Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-06
WOMEN IN MEMS ATTIRE.
Some Reasons That Have Been Give, for Abandoning Skirts,

Some Reasons That Have Been Given for Abandoning Skirts. Cases of women in male attire are
 more frequent than may be sup posed. Numerous women have | fought in battles as common soldiers.
 The story of those who for various
 reasons donned civilian male attire
 may not be so romantic, but it is
 equally extraordinary.
 Rosa Bonheur's case Is, perhaps, the most famous. This celebrated animal painter petitioned the French government to allow her to wear
 male dress at the horse fairs which she had to attend in order to obtain material for her pictures. The peti- tion was successful, and for many years Mme Bonheur went about France universally respected in the guise of 'man-woman."
 Nor was Mime Bonheur the only lady to whom the privilege was granted. At least three other wom- en--a sculptor, scientist and a journalist-hold a like permission from the French government, and utilize it to the full.
 It is usual. and permissible, for women to adopt male attire in cer- tain forms of athletics and sport in such occupations as gardening, farm ing, and colliery labor. We have had women footballers in this country. but the sight has not been edifying. In hunting, cycling, mountaineering, hockey, etc, the wearing of semi masculine garb is almost necessity.
 The custom of riding astride is growing among horsewomen, and of course this cannot be done in skirts. Lady Violet Greville informs us that numbers of ladies of title are adopt ing it, among them the Duchess of Westminster, Lady Castlereagh, Lady Constance Stewart-Richardso and the Hon Mrs Fairbairn-to mention only few.
 The ladies of certain hunts-the Exmoor Hunt, for instance-long ago took to the ride astride habit A | few days ago lady even had the | courage to appear on horseback in | Regents park riding astride in a three cornered hat, skirt coat, top |
 
 boots and brooches.
 Male attire is usually adopted by | women either for criminal purposes | or for the necessity of earning a living.
 In the latter category come the ! 5,S51 females who work at the coal | pits of Great Britain either above pn below ground. A very large propor- ton of these, especially in Lanca- shire, wear trousers at their work. Many other examples of men-women workers may be cited.
 Lady Jack" the daughter of a naval officer, works on farm near St Mary Cray dressed in a neat Norfolk suit. with cap. leg gins and boots to match. Tall and | she shares all the rough | work with the laborers.
 A wagoner who was knocked down and killed at Colombes. France. last December turned out to be a woman. She was noted for her feats of strength. which gained for her the of Iron Arm. She could ise her fists with such skill that few nen cared to stand against her.
 Captain John Tweed sailed the Atlantic for years as male skipper, he secret being revealed by a post nortem. Esther McEwan. a 15- 'ears-old Scottish lassie, caused a four years ago by dressing IS a boy and working first in a coal nine and then running away to sea IS cabin boy. She successfully com 'leted several voyages before her sex vas discovered.
 With regard to criminal masque- aders. a London detective asserts hat scores of women are wearing nen's clothes in London for nefari- us reasons.
 Mabel Truelove was recently sent O jail for a month for travelling on in male attire and defraud- ng the companies. Gertrude Chap nan, 16-years-old girl. was caught t Mistley riding on a stolen bicycle n a young mans cycling clothes. Paul Downing" who was brought ID at the Mansion house in Septem- Ter last year. proved to be a woman, llthough dressed fin a jacket suit, vith brown leather 1eggins, white hirt and collar and wideawake hat.
 The amazing adventures of the man-woman" Catherine Coome were old at length by herself in 1904. he was then aged 6s years. fifty of which she had lived strenuously as a nan, in mems clothes. Dock labor ng. printing. seamanship. painting nd decorating were famiKsr occu- 'ations to her. She married Percival 'oome at the age of Is.
 A female cab driver named Billy eymouT held license in London for hree years. She looked a rather hort and stout cabby. but she earned Ter livelihood with the best of the "on the rank" Migrating Q Liverpool. she worked there for K years without question as a H. ensed hackney cab driver. Falling nto the hands of the police, her sex Tas discovered in Walton jail. A. erward she disappeared. but it is uite possible that she may now be aek in London. respected elderly