The Indianapolis journal., 1884-09-11
WESTERN GrRLs
who Can Shoot the Rifle, and who Are Ac-
custOmed to Outdoor sports.
sensation,

Who Can Shoot the Rifle, and Who Are Ac-
customed to Outdoor sports.
Colevi1Ie tCai.) Lcttcr
A young girl pretty and modest, with q rife
on her shoulder, is not a strange sight in these
parts. Many young women in the far West are
very proficient IN the use Of fire arms, and no
one thinks it strange to see them thus equipped
ON the highway or IN the mountains, hunting.
In nothing is the Western freedom from con
vcntionalism more striking than in the latitude
giyen young women in their amusements. The
typical far Western girl would doubtless shock
her more subdued sisters Of the East in many
things which are here considered within the
bounds Of propriety She hunts fishes camps
out, rides and tramps with all the relish shown
by the Stefa1ef Sax and IN not few of these ac-
complishments is she the equal of any of the
men. Visitors from the East unfamiliar with
pastimes of this kind, have often been seriously
embarrassed on finding that their charming
companion OF the parlor or the lawn could load
and shoot guns as veIl as riiHmxn, mount and
ride horse like trooper or climb mountains
with untiring limb
few weeks ago plump young woman in this
town who rides, hunts fishes and climbs, had
her photograph taken in her fiesh-air costume,
and sent one of them TO relatives in Illinois The
portrait exhibited girl of eighteen, with a
iaunty t1rban, her long hair done up tightly in
a coil her face full and fair and her eyes bright
as dollars. Her dress was tiEht-fitting at the
waist and sleeves, of dark serviceable material
and the skirt coming Just below the knees failed
to meet The tops Of her high buttoned boots by
several inches 1t WAS as pretty picture Of
health, vivacity and beauty as one would care to
see but the relatives IN the East were profoundly
shocked, and, in acknowledging the receipt of
the portrait, quietly limited that they would like
to know what the occasion was which demanded
the young lady to appear in that strange cos.
tune. Probably they will be more horrified
than ever when they learn that she is seen on
the streets almost daily in just such attire and
that nothing whatever is thought Of it
The girl over whom this section of the State is
raving just now is Miss Lillian Smith, an expert
with the rifle, who threatens to carry off the
honors in craftsmanship if she ever consents to
appear in q contest of skill She is only thirteeh
years of age, but she appears much elder She
has strong frame, abundant dark brown hair,
and big brown eyes. FanDed by continued ex-
posure to sun and wind, she is the picture Of
health and Of typical far Western beauty. When
only nine yeafs of age she manifested fondneRs
for the rife which her parents readily gratifed
She often went off into the wilds of Mono county
on hunting expeditions. and frequently secured
game which she was obliged to procure assist
ance to bring IN. OF late she has amused her
self odd times with shooting at glass balls and
at targets, and so unerring has her aim become
that u failure to hat the mark is considered al
most out Of the question. On her halnting tours
she uses a .42-ealiber rifle, which she handles
with the ease and precision of an experienced
marksman
One Of her feats with the rifle which has at
tracted most attention is the breaking of glass
ball travelling 3, 600 feet per minute. She shoots
straight forward and also over her shoulder,
using hand d-mirror to sight with.