The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-07-23
THE STRONG
WOMAN
By NJ QUAD
Copyright. 1910. by Associated Lit
erary Press

During the first year OF her exist
ence the female who came to be known
as 1.-The strong woman" was called
aetty Davis. That was her correct
name. George Davis was q farmer.
and both be and his wife were under
sized people. The infant was q weak
ling. and the doctors frankly said tina,
the first symptoms of measles would
be the end of her.
At the age OF eighteen months Hetty
took start in life and was soon
known as ''the big kid She took
on TAT and simply played with mumps.
measles anG whooping cough. Her
weight at two Years was that of the
average girl of ten She grew from
THE big kid TO 1.-THE big girl" Al
the age of sixteen they were calling
her the strong woman" and that
title stuck to her.
The Davis farm was worth marry
ing. and thee was noney In the bank
besides. There were young men and
bachelors and widowrrs who We're will.
tnr 10 marry II. They came counting
ana we're laughed at. but al length
the strong wuulan announced that on
q c"rtain day. II the SWANS would all
gather at her farm. Sh. would select
husband from among them. The
gathering numbered thirty. As they
sat around casting Sleeps eyes at her
she RISE and said:
''Gentlemen. l want man who can
control me. The MN who wins me
must best me in fair rough and tum
bic fight. There are no other condi
tons
There were only five men out of the
thirty who wanted matrimuuy thar
way. Out of the five there was wild.
over forty years old who could NOV
hay and hoe more corn than any other
for ten miles round He stepped out
on the grass and peeled his coat and
vest and spat on his hands. According
to authentic reports. he was licked
man In five minutes. Not only that.
but be carried q stiff neck for the rest
of his life. The strong woman had
almost twisted bis head off. and none
Of the others came forward rs No. ..
The farm was run by hired men.
Now and then for the first two years
they got impudent at times or did not
keep up to their work. They We're
knocked unconscious, thrown over the
fence into the road or sent away with
broken bones. 1t was great highway
for trlmps. or had been. They came
along In punches. They stopped and
deman ded food. They even threat
ened things When they got to threats
the strong woman sailed In. She
struck and slapped: she kicked and bit:
she knocked their heads together until
their ears rang for days afterward.
Her greatest victory was over a bunch
Of five After the news of thar got
abroad all tramps would 20 six miles
around to dodge her farm. The strong
woman paid no attention TO science.
She inst waded right il any old way
to win. and If she got her teeth fas-
tened upon n mans ear ii was bad for
him.
The strong woman didn't pay much
attention to other women. She knew
they didn't like her and that they Cos
siped about her. bu, she continued to
pass it by for years. Then casual
remark rolled her. \ certain woman
said that she was so home!y that she
couldn't catch a husband. No humely
woman ever yet admitted that she was
homely. nor was there ever an old
maid ready to admit that she hal tried
and failed The strong woman sent
out notice that she had hit the trail for
a husband. No one responded. On
ia nr aud
haystacks and trembled in their shoes.
Two weeks and no husband.
Then the strong woIaIn bought Il
bear trap, covered the teeth with heavy
cloth and set it at the open barn door
Three nights passed without victim.
but 1T midnight on the fourth night
along came horse thief. Gayly. and
was caught by the lee. His wells OF
pain aroused the woman. and she light
ed the lantern and Went out. After
taking a good look at the prisoner she
turned away with the remark:
Il guess you'll do. Stay right here
till morning
He begged and pleaded and yelled.
/ but there he stayed for four hours
more. Then came daylight and his
captor. and she asked:
+ Does it happen that you are mar
ried man.
No"
/ Then you soon will be. Listen to
me. You'll be laid up for about
week After that We shall we mar.
/ ried. you and l.
Il marry you?" he asked after long
look at her.
You will
I'll go to prison 6rst!'
You'll do nothing Of the kind. Per
| haps you've heard OF me-the strong
woman"
He uttered a groan Of despair
They say can't dnd a husband. bus
| I'll show 'emr'
! But. woman. I'm a horse thief
| II don't care for that"
It Il q fact that after q week they
were married 1t u q further fact that