MARTIN ABLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9933, 23 August 1910, Page 2

MARTIN ABLE.

GIRL MASQUERADES AS BOY

A young woman, named Margaret Bale, who had been missing since December, was found in Fremantle masquerading as a boy. She speaks several languages,, is remarkably well informed, and has been a*great favourite in Fremantle during the past few months. For some time she was employed as a steward at the Fremantle Club, where she was regarded as quite an aristocratic boy. She was remarkably smart in her dress, having her suits made to measure, and was distinguished for the correctness of her tie. She smoked cigarettes occasionally, and was regarded ag a. ''good fellow."

Leaving the club because the work was too arduous, tho young woman started, an art shop business. The business failed, however, and on top of it all tho unfortunate proprietor lost a lawsuit on tlio question of contract. The law costs amounted to £6. Putting up a notice that she had gone to the country, Margaret Bale entered the office of a catering establishment in Perth, where she gave every satisfaction as a clerk.

The young woman is now living with her friends, and asserts that her only reason for masquerading was to hide her identity in order that she would not have to return to her family in England. Onqo she took up the role of young Martin Able she found great delight in the novel situations in which the escapade led her, and was disappointed at tho discovery of her identity.

While living as a steward at tho Fremantle Club, and while acting as assistant barman at a Fremantle Hotel, the young woman had a sum of £SOO in. the bank in England, besides about £3O in her abandoned luggage at Albany. When interviewed Miss Bale said: — "I had my own reasons for my masquerade, and I do not care to divulge them. My people and my friends are aware what they are, and that is enough for mo. My only regret is that 1 failed in the end. I frequently was in the company of people who knew me intimately as a girl, and they never had the slightest suspicion. Whatever part I had to play I played with all the ability I possessed. I forgot my own personality. As to the clothes, they were no trouble to me. They were more comfortable than v,'omen's clothes/' Having soen men as a man amongst men, Miss Balo was asked what she thought of them. "No better nor worse than I ever thought of them," she replied. "They arc an interesting study, and as such I regarded all thvuu/h. T am fond of sfcudving men and women, and animals, and naturo in general. Tho men I met did not influence me at all. I lived my life apart from iitbem altogether."

Asked if any of her own sex hud contracted a sentimental interest in her, Miss Bale said: " Oh, yes; 1 had my admirers. Girls 1 would see in the street would say ' Good and we would talk. I had never heard of such a thing before, and it surprised me."