Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1897-03-13
DISGUISED AS MEN.
WOMEN WHO HAVE LIVED FOR YEARS
IN MALE ATTIRE.


Modern Times = Names Withhold by the
Relator-A Prominent Professional Nan?
In the month of April, 1888, Mr..
Thomas, an attorney Of Manchester,
was seated alone i'll his Office, when q
client was shown i'll. She came, she
said, to obtain divorce from her hus-
band, who was a master bricklayer, do
ing all excellent business. She COM
planned that he drank heavily and
when under the influence of liquor
would beat her severely. This i'll treat
ment she bore patiently until he finally
refused to give her money fer house
keeping expenses, whereupon she sought
separation.
When more closely questioned, the
woman unfolded to the ears of the as
tonished lawyer the following remark
able story:
The master bricklayer had at birth
been relegated TO the feminine portion
of humanity, but being early disguised
with the restricted life Of girlhood he
donned masculine attire and appren-
ticed himself to a briclllayer. (The per-
sonal pronouns are apt to get a little
mixed in such descriptions, so I will
adhere to the MASCULINE He showed
an unusual knacll in his chosen trade
and soon became his own master He
was a handsome young fellow, and
many maidens fell in love with the
dashing young mechanic, and he finally
chose and married the woman who be-
came Mr. Thomas client.
Upon investigation this astonishing
story was found to he strictly true. The
briclllayer had acted as special consta-
bic for Manchester and had occupied
other essentially masculine positions in
the community, always being Oh hand
when riots OF any other danger threat
ened. The true sex Of this esteemed
citizen had never been suspected during
the % years he had worn the disguise
until domestic differences caused his
partner to reveal the secret.
There is we'll authenticated instance
Oh record of girl who adopted mascu-
line apparel when she was 3 years of
age OF rather, to be more accurate, her
father dressed her as I; boy that sho
might the better dance at public houses.
She continued i'll this disguise for 40
years without being discovered.
To come down tc l~odcrn times, the
writer, though unable to mention names
ard localities, as enc Of Tie parties con-
ccrned is still living, knows Of strill-
ing example pertinent to the subject.
But FIVE short years have been told
since the final scene in this drama of
real lie was enacted. But to begin at
the beginning:
There were two sisters, educated and
refined ladies' left orphaned and we'll
nigh penniless Both of them were
beauties, one tall, dark and courageous,
the other blond small and gentle. The
elder girl made up her mind to adopt a
bold course. Size tool; tic little money
they possessed and rented and stocked
little store in a.distn.t city, where they
were unknown; then, taking her sister,
they stole quietly away.
In their new home they represented
themselves rs nam and wife, did we'll
in business and were universally re-
spected.
Years passed. The gentleman (?)
saved money, took up pursuit moro
congenial to his TASTE. and became one
of the nest prominent men (?) in the
city. The couple bought Il beautiful
hcme Oil Blank ayonuc, entertained and
were entertained by the best society in
tic place. Everybody said: what q
handsome couple, she so delicately
beautiful with her golden hair, he so
stately and dark -
One afternoon, when the lady was
"at home" to her friends and was sur
rounded by a laughing, chattering
group, she saw, approaching across the
room, with lis eyes fixed upon her face,
Gle Of the lest known physicians of the
city. Tie n;,n's face Was so grave that
it startled her, and her heart began to
beat heavily with foreboding Of evil
&c come.
The doctor came up hastily, and
without the usual formal greeting spoke
to her in Il low, excited Voice:
MIR. - fell dead CT heart disease
in his Office about All hour ago. Only
one of the clerks attended him, when
was called in. If you wish to preserve
the secret, you had better come at once. P"
The doctor was rot ore who believed
III breaking bad ncws gradually, but it
were better he had adopted less abrupt
measures III that instance, for the poor
little lady was entirely overcome, and
shleking ont, What shall do:" she
fell at Ills feet III faint.
Well, the story was hushed up and
came 10 the ears Of only Il few people,
but it is a true story just the same
Such instances abound. There is to-
day in one Of the great cities of these
United States prominent professional
nan who is a disguised woman. He is
e we'll to 60 bachelor and is considered
a very desirable parti by matchmaking
man!mas ard manageable daughters.
10 attempt to enumeratc the cases Of
women who have temporarily assumed
masculine disguise would be hopeless
task. Even such instances as arc on rec
ord, doubtless representing q very small
percentage OF the real occurrences i'll
this line, would fill volumes.
This unraturcl feminine attitude to-
ward life, arising from many causes, is
Il matter CT psychological interest.
We hear great deal lately about the
abnormal woman" but the term "ab-
normal is relative and should be ap-
piled with much discretion, or it will
become meaningless.
1t would perhaps lie L".dly accurate
to use the word to describe even the