The Opelousas courier., 1889-02-09
DR.. MARY WALKE1.>.
The Noted Woman Who dass
querades in Mans Att te.
Stories by a Detroit Mfn Who
Knows Her Very Well.

CDR. Mary Walker2 Oh, yIis, 1 know
Mary very we'll. Inado her Jaequaint-
ance way down in Rrcxas shgttly after
the war;"
The speaker was Henry P. Sanger,
who leaned back in his chair@Spd pulled
ncditatively at his cigar. Il was on
my way" he continued to a reporter of
the Detroit Tribune, ''to attend the first
state fair held in Texas, in Houston. l
took the steamer at Galveston-and q
mighty fine steamer that was, too, with
great broad decks and reclining chairs
and commanded by officers who were
perfect gentlemen-for Houston, and
there was a mighty big crowd on board.
There were some distinguished people,
t2p, including Judge Jere Black, the
Aoted Pennsylvania.
"About two minutes before the gang
plank was hauled in and the order given
to cast off," a carriage came rafting
down the street and stopped ON the
wharf. Satchels, bandboxes and shawls
began to issue from the vehicle in end
less profusion, and were followed by amite
of humanity dressed in the half male,
half female garb which. has advertised
the name of DIR. Mary Walker Through
out the land. She flew about on the
wharf issuing peremptory orders to the
porters, the ships officers and, in fact,
everybody within reach of her voice.
She was accompanied bya tai, lank in
dividual of uncertain age, with oiled
locks which hung owe his shirt collar,
and a carefully waxed mustache, the.
ends of which were reduced to a point
fine enough to thread a needle. He con-
Quoted the great Mayor rather Mary
conducted him--up the gangplank with
considerable ceremony, and they disap-
peared from the view of the curious
passengers.
"When the dinner hour arrived | went
down to the dining saloon with a friend.
We found the room uncomfortably
crowded, and concluded to go to the
after deck and smoke until the crowd
had th1nned out. Smoking was not pro-
hibited on the after deck, but we found a
na,,pIa of Io5ta, 4horo onJ SO o.I-al4ho..
permission before lighting our cigars.
We smoked and chatted away there fnr
several minutes when the rasping voice
of Mary Walker fell upon our ears.
"Throw those nasty cigars away"
we smoked on, pretending not to
have heard the command, when the voice
sounded more emphatic. 4 want you
men to throw those nasty cigars away
at once. They are off hsive.'
"My companion 1 wed toward the
two ladies near by and inquired, Is our
smoking offensive, ladies?'
sob, no, no. they ex~postulated,
keep your cigars, gentlemen
we renewed our conversation and
calmly smoked away. The doctor grew
warm. Men don't smoke she ex-
claimed. Only brutes in the forms of
men will defile their mouths with vile
tobacco. Any man with a mother, a
wife, daughters, a sweetheart or any
body whom he respects is a disgrace to
her or them, and to his race il he smokes
Or chcws tobacco
"This was delivered with an attempt
at oratorical effect that was really laugh
able
Sir began my friend.
Don't sir me, screamed the now
excited woman. I am DIR. Mary Wal
ker and you know it. Don't pretend
that you don't know my SEX.
swell, then, madame, l just want to
say right here that | have a mother. /
also have q wafe and FIVE, children. Some
of 'em are girls. I have a ~grandaunt and
seven other aunts, and the last time 7
counted / had thirty-nine female cousins.
Ny sweethearts are as numerous as the
heavens, and / kiss 'em every chance I
get. / have chewed tobacco Ikea vet
Gran for forty-seyen years and / smoke
whenever / feel like it,
1.-THE doctor danced around like a bug
on q hot griddle. At this juncture the
steward appeared upon the scene.
She laid hand upon that official and de-
manded that those dirty ~loafers' be re-
quired to throw their cigars away.
!" But smoking is allowed on the after
deck, expostulated the steward.
"tYou are no gentleman, SO there,
now, replied the great Mary.
{ I'll send the captain said she stew
ard, alertly withdrawing from the doc
tors grasp, perhaps he'll fix matters to
you.
Presently the captain appeared. He
listened to d repetition Of DR..
Walkers TRADE and the volunteer ex-
plantations Of about fifty passengers who
had by this time surrounded us, and then
laid his hand upon her shoulder.
z am eaptain Of this ship, he said, and
my word here IS law. II you don't go
to your stateroom 1T once I'll put you in
irons, aud Mary went.
~ xfyrl = /