The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-29
IT'S JUST A FAD.
George Aldridge Tells Why He
DOns Feminine Attire.
Takes Place of Horse Racing,
Golf or Baseball.
ENJOYS EXPERIENCES.
Has MasQueraded as a Woman
for 90 Years.
Police Annoy Him and He'll
Change His Plans.

George Aldridge, the Topeka pho
tographer, who was arrested Sunday
night for parading Kansas avenue in.
woman's clothes. was discharged in the
Topeka court Monday afternoon by
Judge Urmy. There was no evidence
to show that the man had caused a dis
turbance and the judge decided that if
ne was to be punished for his queer
acts he should receive the punishment
elsewhere.
The actions of Mr.. Aldridge have been
common to the Topeka police for the
last 20 years. The police and the pho
tographer's closest friends are the only
ones who have been able to recognize
Mr.. Aldridge on the street when he was
dressed as a woman and for some time
the police have not paid any attention
to the character as he has seldom
caused any disturbance. his actions be-
ing like those of a refined old woman.
Mr. Aldridge was much embarrassed
at the actions of the police in making
him out such rough character to the
newspapers and he had the following
to say this morning:
For the last 20 years 1 have been
doing this sort of thing as a fad and
L have received much enjoyment out of
1T. have never caused disturbance
on the streets of Topeka and Sunday
night it was the police who caused the
disturbance and not myself, They saw
me at Eighth and Kansas avenues and
followed me to Sixth when three of
them caught me by the arm and told
me to follow them to the station. OF
course when the police surrounded me
and started me off towards the station
there would naturally be a crowd of
inquisitive men and boys follow. 1t
was the first time during the evening,
with one exception, that a man had
spoken to me and l was ashamed of
the sincidant The rnIina
bothered me before and 1 have always
gone personally to the chiefs and told
them of my actions beforehand and
they have passed them up. But Mr..
Eaton thinks he has to create public
sentiment by capturing me and being
as disagreeable as possible"
There is no ordinance in Topeka pro-
hibiting such actions on the part of
man and Judge Urmy said this morn
ing that he saw no reason for the ar
rest of Mr.. AIdridge unless he caused
a disturbance on the streets.
The hobby practiced by the Topeka
photographer is probably one of the
most unusual fadS on record. The fact
that Mr.. Afdridge has been doing this
same thing for the last twenty years is
a proof of the fascination of the fad
and the habit according to Mr.. AID
ridge is a. common, one in the larger
cities = He. say Us that he has a close
friend in7Kansas City who has been do
ing the same tnlnE Tor q nunlDer Oh
years and he is acquainted with sew
eral men in New York, Chicago, Phila-
delphia and other cities who are on the
streets most of the time after their
working hours.
The Topeka man started the fad
about twenty years ago in North To-
peka. He used practically the same
makeup as he is now using and for a
long time even his nearby neighbors
did not recognize him. Later they be-
gan to take notice and he then moved
to the rear of his gallery and is now
living in the rear of his establishment
at 527 Kansas avenue.
Mr. Aldridge says that he goes out
about two times a week and after TAX
ing a little walk around some of the
business parts of the city he goes to
Mills and Crosby's and making a few
purchases he returns to his rooms. He
dresses in a black silk suit with
large black hat. He wears a large yell
low wig. He is dressed to represent a
middle aged woman and he acts the
part. He has soft blue eyes and his
mouth is rather small for man. His
ears are small and he possesses hands
that any woman would be proud of.
AS a whole he is small man and his
features and general makeup add to
his disguise ais a woman He talks in
a low voice.
He says that he is approached once
in a while by a man wishing to en-
gage him in conversation but he al
ways throws his head up and passes
on with look of disgust. None of the
clerks in the dry goods stores know
him and he makes his purchase with
out any suspicion whatever Men often
raise their hats to him and he is al
ways treated. with courtesy by people
of his own sex. He says he enjoys
these actions on the part of the men
and sometimes he cannot help but
laugh to himself over their blunders.
Mr.. Aldridge says he has no reason
whatever for the idea except that he
enjoys it and it has always been his
hobby When a young man he would
plan all such escapades and he often
wished that he could carry out plans
he had made He says he has carried
them out. "Other men will go to the
horse races, play golf or go hunting for
sport but I have plenty of fun in my
own line" said Mr. Aldridge this
morning and he laughed to himself.
He has had many amusing experiences
while disguised as a woman but he
says he prefers to keep them secret for
awhile Some of his friends suspect
that he is getting up book dealing
with character sketches of the weaker
sex and he is gathering material. The
police think he is just up to some
''devilment," as they say, and is at
tempting to cause disturbance. How
ever. Mr.. Aldridge does all he can to
hide his disguise and he does not al
low anyone to recognize him either as
himself or as a man.