The Iola register., 1891-07-10
THE DARING MISS powIE.

su sIverturous scot,- L-r4'e who Made
Memorable Journey In Mems Clothes.
1t is not little singular that one of
the most independent, adventurous not
to say emaucipated young women of the
present century should be native OF
conservative Scotland. Such, however.
is the case and the World takes pleas
ure in introducing to the American
public Miss Menie MSIriel DOwie. This
is probably the first time you have
heard the name of this young lady, but
it will not be the last. Her book, ~
Girl in Karpathians, has already pass
ed through several editions in England
and is announced for publication In
this country. Miss DOwie's portrait
has been printed in the illustrated pa
pers, and she has lectured before that
learned and conservative body. the
Geographical society, whose members
not only applauded her TO the echo, but
frankly said that they wished that men
could make their travels as interesting
to the general pubic as had this
young girl. Young she certainly is.
for she tells us with fine scorl:
81 was not alive twenty-five years
ago, and l don't mean to pretend that |
was" Tweuty-three is probably her
age. and young enough it is, too, for a
girl to brave the dangers OF the Kar-
pathian or any other remote and mys-
teriOus mountains.
Miss Dowie is the granddaughter OF
Chamber, of encyclopedia fame, and
seems to have inherited an encyclo-
padiac knowledge of more things than
are dreamed of in the philosophy of
most young girls. She is mistress OF
many languages. can take fivebarred
gate with the ease Of Di Vernon. She
can drink a glass of vodka without
winking, and smoke cigarettes as fast
as she can roll them. Having spent
much time on the continent doing the
things and seeing the sights that fall to
the lot of the fashionable tourist she
tired of it all and made up her mind to
go to some out-of-the-way place-a place
not only untraveled by the tourist but
unknown to the explorer, and she Sc
lected the Karpathian mountains, in
Russia-Poland, as the scene of her eX-
ploits. There she passed one entire
summer without any companions save
such of the natives as she was thrown
among. Jew or Gentle, men or
women-it made little difference
to her. If you read this
story as told by her own pen you will see
what an adventurous time she had alone
in the mountains. and you will wonder
how young girl brought up in luxury
could sleep comfortably in COW shed,
eat greasy, mysterious food, bathe in a
foaming torrent and dry herself in the
sun with never word OF regret FOR the
comfortable beds, the dainty food and
the luxurious bath tub OF her native
civilization. Miss Dowie is as clever as
she is independent. She writes we'll
and easily. Slang words and poetic
thoughts run cheek by jowel through
her pages. She is a keen observer and
an amusing commentator.
In defense Of the picturesque masculine
garb which Miss Dowie wore during her
Journey, she says: IAN adieu was bid
den to the trappings Of an average wo-
man, and | imbued myself with the
tweed suit, shirt, coat and knickerbock-
ers in which l had decided to face ev-
cry climatic possibility for two months.
OF my three shirts one was silk, the
other two pink flannel: the rest of me
cased carefully in woolen. l have nev-
er envied man his appearance, only
the superior convenience of his cloth
ing. In assuming a coat such as his
it is his pockcts that l want. When
l put on shirt do it for its comfort,
and with knickerbockers l only seek to
equalize our chances of escape in case
of tumbles. This is not original that |
know. Most likely, other women who
initiate in some Sort their brothers
would say as much, and sigh at the
same time, for the masculine vanity
which fathers other views. ."-New York
World