Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1932-01-14

uasolkod Uddlss vhst EN- Puzz1o
Anthorities aero sad kbrood
A Modern Sphinx

IN SPITE of the common opinion
1 that d man or woman cannot pass
for long time as a member OF the
opposite sex without arouslng Sus-
picion, this belief las been discredited
q number of times In history and q
striking example was brought to light
In England a few years ago In the
case of mpersonations-if certain
sources OF information are to be cred
ited-of DR.. james Barry. an inspec-
tor general of English hospitals.
Doctor Barry's features were not
strikingly masculine, nor were they
noticeably effeminate. In fact. he
would have passed generally as an
average type" lie was with the
British army in the Crimea aud there
are a number OF references to him In
the history of the hospital service dur
Ing that campaign. For some reason
or other he seemed always to be able,
more or less, to select his own foreign
stations, and he appears TO have been
permitted to be us insubordinate as
he liked without remonstrance. In
other words, he was treated by the
authorities as II he were-as he may
have been-a woman.
Doctor Barry made rapid strides
In his profession. sometimes jumping
two ranks at time and, when hs
died at the age OF seventy-one. held
the post OF Inspector general OF army
hospitals, a title which appears upon
the headstone over his grave In the
Kensal Green cemetery.
No one ever suspected the doctor OF
being OF sex opposite to the one In
which he posed until the year follow
Inc his death, when long article ap-
peared In one of the leading English
periodicals which elected statements
| which became the talk OF London, for
| the article purported to disclose the
strange and eventful history OF this
sphinxlike individual.
.As consequence of Doctor Bar
RVS refusal Of medical attention dur
/ Ing his last Illness stated the writ
err. IAN inquest was held Immediately
after his death and the following
| day 1t was officially reported to the
war Office that the deceased inspec-
tor OF hospitals was not only WONT
an. but It was evident that early In
life she had been mother
When this article appeared. an OIL
Ger Of the Third West India regiment
recalled an incident connected With
Doctor Barry. which threw addItiona
light upon the matter.
.Some twenty years ago he stated
II was travelling with this remarkable
character on board the inter-colonla
steamer plying between ST. Th0ma!
and Barbados. occupying the SAM
cabin---I In the upper and the docto
Ia the lower berth. | well remembe
how. In harsh words. was ordere'
out OF the cabin In the morning whei
Doctor Barry was ready to dress and
while I merely attributed It at tn
time to one OF the doctors pecullari
, ties, think that this irasclblity wa
affected largely az cloak for his rea
sex-a secret which he succeeded \
! concealing during his entire ofticia
life In the service
!; After Doctor Barry's death, Genera
Chamberlayne. who had served wit
the former inspector general. stated
I II knew Doctor Barry we'll. He wa
} rather bombastic OF speech and shor
OF temper, but otherwise possesse
few outstanding characteristics. Whe
I think OF the anxiety. care and trol
Bile he must have experienced In mali
tanning his assumed character,
Y seems amazing that he could hay
|. had so many good points. After al
} believe that his manner and speec
were assumed mainly to repel inaus
tive associates
While there was, OF course, no OF
cial statement from the war office
i connection with the alleged inane
i and the resultant discoveries concer
. ING Doctor Barry's sex. there was
denial whatever or the statement
fact which was generally understos
y TO establish the truth Of the stor
! But, granting that 1t was true, VIII
reason did Doctor Barry have for co
. cealIng her sex? How was she ah
{ to carry on the representation {
= more than fifty years? What trage'
Law concealed behind her strange
lg termination to appear man. Y
fortunately, the answers to these al
IN numerous other questions about u
modern sphinx lie Inferred In th
grave In the little cemetery at kens
Green-never to be disclosed IN 7
world.