The Press., 1898-02-24
DISGUISED AS MEN.
WOMEN WHO HAVE LIVED FOR YEARS
 IN MALE ATTIRE.

WOMEN WHO HAVE LIVED FOR YEARS
 IN MALE ATTIRE.
 The Manchester BrickIayer Who Mistrust- trusted His .-WIfe"-A Mysterious Case of Modern Times - Names withheld by the Relator-A Prominent Professional Man?
 In the month of April, 1888, MT. Thomas, an attorney of Manchester, was seated alone in his office, when client was shown i'll. She came, she said, to obtain a divorce from her hus- band, who was a master bricklayer, do- ing an excellent business. She com plained that he drank heavily and when under the influence of liquor would beat her severely. This i'll treat ment 4he bore patiently until he finally refused to give her money for house. keeping expenses, whereupon she sought a 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, put being early Sisgnsted with the restricted life of girIhOCd he donned masculine attire and appren- ticed himself to a bricklayer. (Thc per sonal pronouns are apt to get little mixed in such descriptions, so will adhere to the masculine.) He showed an unusual knack in his chosen trade I,se To was a handsome young fellow, and many maidens fell in love with the dashing young mechanic, and he finally chose and married the wOnan who be- came MT. Thomas client.
 Upon investigation this astonishing story was found to be strictly true. The bricklayer had acted as special consta ble for Manchester and had occupied other essentially masculine positions in the community, always being on hand when riots or any other danger threat ened. The true sex of this esteemed citizen had never been suspected during the 90 years he had worn the disguise until domestic differences caused his partner to reveal the secret.
 There is a we'll authenticated instance on record of a girl who adopted mascu- line apparel when she was 3 years of age, or rather, to be more accurate, her father dressed her as a boy that she might the better dance at public houses She continued in this disguise for 40 years without being discovered To come down to modern times, the writer, though unable to mention names and localities as one of the parties con- ss,- x.f l. ing example pertinent to the subject. But five short years have been told since the final scene in this drama of real life was enacted. But to begin at the beginning:
 There were two sisters, educated and refined ladies, left orphaned and well 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 g bold course. She took the little money they possessed and rented and stocked 6 little store in distant city, where they were unknown; then, taking her sister, they stole quietly away.
 In their new home they represented themselves as man and wife, did vel | in business and were universally re spected.
 Years passed. The gentleman (? saved money, took up a pursuit more congenial to his tastes and became one of the most prominent men C? ill the city. The couple bought 8 beautiful home on Blank avenue, entertained anG were entertained by the best society il the place. Everybody said: What { handsome couple, she so delicately beautiful with her golden hair, he sC stately and dark.
 | One afternoon, when the lady wa. "at home" to her frie. $ and was sur rounded by laughing, chatterins group, she saw, approaching across th' room, with his eyes fixed upon her face one of the best known physicians of the city. The mans face was so grave tha | it startled her, and her heart began tt beat heavily with foreboding of evi to come.
 The doctor came up hastily, ant without the usual formal greeting spok' to her in a low, excited voice:
 "Mr. - fell dead of heart diseas' in his office about an 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. The doctor was not one who believed in breaking bad news gradually, but i were better he had adopted less abrup | measures in that instance, for the poo little lady was entirely overcome, ant Ehrieking out, What shall do?'' sh fell at his feet in a faint
 We'll, the story was hushed up anC came to the ears of only 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 thes United States prominent professions man who is 8 disguised woman. He Q we'll to do bachelor and is considere, . very desirable parti by matchmakin mammas and marriageable daughters.
 To attempt to enumerate the cases c women who have temporarily assume masculine disguise would be hopeles task. Even such instances as are on rec ord, doubtless representing a very smal percentage of the real occurrences i this line, would fill volumes.
 This unnat ural feminine attitude tc ward life. arising from many causes, a matter of psychological interest.
 We hear a great deal lately about tn "abnormal woman," but the term "at normal" is relative and should be aI piled with much discretion. or it vii become meaningless.
 It would perhaps be hardly accurat to use the word to describe even tn class of women represented in this ps per. but they may be truly said to hay led, most abnormal lives and may i