Sunday morning globe., 1901-11-10
VICISSITUDES OF A
GIRL IN MALE ATTIRE.
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IA TRUE sTORY.l
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IA TRUE sTORY.l
90
["The experience of a girl tramp" is the
autobiography Of lady who after the muir
der of her husband and forced by her neCes-
stiles to make her own living, assumed male
attire for the special purpose set forth in her
history. Her adventures on the road were
not only interesting but startling and some
times qHite sensational. They will all be
truthfully detailed in the columns of THE
SUNDAY MORNING GLOBE, on the staff
Of which this well-known newspaper writer
and clever young woman is now a valued
member EDITOR GLOBE.
It is not an exeaggeration to say
that l walked all over Norfolk that
day. Started at a. m, and thought
surely before night some kind Of work
would come my way. In passing along
one Of the commercial streets 1 saw
sign as follows: "The Virginia
Employment Bureau" No doubt that
sign is stll there. OF course l went
in and made inquiry of methods of Sc
curing work, fee charged etc. and
with the result that the agency had
most Of my 81 in cash and / had a
lot Of information about how no man
need be idle who really wanted work
The name Of one supposed employer
was furnished me who desired a piano
player and was willing to give $40 a
week and board for the services Of a
young man who can play the piano
Now, by all the cruelties Of fate, this
man was the brother of the manager
OF the white Rajahs," who failed to
appear in Norfolk the week before.
He did not seem to be in a very COM
municative mood, but actually went
through the farce Of engaging me to
play the piano, and set a time for
me to rehearse with the chorus, for
a performance in Raleigh, N. c.
Thinking that there had doubtless
been some local trouble which dis
qualified the White hajahs from ap-
pearing in Norfolk, but did not affect
their chances in other cities. 1 al.
lowed this fellow to waste three
nights of my time in rehearsals for
which, Of course, l never received a
cent. The fourth day / reported as
usual at the appointed place-but no
one could be found who would admit
having seen the man l sought So
once more, and for the third time, /
great faith in the promises Of per-
sons protesting to be honorable and
honest. 1t is a fact ! have never ap-
peared in even an amateur perform
ance since this very ardor dampen-
ing experience.
Then ] was at my wits ends There
was nothing for it but to tramp IT,
So | buttoned up my coat (I had no
overcoat and it was showing hard)
and resolutely turned my face towards
the setting sun. / forgot to mention
that several months had now inter
vened since the events related I'm the
last chapter of this account l had
been trying several different things in
the meantime, but it is a true and a
hard fact that unto I'm that hath
shall be given and from him that
hath not shall be taken that which he
hath"
To make matters worse the employ
ment agent, having suspected my real
sex, and finding me rather too de-
.ermined to get the benefit Of the fee
paid him, and for which he had prom
sed to secure me work of some kind,
came to me and said, Look here,
young fellow, I've got a job for you.
Its to drive a double team at a log
ging camp down the road in Virginia.
How would you like that2' 1 told
him, as ! had many times before, that
work was what / wanted and must
have and could not afford to be too
particular about the kind of q job
10 be done. Thinking to frighten me, |
no doubt. he blurted out an oath and !
hen suddenly said: Now you can't |
fool me. I'm too old a bird for that |
kind Of a story | believe you are
/ woman. Why, look at your shoes. |
That's enough to give you away Bet |
.er tell me all about it and I'll try to |
help you OUT
Now, this is just what l had ex.
)ected would happen sooner or later |
md the one thing 1 hau nerved my |
self to face, II posi- lie, without a |
.remor or a sign of surprise or fear |
So, mastering all my courage, I said |
In a braggadicio manner: Don't |
waste your breath in silly specula- |
ion. Better save 1t to describe some
u those good jobs lying round loose !
along and take in. And don't you |
WHY Hbohb my oAuNa tlAhIlH AuAGoh /
you are ready to return me the money |
gave you when you promised to Sc
cure me work, and with which l could |
buy a new pair OF shoes more suited |
10 the weather and climate
For reply he handed me a dime and |
4 twO-cent stamp.
What's this for?' I asked.
well, its all I've got with me, but |
you are welcome to 1t. Now you'd |
better skip, for I've informed the au-
.horities and they'll make it warm
for you IL they catch you masQuerad-
Ing in mems clothes"
With this he turned on his heel and !
left me. OF course this did not scare
me at all, mainly because l knew he
had not informed the authorities, !
since he knew nothing and had only !
tried to scare me of in order to get
rid Of me after having failed to get
me a place-Or in fact never having
tried to get one That's the last 1
saw Of him, although in after months
quite a spirited discussion by mail was
INDUCED in with this same man. But
that's another story.