The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-26
Catherine Coonbs'
Strange Story of
Passing for a Man
for Forty-Three Years.

built, there is not vessel in that
stately fleet which cannot show her
handiwork. She had a large share IN
the redecoration of the saloon OF the
Rome after the big alterations that
were made in her hull for her improve
ment. The ornamentation of the
music saloons of the Victoria, the
Oceana and the Arcadia, which are
especially elaborate and rich, was al
most entirely carried out by her in
enamelling, and this, it should be add
ed, is rather a distinct branch of the
ships painter may paint a house, but
q mere house painter can't paint
ship" During her engagement by the
firm who did this work for the COM
pany, and subsequently when the
Peninsular and Oriental company did
it's own painting, she enjoyed par
ticularly good character for her pune
tuality in arriving at her work in the
morning.
But how did you bring yourself to
talk as men talk when they are
alone?" 1 asked.
well, you see," she answered. 81
never mixed with them. From the
first I saw my safety would lie in
maintaining a rather proud, rather
say without vanity, was so good that
that was my claim to the masters
notice. The men wondered little
who L could be that chose to keep so
much to myself, and so they dubbed
me the gentleman painter
AS Mrs. Coombes talked it was easy
to see that she held strongly religious
and devout opinions, though without
any ostentation or tendency to OBJ
trUde them, and in this way, too, she
could save herself from ofense. Il
have Often" she continued had to
speak my mind out straight when
man working under me has been lazy
or careless, but 1 can safely say |
have never used a blasphemous word
or an expression that would be Earring
on a womans lips. And, as far as
talk about me went, l never hesitated
to show that 1 disliked coarse and ir-
reverent and vulgar conversation"
again, as you say you were sent
often to the country on jobs, how did
you manage for lodgings?" L inquired.
Now that 1 look back" she answer
ed, sit does seem remarkable that
never once found it inevitable to sleep
in the same room with a man. l used
to go to cottages rather than to pubic
houses, for, though l have never been
a teetOtaler, the accommodation OF the
village inn is often very Objectionable.
One time when | was on some work in
South Kensington l met man l had
known, and he said, Charley, old chap,
there's a first rate thing some of us
are going down to. It's near West
Grinstead-the whole of Sir William
BurrelPs mansion to be decorated and
there's a vacancy still 1 hesitated
little, but it seemed a good thing, so
/ offered myself and went We all got
down there, and while they were sit
ting round their lunch l strolled out,
saw nice old fellow smoking over
gate, and said: Know where l could
get a room? I'm here for the painting
of the big house. Don't know as we
couldn't do with you ourselves, and he
took me in and showed me clean and
comfortable room, which l Immediately
engaged, and fearing lest any of my
companions would want to share it, L
said l would have my wife down also
and my niece; and 1 had as healthy
and comfortable summer in the coun-
try as you could have wished"
Working at Kingston in the summer,
she fell from a scaffolding and fractur-
ed some ribs. She made a good re-
coVery, but no suspicion even then was
raised as to her sex by the doctor who
set them and attended her, any more
than it had been when she fell down
ships hatch and fractured her knee
cap. On this occasion, however, the
doctor had said one day. What Curl
ously small hands you have for man,
Wilson," Looking, too, at them, we'll
formed and even white, it is almost
wonder that these never did raise any
inquiry. But her savings were soon eX-
hausted. and for the last few weeks,
work was understandable. For two days
and two nights this brave hearted
woman tramDed the streets with no
more than a halfpanny roll to eat, and
at last she was fain to seek the shelter
Of the workhouse. She chung to the
hope that somehow she might evade
the compulsory stripping, but it was
impossible and feminine modesty re-
VOTED even to yielding up the secret
she had kept so long.
But I have hope that I shall not
have to stay here long" she piteously
said. MY eyesight is not as good as
it was, and 1 fear ! shall not be able
to undertake high class painting work
again, but 1 could act as caretaker.
1 could keep lodge and should be very
thankful if 1 could hear of any posi-
ton of trust. L am doing my best
while [ am here, and the matron is
very kind to me. giving me only some
stockings to darn and sheets to hem,
instead of sending me to scrub or wash.
And [ feel very uncomfortable in these
clothes, though you would not find me
wanting any half-and-half 'bloomers'
if I can't have my old coat and trous-
ers."