The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1889-04-24
1SfLLKT0n.
The curieus Sorry of coiores &aa--Ho
MAJ of AI5any.

Ac@tuy tIlcTS II slLlSuidT iISdh VI .
nature. A hu nan being halt man
and half woman known as Sally
Tom.
This queer creature is said to he
me of those rare and unusual mon
strosities, a hermephradite.
Partaking Of the characteristics
Of both sexes, yet being wholly
neither. he, she or it, is bundle of
contradictions.
Sally-Tom is about so years of
age. When slave it was owned
by a Mr.. Kendrick. Of Randolph
county. With freedom came a de-
sire for change, and it removed TO
Albany seeking employment with
abe late Major Tom Walker as
cook and gardener. 1t was then |
man and calling itself such. 1t |
was frequently on the streets upon
errands and presented singular
appearance. Its shape was partly
that of a woman; its dress was
peculiar; its favorite costume being
a waist like a boys shirt Jacket but
toned to a pair Of white pants. 1t
affected vsluminous white aprons
which had some of the contour OF
the body. Upon its head it wore
a jaunty sailor hat. II attracted
much attention and comment. AS
a plantation darkcy SalIy>Tom
could chop cotton as well and split
as many rails as any hand upon
the place, as town negro it did all
a mans work, WAS excellent about
a yard and garden and good cook.
Il was not entirely devoted to mas
euline apparel in those days. how
ever, as in moments of case it would
frequently don feminine garment:
and take an airing as one of a gent
Ter sex.
BY some means Sally-Tom was
hauled up before the treedman'i
bureau, which was supposed t.
have charge Of the interests Of tn,
negro during the reconstruction
period. SalIy>Tom was a witness
made in some trifipg difficulty. AS
its Appearance before the angus
indi, idual who had charge Of thi
brcnch Of that institution he gazec
with undisguiscd establishment upoI
the nondescript. He had found {
pna avis and was more inter
ested in it than in the case befor,
Aiio.
lie inquired mlnutoly into it
life aud habits, found out ALA bou
it,. and after due de-i5eration sol
smnly laid down the law that i
eould either he a nan or woman al
II preferred, but it had to be of on,
sex only as far as wearing appare
was concerned.
Hcre was a delimma, a position
that few human beings are place.
in, to decide at once whether to b,
man or woman for all ones fu
ture life. To toll among the mer
or lie 10 the more quiet manne
of the gentler sex and be one o
them.
SAllyrTom was not long in de-
Gliding. It had good taste and de
t"rinined henceforth to lead a,pev
life and become woman. Sh,
changed her sex, donned feminine
garments and since that day fol-
over twenty years has passed as 1
hEIale.
She presents as singlQr appear
ance in dresses as she did in trous
ers. She still looks what she is, q
nondeScript, a mixture of boil
sexes. She wears a very broad
brinmed straw hats with which sh'
partially hides her face, as she doe
not like to be rudely gazed W on
She has harsh, discordant voice
between that OF man and woman
Sho has a heavy growth of whiskers
which she keeps shaved off. Sh'
will never discuss herself and can
not stand joking. She is by nj
means very refined, and her haunt'
aud home are among the lowest
Sometimes she hires herself cut
but does not remain long at work
A gentleman who hired her as {
cook found that she was too mas,
culiue to suit him. He did no
Ike to have her at his house, sits
ting about the house, holding thc
Saby in her lap and making her
self at home, as cooks and utility
women often do in small familie,
here. She had an inkling that hC
intended 10 be rid of her and quit