The sun., 1919-02-23

always got her through difficult situa-
tons without embarrassment.
In spite OF her lifelong contention that
women ought to have the vote, DR..
Walker wasn't popular with suffragists.
She was too queer. and the SUITS, 30 long
the target OF ridicule, had in self-defence
TO avoid being chummy with tho woman
who actually did the things they were
constantly carlcatured as doing. s..
Once. at n votes for women conven-
tion at Oswego. In 1901. she was barred
out, her fee refused and herself elected
from the building. This, however, WASH
because of the trousers, but because she
had made an attack on Susan b. An
thony, distributing circulars advising
women not to furnish money to the
cause. on the ground that women had
already the right to vote DR.. Walker
always held that an amendment to the
Constitution was not necessary TO allow
women to vote, that the right was hers
already.
However. when she visited the biennial
Of the General Federation of Women's
Clubs AT the Seventh Regiment Armory.
In 1916, she got quite an ovation from
the women in the corridors. who admired
her badges-the one given by Congress
for bravery during the civil war, and
another which she declared had been be-
slowed on her at a county fair for being
"the best dressed woman there"
No Half Hose, but stout Shoes.
Also they wanted to know II she
wore half hose--or what7 The little
Doctor told them she did not wear half
hose--she did not think them warm
enough. The shoes women wore she
considered Infamous She wore stout
haA nj No
trouble With her feet.
Yet in spite OF her crushing of what
are generally considered natural feminine
vanities. she had her own little vanities.
There Is extant a picture she had taken
OF herself laid out as IL dead. with her
coat and tie fastidiously arranged. and
flowers scattered over her. She wanted
to know how she would look when she
had passed out.
Once in Washington, where DR.. Wall
ker passed most of her winters, she had
characteristic passage with WI Ting
Fang, then Minister from China.
Why" demanded that insatiably
curious Chinaman, why do you wear
pantsy'
why do you wear a gownT' retorted
DR.. Walker.
Because It Ia the custom Of my
countrymen." explained Mr.. WI.
This Is a free country, and we wear
what we please" said DR.. Walker
So DR.. Mary Walker went on her
lonely. eccentric way through life. true
to her own queer individuality as few
human beings have been. Once she
barely escaped being tarred and feath-
cred by bind of noble Oswego youths
who objected TO her trousers, but she
wasn't daunted. She had plenty OF
courage, as was shown by her Offering
to sell one of her fingers to woman
who advertised to buy one to be grated
on her hand in place of one she had lost.
DR.. Walker wanted the money to devote
to tuberculosis patients. but the adver-
User refused to clinqh the bargain.
The little doctor never married. though
she declared President Arthur twice
asked her TO accept him. once I re-
fused because he smoked. and the second
time said no because otherwise would
have lost my IDENTIFY she said. in tell
ing the tale.
One debt Of gratitude men owe DR..
Mary Walker which they ought not to
forget She was the inventor Of the in
side neckband on shirts which protects
the flesh from being rubbed by the col
lar button