GIRL POSES AS BOY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 7569, 23 May 1914, Page 6

GIRL POSES AS BOY.

TO ENLIST IN UNITED STATES NAVY. A dapper .young person of clean-cut appearance and a man-about-town air appeared one day last month at the navy recruiting station at No. 153 West Twenty-tnird street, New York, and applied tor enlistment papers for the hospital corps. The chief quartermaster, whoso duty it is to take charge of applicants, ushered the stranger into tne examination room. Tile preliminary blanks were signed in due order, and a physician’s certificate was presented which stated that the bearer, Charles J. Hines, of No. 144 Aiills-stroet, Brooklyn, was in good physical condition. The mental tests were passed, and 100 per cent, was given foi •eyesight, a test which usually proves a Buuuijling block for applicants. “You will now kindly step into this adjoining room to take the physical examination,” said the quartermaster. The applicant demurred, saying that a physical examination should not be necessary in view of the physician’s certificate which had been presented. It was explained that the Government would not accept the word of any person who was not duly authorised to conduct the examination, and that in this case the applicant would have to undergo tho usual test. “ Can’t 3’ou make the physical examination without my being obliged to disrobo?” asked the youthful aspirant. "You see, That word disrobe got me suspicious,” said the quartermaster, in explaining the matter., “No healthy human being of th© male sex uses that word. I got rough in my talk right a\\ ay and said I would bring in several other applicants who were in ‘September Mora* attire., “There was a nervous scream and a hurried movement in the direction of the door. The quartermaster got there first, however, and, barring the entrance, sent for Commander C. B. Morgan, who is in charge of the station. It was a girl, all right, and a mighty good-lookmg one at that,” said the quartermaster to a newspaper reporter with a reminiscent chuckle. “I was right in my suspicions, but the way she smoked cigai ettes, and her harsh tone of voice sort of put me off my guard.” To Commander Morgan’s questions the girl replied that she had given a fictitious name. She refused to give her real name, but admitted that she was eighteen years old and that she attended high school in Brooklyn. Fond of travel and outdoor life, she thought it would ho a good scheme to enlist m the navy.

I practised being a boy for three weeks, and this morning I clipped off my hair and came over here to enlist. I managed to obtain the physician’s cortmeate through a friend, and did not think that a physical examination would be necessary.” As women are admitted to the hospital corps she was advised to apply for enlistment at the Brooklyn Navy Yard where this branch of the service receives its applicants.

But you had better dress as a girl and not try to pass' as a boy,” Commander Morgan cautioned her.