Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 December 1889 — For Forty-two Years a Man. [ARTICLE]

For Forty-two Years a Man.

On the arrival of a 'passenger steamer from St. Briene the commander informed the police that a woman attired as a man was on board. She had, it appeared, taken passage for St. Briene, but - the Captain, having noticed certain peculiarities about the passenger, on reaching that port summoned a medical man, and he declared that the pseudo man was really a woman. He further certified that she was suffering from Blight concussion of the brain, and the French authorities, in view of her mysterious conduct, refused to allow her to land. On the steamer entering the harbor of St. Helier the woman took a cab and proceeded to a boardine-house, where she had previously lodged for some time under the name of Louis Hermann. She had every appearance of manhood, and from her easy deportment it is evident that male attire was no novelty to her. She wore a fur waistcoat, a long overcoat, a hat and a turned-down collar. She smokes a long pipe or cigar with an air of one* accustomed to the habit. Left an orphan at the age of 13, she then resolved to adopt the male attire. She has now reached the age of 55, so that for forty-two years she has been traveling the world, and has been known as a man. Her calling has been that of a courier, and in that capacity she has traveled widely. She has a knowledge of several continental languages and is otherwise well informed. The name by which she was generally known was Louis Hermann Tobosh, but in some cases she has dropped the last name and simply calls herself Louis Hermann. During the last year she had a balance of upward of £l5O to her credit in a banking firm, but it is not known whether this has been drawn upon. When arrested by the Jersey police she had only Is. 6d. in her possession, and she is indebted to the host to the extent of £3 10s. A number of papers found at her lodgings have been taken possession of by the police.— Dundee News.