The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-09-17

'fWhy," once asked that iusatiapIy curious Chinamau, Minister Wu Ting Fang uf Dr. Mary Walker. "vhy do you wear pauts2"
 "Why." Nankre-lil>c replied Dr. Mary. "do you wear gown 9"
 "l}cvauso it ia tho custom of my cuuntrS," explained Dr Wu.
 "WclL thtz ia supposed to be a free ruuntry, and wear what pirasc," ea6 Dr, Marry cNrrr.s}uu her feminine prtvtrcge uc tho triumphant last vvor,l
 SulL independence that runs to cc- Crnutvity has its drawbacks. Cor when DgA Mary wa}lyvr, at tGe -e Cf S7, dicd nn thc night Cf Fvb. 2t, at her home at Vunkv" Uilh near OswcEO, New York, The g7.vaf waiurity ut those who read uf her death probably thOustt of her onlE as "th1t woman who wuro uv0'a vlNjhes"t and vet sho was an able unysicia0 whose work fu the Civil war as regular com nlisslOECd assistant surgeon was so heroiu as to win her thc Medal of HopuE by special vote of Congress, to say aOthiug of her hcinE vigorous ptonecF in the flzht fog womon's suf- frage.
 Her objections Co the usual dress Of her sex were probably fastervd by her fataeN who absovg-od vOrsets and vonsidecel skirts d menace to health, so she was already eNperinouting with drass 8-aeorp1 when yirt Of l6, At the age Of 20, in iS5S, she roCctv- ed a phystctass's ceryiflcate c1oO tbe Svvavuse Medical College. Begiuping her military career as a volunteer nurse with the Uuton army, she was soon detailpd to a Fur~e0u's duties .--, T4- this capacity she wore the uniform of the Union army with a g,ld stripe on the outside of tho blue trouser Reep, a b1-oad-rimmed soft hat with a gold cord, and a rcEuls ton army overcoat, Instead of a coat she wore a blouse-iike Jacket cut loose at the neck, Having been captured by the enemy, she spent four months iu Libby prison. and was then cSohanE4 cd for a naan of equal rank in the ConfodeTato Army,
 While serving in the army, says the New York Herald;
 SAa always wore her AStc in curis, ~So that everybody would know that [ was a Vr7op2ass," slao once explained, ATter tho war she sold her cUras hero to help a woman who was financially essa ba rTasscd. At Iiaa time sho appear cd at tho CaEr+ Of s. James, 57a GsOr~ Aon. in 1SSS, Sho had her c7rls. Her costarao or that suspicious occasion consisted o3 black silk trousers trim med with velvet Sldo sJr3lsos, and a loose black silk coat with velvet bands on tho pockets
 Telliug of her war reNper5ences once, Dr, Walker said that in IS6z, Vv1hiao she was with General Burn sides army aoar Warreaton, she oh. D. H9-.h =14. 4N ia a ogrn1nzS fever, The surgeon in charEo said he was worn out and tAat he collld rct no supplies, There vera no topvc4s or NandaEeS Dr, WatsSer went t0 her own tent took out several pretty utgltrozrns and, returning to tho ward w1acro the soldiers were, torye tla.s l1nreric 5uco strips and toIa tho soldier nnrso how Co mako ban dazes and p7eT tlEeza and apply thcTa r0 tlas, te1t nles of tho fsvereS pa t5cmts-
 Her reasons for dounInE uoascu- l5re attire were simple enough as she herself gave rheun-that wDnan's dress was unhyEieTie and had cans cd uu10Jd suffering md inVaEdis-7- Yet tho New York Sam deplores tho facn that ~-Ihe 1ro1rseTs- fuock coat starcbed shirt and collar. and high silk hat, in which she choose to attire her little body, efBss1la17y over shadow au the work she ever did7' But, says the Sun further, mot all a1 once d5a she go into trousers un- concealed and umashan e8''-
 She exDeT1msn1s,d with short skirts with bong Tapping coats- and other devices to hide her pants Al las- she threw off an disguise and saDptsa the conventional Eent1eraan's dreSs-