The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-20
THE TROUSERlzD WOMAIT.
DIR. Mary walker Active Again in
Warrington.

Washington Letter in New York Press
After seven years DR.. Mary
e. Walker has returned to Wash
ington. The place used to know
her well-so well, that it took her
as a matter of course. and she could go
about without a head being turned in her
Objection. She seemed omnipresent, and
now that she has come back she seems
to be so still She has been here nearly
three weeks, and it would appear that
every individual in Washington has seen
her She has seemed to have business in
every department of the government.
She has been to the pension Office to
have the pension that she draws for her
services as a surgeon during the war in
creased. She has been to the war depart
ment to obtain ribbon of merit Tor what
ever it is called as a reward of courage,
not for herself but for a friend. She has
been to the capitol in the interest of some
bill she is anxious to have passed, and
she has been 10 see eX-Queen Lii. And
this is what Washington has seen: A
INDEPENDENTLY small-woman with
tiny feet and slender, little hands; short,
gray hair, parted much to one side; a
peaceful face that has not changed IN
twenty years; shrewd pair of gray eyes
that look through gold-rimmed spectacles.
Her clothes are made by mans tailor,
of black cloth, a Prince Albert coat, and
trousers and waistcoat that do not change
with the changing fashions. Her shirt is
such as man might wear, having stand
ing collar ana Guns, nlted Win enormous
cuff-buttons. A silk-crochetted white tie,
with a jeweled scarf pin, p silk hat, old
fashioned square-toed boots mot shoes),
white kid gloves for dress occasions and
an overcoat with a cape of FUR for cold
weather completes a costume of which
the wearer fully appreciates the unique
ness when worn by a woman.
She does not succeed in looking in the
least manly. No one could ever fail to rec
ogniZe her as a woman. Even her voice is
gentle She looks the meekest of women;
| looks is Is
aggressive in her other views as in her
ideas of tune, and she has the courage
of any number of AmaZons. She is most
successful lobbyist. and If the truth must
be told, she owes 1t to the fact that she
makes IL point TO know just what she is
| talking about. and she has a fine wit of
| her own, that gives her point force She
usually gets what she wants.
She is a kind soul As a pleader for any
| one else she is indefatigable, and the lit
tie woman does more good and charitable
| work than one knows in the practice of
her profession. She Is inimitable when she
tells of her first experience I'm adopting
a mans costume. 1t was years ago be-
fore the war, when she was a young girl
Il was beset by most tiresome tribula-
tons in regard to the cut and length OF
my coat. on the subject of trousers
was adamant L could not be switched
of TO boomers or any compromise. But
as to coats l allowed my friends to ex-
press an opinion, and | tried to follow
their advice The result was at least
dozen coats, of all cuts and lengths. There
and almost swept the floor, and there
were skittsh looking affairs, with no par
ucular length.
FINALLY / said to my advisers: What
right have you, anyway, to be giving me
advice about my clothes? You don't lay
for them, and, il YOU did, / wouldn't want
your opinion SO l pleased myself, and /
have been pleased with my clothes and
with myself ever since"
do you ever adopt the conventional
evening costume worn by menu
mo. When my Prince Albert goes on
in the morning II goes on to stay all day
and all the evening. l am opposed to
sions."
The doctor did good work in the war. it
Is said. II must have been strange sight
to see the queerly clothed little woman GO
ing about among the hospital patients.
She was considered a good horsewoman
at that time, too, riding horse man-fash-
ion, of course.
She doesn't say so but perhaps she is
not a little sorry that she had not the
honor Of being the first woman to ride a
bicycle. Perhaps she will be the last. for
she hasn't learned to ride yet-in fact,
has never been on a wheel, although she
believes I'm them, and the short bicycle
skirt does her heart good. In her opn-
ion. though, the wheel should be fitted
out with wire arrangement TO lean
against, for a support TO the back. IL is
feared that this and her added sugges-
ton TO interlace the wire back with rib
bons 10 make Il beautiful will not he one
of the features OF tho 81 wheel.
While waiting for train in New York
recently she was approached by woman
IN a wild state of excitement. Are you
Dr. Mary WalkerT' she asked.
II am" was the reply.
"Oh. / am so glad. l have been hoping
for years and years that I could meet
you, for have always felt sure that n
had a chance to have a good talk with
you could persuade you to give up your
unconventional manner OF dressingi'
There was a long talk. and the doctor
has been convinced that she won over the
woman to her way of thinking
There was a stately interview with
Queen LII The doctor went to the Shore
ham one day and sent up her card but
| the Hawaiian was not at leisure Just then
| Or. Mary Walker went home and soon
afterward received q note from Mr.. Pal
mer Of Boston. saying that his gracious