The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-21
SOMETHING DIR. MARY WON'T
TELL.

| TELL.
She has been wearing trousers for 80
years and longer. Nobody knows ex-
actly how long, for this is a point on
which the doctor resolutely closes her
mouth She can never be induced to
reveal the time or place when she for
sock the garb of womanhood and
! adopted masculine attire. If L were to
| tell you that, you would guess how old
lam" is her feminine formula for re-
buffing the inquistive. She will only
say that the change came about by de
grees. She admits, too, that she was
wearing trousers for some years before
hse went into the army as nurse az
the beginning of the civil war. The
only reason she gives for adopting the
garb is the convenience of trousers
over the cum bersOme skirts which were
in vogue when she was a girl.
This is a free country" she said,
land as l was not responsible fer being
a woman, failed to see the reason why
l should be compelled to endure the
discomfortS of skirts for a lifetime sim
ply because 1 didn't happen to be born
a man"
When Dr. Mary was in the army she
was an active assistant surgeon with
the rank of first lieutenant, and she
dressed the same as the other officers.
She wore trousers at that time with
leg, a felt hat with gold cord. and an
officers overcoat. Her coat was not like
that which she has since adopted, but
was shaped like a blouse cut loosely
about the neck.
when had on my overcoat,
though" she said, proudly, Il looked
every inch the man, and l am sure 1
acted it, for 1 was the only woman
holding a commission in the army of
he
woman who has been granted a medal
BY congress for active military duty"
AS she said this the little doctor point
ed to the bronze medal fastened with
a big black-headed pin and a red, white
and blue ribbon to the lapel of her
coat. On the. back of the medal was
engraved the legend: Presented by
the congress of the United States 10
Mary E. Walker, A. A. surgeon, L. S.
Army"
DO I ever have unkind things said
to me?" she said. echoing back my
question. Yes. of course, by ill-bred
people. I always consider the source
from which they come, and attribute
them to Ignorance or viciOusness, but
there are very few experiences Of this
kind. and when anybody does say any
thing unpleasant L usually have some
thing to say in return, which makes
US quits. You would be surprised to
find how little trouble 1 really have.
And then think what a relief it is.
when one arrives in a Stronge city, to
be able TO pick up ones grip and walk
up street without bothering anybody,
and without having some soft-spoken
fellow come up with smirk and: Is
there anything 1 can do for you, miss?'
Oh. 1 tell you trousers are a great
thing"
I
OSITY.
THE other day at the White House
reception 1 met Mr.. WI, the Chinese
minister, who was there with his WIFE
When | was introduced the minister
asked me why | wore pants. l saw
the question was suggested by the nat
ural inquisitiveness of the Asiatic, and
1 replied in the same vein, Why do you
wear skirts2'
Because il is the custom of my
country TO wear Them he replied.
Well said l. I wear pants because
this is a free country and people are
not hampered with customs Then he
said: They say you are a doctor. If
1 was sick / would not send for you;
but if my wife was sick l should I
told him l should be glad to attend his
wife or him, and, would you believe
it. he has sent for me to see Madame
Wa, and have paid her professional
visit. How was she dressed? Well, |
that is the funniest part of it. She had |
broadclOth pants and a tunic. She was
dressed just about as 1 am.
SOME FUNNY EXPERIENCES.
Il have been taken for a Catholic |
priest a good many times said Dr. |
Mary. More than once people have /
sworn to me that l was Father So and |
So and they wouldn't listen to a de- |
NAL. Once at the White House a man |
hailed me as Brother Brown CT his /
church in Atlanta, and when told him !
he was mistaken l couldn't get him to /
believe me- Sometimes the mistakes |
have been very funny. Young girls |
have tried to fiirt with me, and have |
been simply shocked by the brazen eff |
frontery of some women whom have |
met while travelling. One of them ac-
tually asked me how often 1 shaved. |
She thought I was boy, and wouldn't |
take my word to the contrary. Some /
women delight in asking me why !
don't dress like them. l always tell /
them l buy my own clothes and I really |
don't see why J cant have them cut |
as 1 like, without having people ask
me questions about them. / tell such
women that if they will send me their
gowns | viii wear them. / take very
good care nc say how l will wear
them, and q never send me any,
am. saved trouble of explaining