO
appear, for she is well toward 50-certalnly not
less than 10.
1.-The fact is" said the doorkeeper, " lied TO
her, as we most always do. She said she wanted to
see a certain Senator, and asked me to take her
card in to him. But knew he didn't want TO
see her, and so | told her he wasn't in; but he
is. She has bothered him good DEAL and he
told me to always say he was out whenever she
asked for him. What does she want? Wei, L
really don't know; but spose it's about some
claim or other against the Government. She
always has one on hand, and almost bores the
life out of the Congressman. She's an awful
nuisance, and | don't blame 'em for wanting us
to lie to her when she asks US TO call em out ~
Ever since the war DIR. Mary has stood at the
head of the large class of cranFs in Washington
For % years she has utterly discarded the
garments of her sex and worn only those that
belong to man. If other women, here or else
where go masquerading about i'll this way, and
are found out they generally bring up In the
police station. The law compels them to pay
| proper respect to the usageS of society. For
some inscrutable reason DIR. Mary Walker is
made an exception, and all these years has been
going about in this style on sufierance. She
started in with the old "Bloomer" costume
| when that innovation with its short skirts and
| tr0uSer-like pantaletS, shocked the senses OF
many very good people. When this craze sub
sided, and most of the Bloomerites went back
| to original principles. Mary took still bolder
| step and arrayed herself in the full habiliments
| of man.
| DIR. Mary Walker must have long credit
mark for her faithful services to the country
| during the war. She went early as nurse, IN
which capacity she served efficiently i'll various
hospitals. She had previously devoted several
years to the study of medicine and surgery,
| and was finally commissioned as an Assistant
| Surgeon. While in active field service in Ala
| bama she was captured and taken to Richmond
| a prisoner of war After brief captivity she
was exchanged She Immediately returned to
duty, and continued in the service till the war
closed. She draws pension from the Govern
ment for her services, and deserves it,
During the Hayes Administration she was
given what she had for 10 years sought in
vain-an appointment to a clerkShip III the
| Treasury Department. Her appearance to go
on duty raised such rumpus among the female
clerks that the Secretary had to read the riot
act to them. But they didn't want any woman
| in mans clothes among them, aud what was
more they wouldn't have her, anyway. They
all threatened to "strike" or resign i'll body,
and thus precipitAte the Government without a
moments warning into the awful vortex OF
| ruin. The opposition was so strong and per-
| sistent that she was not allowed to occupy her
desk. But day after day she reported regu-
larry on time for duty, and then went about
| her business. After while she thought she
would draw her pay, but the Treasury people
| declined to honor her demand, on the ground
| that she had rendered no services In vain did
she protest that it was through no fault of hers
that she had reported every day. under regu-
lar appointment as clerk, and was always ready
and willing to do her duty as such. Finally
she appealed to Congress. and by this means
secured three or four months pay. The members
all voted for the bill to get rid of her. But she
was discharged from the Treasury, and that
was the end of her experience in that Depart
ment.
Then she got an appointment in the Pension
! Office. There was the same vigorous oppOsi
tion to her admission there, but the gallant
| Commissioner took her part in the fight, and
! she was duly installed at desk. She stayed
there about year Her dress and ways made
her obnoxious to all her associates of both
sexes, and she finally surrendered and quit
Since that time she has not been in the Gov
ernment service, though she has been and still
is trying to get on the payroll somewhere.
She runs a doctors office, having practicet
medicine here more or less ever since she cam,
back from the wars. She is a divorced woman
having been married many years ago. She anC
her husband separated after a brief connubia
experience. 1t is just to her to say that through
all the yicissitudes of her checkered and pic
turesque career she has maintained her charac
ter as a woman. But she Is very odd specimen
of the human family.
| DR.. Walker imagneS that she is good dea
of politician. 1t is not probable that sh
| knows herself whether she is a Republican or
Democrat, nor is it likely that she cares. Sh'
!, ! seems to be one of those versatile people VIII
catch on" to whichever party is uppermost
She realizes that if there is anything to be mad
at all it is on the winning side. She has mad
very persistent efforts to secure the favor O
President Cleveland, declaring that she was til
| first person to suggest him Presidential can
didate. 1t will be remembered that while Nj
Cleveland was quietly alternating at Albany
after his retirement from the Gubernatoria
chair, Mary Joined the procession of statesmen
to that place and sent in her card to the Presi
dent-eleCt. His message in replay was that h
had not time for an interview with her. ii
no doubt told the truth, and escaped bein
badly bored. She has several times renewe
her attentions here but with very indtfeIen
success. She is frequently at the White Hous
during public receptions, for then she is able t
make way herinto the august presence, and ther
: is none TO modest or make her afraid. At othe
times Col. Lamont keeps sharp lookout 70
her, and if he sees her coming he goes down an
l untie5 the dog.
During part Of the past Summer Doctor Mar
has been one Of the attractions at a dime mu
scum in Chicago. Each day, as part Of the III
tellectual program, she delivered " lecture
l to the crowd of palptating spectators. Sh
returned to Washington just before the openin
, Of Congress, and has entered upon anothe
Winters campaign.
= SURGEON MADDOX's DEATH.
e Adj't-Gen. Drum having telegraphed for off
f cial information regarding the reported engage
I ment of Lieut.. Fountains force with the In
= dams, received the following confirmation
. the news in a telegram from Gen. Crook: Gel
: Bradley telegraphs that Lieut. Fountain T,
G ports, from White House, about 10 miles north
4 | west of Fort West that he had fight with til
s Indians yesterday morning; that Asst Sur
2 | Maddox and four men Of Co. c, 6th Cav, wei
r | killed, and Lieut. Cahal and one man siightl
f wounded. lie states that the Indians wei
= dismounted, and that it was evidently the sam
= ! party he engaged on the 9th, and that the
. trail leads TO the reservation"
{ MINISTER MUELLER AND KAISER WILLIAA
g For some reason Uncle Sam seems fated I
be continually tTcading on the cOrns of Ol
J. Kaiser William, of Germany. Last Wint,
q Congress innocently adopted Col Tom Ochi
trees Lasller resolutions which shook the Ge