Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-01-20
WnAhfnnto1l Rnaf-


Thursday afternoon an elegant carriage
drawn by span of bays stopped in front
OF an establishment near the corner of
Tenth and D. streets. The business of
the house is confined almost exclusively
to the sale of firearms, and some of the
finest patterns of Remington pistols can
always be seen in the show windows.
The carriage waited until an attache of
the house came out, and after being in
formed of the wishes of the lady occu-
pant of the carriage, he re-entered the
house, and returned in a few minutes
with several handsomely-mOunted pis-
tolls in his hands, which he placed in the
lap of the lady She proceeded to ex
anime each and all of them, and in MAX
ing the examination handled the weap-
Ons with as much ease and skill as an in
habitant of the border, whose life
mainly depends upon his workmanship
and the ready use of the weapon which
accompanies him always. The lady
seemed perfectly acquainted with the
mode of loading, and expressed her pre-
ference for the double action weapon.
The prices were asked, and without
much ceremony she selected one that
suited her fancy, paid the cash for the
cleaning instrument, and the black Jehu
drove away.
A Post reporter, who was standing a
few feet distant and witnessed the trans
action, followed the salesman in and
asked him if many of the firms patrons
were ladies.
'We sell a good many pistols TO ladies.
Many of them have a great fondness for
weapons, and they generally select the
most expensive patterns For instance.
the lady who made the purchase few
moments ago paid $18 for pistol, and
she could have bought one just as good
in every respect for $12, but without the
silver mounting"
'Do you know the lady who just
left2"
Eyes, know her husband occupies
prominent position in one of the depart
ments, and is said to be man of con-
siderable means"
The reporter then dropped into we'll
known pawnbroker's store and asked the
proprietor about the sale of weapons to
females.
'We sell great many pistols to
women, but our customers in this line
are nearly, if not all, confined to women
of the town. There are very few women
Of that class here who are not prepared
to defend themselves in cases of emer-
gency. While many of them purchase
firearms, not a few prefer dirks and
stillettOs. / know nothing about their
courage to use such weapons, but that
they have them can testify from tii,e
frequent sales made. A fancy ivory.
handled dirk seldom remains on NV
hands very long. Alter it appears in the
WINDOW Purchaser soons calls, and pur-
chasers OF this class of goods always pay
GOOD prices, fancy prices, as we say, for
fancy goods.
do you know of any ladies in Wash
lngt0n who are experts with the pistol?"
Il know of several females whose skill
with good revolver would surprise you
Some of them practice in the house at
targets across the room. Some time ago
l had occasion to call at house on busi.
ness, and one of the lady boarders was
amusing herself in q second story room
with practicing at a target. went up
and witnessed the sport, and can say that
her skill as marksman is not surpassed
by men who have been handling side
| arms all their lives. You perhaps re
member MOdjeska, the famous actress
she was here this winter two years ago, |
believe, Well, l was in St. Louis dur
ing that winter, and she played an en-
gagement there. During her stay in that
city she went into shooting gallery one
day with her agent, and surprised the
little crowd OF crack shots there by
showing that she possessed more skill
with the rifle that any one present"
Have you many patrons among the
theatrical people?'
"Not here. Washington is not a
great theatrical city; but take the big
cities, and quite a business is done in the
line you mention. There is not one act
ress in fifty that does not understand the
use OF firearms, and not one of them of
any prominence but what has revolver
which always lies on the dressing case
where the actress can grasp it handily.
They generally go prepared in this
way in order to protect themselves,
from robbers and thieves, who know
that actresses, as rule, are well sup
Piled with diamonds and costly jewelry."