The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-19
DIR. MARY WALKER.
What. Occurred When She Called q New
York Congressman.

| York Congressman.
| Washington Special.
Speaking of DR.. Mary Walker. for remember
| abiding to the queer lady in my last, reminds
| me of sde-splitting scene of ten years ago OF
| SO on the floor of Congress. The House had just
adjourned, and many members fingered in their
seats writing letters. I had gone upon the floor
to speak to a member, when up the aisle in front
of me went the familiar form of DR.. Mary Walk
or. 1t was summer and over her short clipped
hair she balanced faded silk hat set jauntily
on one side and she wore a white linen suit, a
cutaway coat, and pair of pantaloons fitted
tight to the leg, or whatever you call woman's
chief organ of locomotion. She had lively
look, and in her hand she carried a trifine rat
tan She tripped straight up to the seat
of Judge Bacon, the venerable member from
Utica.
.How do you do, Judge?" she said briskly
putting out her number three hand. He let it
rest in his pair and vibrated it gently. look
ing at the dapper fellow. and saying:
GOOD evening. sir! Good evening sir. Take
Judge, 1 am Dr. Walker said the wea1eu-
faced visitant, "one of your constituents.
'Ah, you live in my district, Doctor2" re-
sponded the judge, with new interest.
eyes, that is. before coming to Washington.
lived in Utica My father and brothers live
there now and vote for you every time" and the
speaker strutted back over the neighboring desk
and put her hands in her breeches pockets.
Glad to meet you sir glad to meet you;
what can do for youf" exclaimed the generous
'Wen, yes, I thought I'd see you about it."
said Mary, Immediately catching on. II have q
claim for $l5, 900 against the United States
The government refused to do the square thing"
and the frisky doctor turned ND the sole of a No.
6 boot, struck match on it in husky falsetto
voice, and lighted cigar.
"a claim2" he said in establishment, ''wh at
for?"
For serving as nurse in the hospitals dur
ing the war"
he -usth
prise "a nurse? You, yourselfa Was it as
wet nurseF he added, with a good-natured
laugh, poking the young fellow in the ribs
mo. of course not. Judge" she said, smiling;
''taking of the soldiers, only sister
can" and her voice seemed squeakier and more
sopranoesque than ever. He jumped up in his
seat with flash of suspicion, carefully
veyed her from head to foot and back again,
and then shouted at her: "You amt! you aiu't2
You amt man! you amt man! You're a
woman! Gway from mel G'way! g'wayl g'way"
and with his oI1tstretched hands he made a yo-
lently repellant motion.
She interrupted him with, Judge I am a
woman, certainly; but that has nothing to do
with my case before the"
He would not hear her. "G'wayl g'way!
e'way" he shouted with exciting gestures, as If
he were driving a lot of geese to market.
Gway from me! Gway, won't hear word!
Get QUIT G'wayl'
Mary stood her ground. 81 ashamed of
my representative" she said. ''You have been
on the Supreme Bench of the State that gave us
birth, and you know that my case"
"G'way," he persisted. 'Gway! g'way! g'way.
g'way! Go and encase yourself decently before
You talk about me! G'way. g'wayi g'wayi g'way
g'wayl g'wayp And he advanced upon her and
fairly showed her out of the House, amid the
roars of the crowd. Mary herself saw the
humorous side of it, and she actually laughed
she retreated before the red-faced old mar,
and turned on her heel with the single remark
1.-THE blamed old fool" Since that never met
the little Doctor in her tight fitting pants and
brown cutaway coat with her well-worn beaver
and her rattan cane and face of wrinkled parch-
ment, without seeing again the vision of the
exasperated Judge, swinging his gold glasses in
one hand and wildly gesticulatine toward his
unprotected constituent with the other. keep
g'way! g'wayF