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


IN MALE ATTIRE.
The Manchester Bricklayer Who Mistrust-
trusted His "Vvife"-A Mysterious Case of
Modern Times Names withheld by the
RelatOr-A Prominent Professional Man?
In the month of April, 1888, Mr..
Thomas, an attorney of Manchester,
was seated alone in his office, when a
client was shown III. She came, she
said, to obtain a divorce from her hus-
band, who was master bricklayer, do
ing an 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 sAe bore patiently until he finally
refused to give her money for 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, out being early S'sgnsted
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
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 be strictly true. The
bricklayer had acted as special cOnsta-
BILE 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 % years he had worn the disguise
until domestic differences caused his
partner to reveal the secret.
There is well 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 i'll 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-
cerned is still living, knows of strik-
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 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. She took the little money
they possessed and rented and stocked a
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 well
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 (?) in the
city. The couple bought beautiful
home on Blank avenue, entertained and
were entertained by the best society in
the 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
Eat home" to her frie4 IS and was sur
rounded by a laughing, chattering
group, she saw, approaching across the
room, with his eyes fixed upon her face,
one of the best known physicians of the
city. The mans face was SO grave that
it startled her, and her heart began tC
beat heavily with foreboding of evil
to come.
The doctor came up hastily, and
without the usual formal greeting spoke
to her in low, excited voice:
MIL -~~~ 4C44 ASEu VI u0dTG O1SCdSG
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. y
The doctor was not one who believed
in breaking bad news gradually, but ii
were better he had adopted less abrupt
measures in that instance, for the poor
little lady was entirely overcome, and
ghrieking out, "What shall do?'' she
fell at his feet in faint.
Well, the story was hushed up and
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 these
United States prominent professional
man who is a disguised woman. He is
q well to do bachelor and is considered
q very desirable parti by matchmaking
mammas and manageable daughters.
To attempt to enumerate the cases Of
women who have temporarily assumed
masculine disguise would be hopeless
task. Even such instances as are on rec
ord, doubtless representing very small
percentage of the real occurrences il
this line, would fill volumes.
This unnatural feminine attitude to
ward life. arising from many causes, il
a matter Of psychological interest.
We hear a great deal lately about the
abnormal woman, - bnt the term cab
normal" is relative and should be ap
piled with much discretion, or it will
become meaningless.
It would perhaps be hardly accurate
to use the word to describe even the
class Of women represented in this pa
per, but they may be truly said to have
led most abnormal lives and may II