The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-03-16
DISGUISED AS MEN.
WOMEN WHO HAVE LIVED FOR YEARS
IN MALE ATTIRE.

The Manchester Eriokiaycr Who n.is,rus..
trusted Ills "'"ifc"--A Mysterious Case az
Modern Times - Sancs Withhold ,.y t,,e
Kelatnc--A Prominent Prc:crn:o,a, ,,:,,o
II the month Of Arril. 1888. N7.
Thomas, an attorney Of Manchester
was seated alone in his office. when y
client WAS shown in She car,c. sEc
said. to obtain II divorce from hor Lus-
band, who was master bricklayor, do
ing an excellent business. She com
piainod that he drank heavily and
when under the influence of liouor
would beat her severely. This i'll treat
ment she bore patiently until he finally
refused to give her money for house
keeping expenses, whercupon sho sought
Il separation.
When more closely questioned. the
woman unfoldcd to the cars of the u.s.
tonished lawyer the following remark
able story:
Tho master bricklayor had at birth
been RELOCATED to the feminine portion
OF humanity. but being carly disguised
with the restricted life Of girlhooG he
donned masculine attire and apDron-
ticed himself to Il bricklaycr. Che per-
sonal pronouns are apt to get Il little
mixed i'll such descriptions. so VIII
adhere to tho masculinc) He showed
All unusual knacll in his chosen trade
and soon became his own master he
was handsome young fellow. and
many maidcns fell III love with the
dashing young mechanic, and lie finally
chose and married the woman who he
came Mr.. ThCnas client.
Upon investigation this astonis;,;,,c
story was found to be strictly true. Tie
brlckiaycr had acted as special consta-
bic for Manchester ard had occupicd
other essentially masculine positions in
the community, always being on hand
When riots on any other danger threat
cned. Tho true sex of this esteemed
citizen had never been suspected durir:,
the % years he had Worn the disguise
until domestic differences caused his
partner To reveal the secret.
There is Il well authenticated instance
on record of u girl who adopted mascn
line apparel when she was 3 years of
age, on r;;tl;or, to be moro accurate. hcr
father dressed her as hoy that She
might tic better dance at public houses.
she continued i'll this disguise for 20
years without being discovered.
10 come down to modern times. lie
writer, though unable to mention name.
and localities, as one OF the parties con
ccrncd is still living, knows OF IL strik
ing example pertinent to the subject.
But five short years have been told
since the final scene III this drama Of
real life WAS enacted. But TO begin at
the beginning:
There were two sisters, educated and
refined ladies, left orphaned and we'll
nigh pernilcss. 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 She took the little money
they possessed and rented and stocked a
little store i'll Il distant city, where they
were unknown; then, taking her sister,
they stole quietly away.
IN their new homo they represented
themselves rs man and wife. did we'll
III business and were universally re-
spected.
Years passed. Tho gentleman ca
saved money, took up Il pursuit moro
congcnial TO his tastes and became one
OF the mcst prominent men % III the
city, Tho couple bought beautiful
homo on Blank avenue entertained and
We're entertained by the hest society in
the place. Everybody said: What IL
handsome couple, she so dolicately
beautiful with her golden hair, he so
stately and dark.
One afternoon, when the lady was
at home" 10 her friends and was sur
rounded by Il laughing, chattcring
group, she saw, approaching across the
room, with his eyes fixed upon her face,
one OF tie best known physicians of the
city. Tho MANS face was so grave that
1t startled her, and her heart began to
beat heavily with a foreboding of evil
TO come.
The doctor came up hastily, ard
without the usual formal greeting spoke
To her i'll II low, excited voice:
Mr.. - fell dead of heart disease
Ill his office about an hour ago. Only
ono OF the clerks attended him, when |
was called ill., If you wish to preserve
the secret, you had better conc at once. "
The doctor was not one who believed
Ill breaking bad news gradually, but it
were better he had adopted less abrupt
measures III that instance, for the Door
little lady YVES entirely overcome. and
shriellins out, What shall do:'' she
fell ut his feet in faint.
Well, the story was hushcd MP and
came to the ears of only Il few people,
but 1t is Il true story just the same.
Such instances abound. There is to-
day i'll one Of the great cities Of these
United States prominent professional
man who is a disguised Mnmnn. He is