The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-17
HER CAREER AS A BOY.
Ada Ruddock's Story of Seven Hours
in Trousers.

New York, Oct. 17.-Surrounded by
number of her girl friends Ada Ruddock,
the seventeen-year-old girl of 9S2 Third
avenue who dressed herself in her broth
ers clothes and ran away from home, told
yesterday what fun she had had. To show
them Just how she looked she put
her brothers suit and went on the roof,
where a photographer took her picture.
In the first place. she said, Il quar-
relied with mamma because she objected
to me going with a young man named
Louis. She jawed me so 1 decided 10 quit
1 had read about a girl who put on her
brothers clothing and went away to make
a living, so while mother was at a neigh
boris house yesterday afternoon l went to
brother Joes room and picked out his new
serge suit Then l tried his brown
Fedora hat. My hair was in the way, so
l cut it off just as short as a boys Next
1 tried on the suit to see if the trousers
would be long enough Joes only IA.
They were all right and the coat and vest
just fitted. I put on a complete outfit,
even to my brothers socks, and decided to
stroll around town until dark and then
hire Il room for a few days before starting
for philadelphia to get job as messcn-
ser boy.
when was ready I took an extra out
fit of my brothers and got a fve-doliar
bill from bureau drawer. In a neighbor-
ing store I bought a dress-suit case and
rut in the extra rig. Then I left a note
to nv brother asking him to see that
fathers supper was looked after and tell
ing MIN that I was going away for good.
when l went out this time my mother
brushed against me without recognizing
me. Joe also passed me. On the street
two girl friends went by without noticing
This was about half past three O'Clock.
1 walked around till I saw a furnished
room sign on Third avenue. I hired A
room for a week and went over to Lex
inRton avenue and loafod around some
more until it got dark Then 1 went back
to Third avenue and stood looking in A
show window where a girl was standing
got to talking with her and treated her
TO soda. She agreed to meet me again and
we kissed good night. I wanted to see If
she knew l was a girl.
Then I walked over to a messenger
office and sent a message to my young
man, asking him to meet me at Sixticth
street and Park avenue at 10 O'Clock To
pass away the tire I walked over to the
East Sixty-seventh street station and sat
on the steps there smoking a cigarette I
heard one cop tell another about the girl
who had run away, and then 1 learned
that the folks had sent out a general
alarm. I gots nervous. but the cops only
talked with me until I got up and went
away.
AT Sixtieth street met my gentleman
friend, Louis, who had heard of nv els
appearance. He had one of nv girl
friends with him. When they saw me I
started to run and they chased me over
to Lexington avenue uD to Sixtv-ffth
street Then I ran to Third avenue and
into dressn1aker's shop, where the,
caught me. 1 wouldn't go home at fi,.sf
put Louis threatened to tell policeman
and gave in
If hadn't sent word to Louis no one
would have discovered me. for I'd havc
gone to Philadelphia in day or two ana
never cone back. Maybe 1 will some dav
for hate skirts ''