The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-16
AS a MAN,
A Woman Who Wore Masculine At
tire for TVventy-six Yenrs.
from tho Minneapolis Tribun

From tho Minneapolis Tribune.
a few days ago a well dressed strang-
er, i'm a stylish suit of gray-checked
tweed stepped into one of the smaller
banks and presented a check for pay
ment. 1t was payable to Louise Mat
SON." The cashier was mildly astonished,
and seeming a thief, called in a police
man. The stranger had Endorsed on the
back of the check the name of Louise
Matson' in a bold, flowing hand. He was
promptly arrested for forgery. In custody
the stranger confessed that she was wo-
man masquerading in mems clothes. She
added cody that this was the first time
she had been compelled to reveal her
identity to strangers in twenty-siX years.
The woman was promptly released, and a
few days later told me the eyentful story
of her life.
When l called upon her at the hotel
where she was stopping she was dressed
in an ordinary suit of easy fitting tweed,
a frock coat and trousers of conventional
cut. She wore a stiff, four-in-hand tie,
and her stim, sandy hair was brushed up
pompadour. Stout, plain, with an honest
face, she looked like nothing so much as
a solid English squire. She Is about 40.
She has Travelled all over the world, been
engaged in various kinds of business, made
money, spent 1t, and happened in FRS
co rather short. Hence the presentation
of check and the revelation Of her identi-
ty. Her full name is Louise Blaxton Mat
son, and on the hotel register II appears
plain Il. B. Matson."
Il was IS when. pop! it came into my
head that 1 would don this style of cos
tune. My tastes were SO entirely mas
culine that It seemed the only natural
thing to do. and my looks were likewise
masculine enough to warrant the change.
They used to call me Happy Jack when
l was girl and I concluded one day to
take up the idea in real earnest. l simply
and comfort 1t afforded. j never did 1t as
a pose or anything like that.
MY greatest weakness was always a
liking to spend money. So | went up
to London to try my hand at IT, L
stocked up my wardrobe and began life
] have always worn conventional male
clothing and always keep in the prevail
ing style. This made me inconspicuous
and never drew attention to any oddi-
ties of my figure. From London went
to Paris, and Travelled all over the con-
tinent to Baden-Baden, Rome, Monaco,
etc. At Monte Carlo l used to gamble
every night, and / won a good deal of
money. l always bet on my age. | met
a good many Americans there and took
a liking to them. They nor any one else
with whom l came in contact ever sus-
pected me of being a woman, ard, in fact,
! got so used to II that / never thought
about the matter myself l mixed freely
with people, and often acted as escort
for ladies'. | am very fond Of music, and
tlat was why lkeQ the foreign cOun-
tries better than England. The opera I
went to very often, and, with crush
hat under my arm too, occasionally went
out between the acts. | enjoyed my priv
ileges immensely, l tell you.
Il spent several years in India, then
back to England. Then an irresistible
desire to roam took me to Australia.
/ didn't have as much money as | wanted
to spend, and so / went into business
out there-the land and house agency
business-what you call real estate here.
/ did well and made money and got the
reputation of being a good business man.
For amusement hunted kangaroos.
That's great sport.
Il am fond of all kinds of sports, es-
pecially fishing and hunting. 1 came
to this country about two years ago,
and one season l ran q hotel at Ben
Lomind. ! minded my own affairs, and
l was naturally rather shy about max
ing acQuaintances. / said that no one
had ever suspcioned that 1 was woman
I'll have to take that back. One did
He was an American, of course. Ameri-
cans always get there the Enelishman
never he was a baggage porter. But
when he looked at me quizzicaliy I gave
that he was soon convinced that there
was nothing unusual about me.
'Oh, yes, i have TO confess that / do
swear occasionally / couldn't help ST.
living around among men. In fact, II I
had not been 70 self-rel.ant and had a good
deal Of W.ll power, ] dare say. under the
circumstance, ! could never have care
rled out my adventurous and rowing life
Not that there has been any hangers OF
adventure, / never go armed. ! shake
dice once 10 while just 10 stand Ia With