Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-09-13
WESTERN GIRLS,
Who Can shoot the Rifle. and Who Ar,
Accustomed TO Outdoor sports.

Correspondence New York Sun
CGLEvTLE, CAL. September IA young girl,
pretty and modest, with rifle on her shoulder,
Is not strange sight in these parts. Many
young women in the far west are very proficient
IN tue use OF firearms. and no one thinks 1t
strange TO see them thus equipped on the high
way, or In the mountains hunting.
In nothing is the western freedom from con-
ventionaiism more striking than In the latitude
given young women in their emGsements The
typical FAR western girl would doubtless shock
her more subdued sisters of the east i'm many
Things WHICH mere are considered within the
bounds OF propriety. She hunts fishes. camps
out rides and tramps with all the relish shown
by the sterner Sex, and In not few OF these ac-
compiishments 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
companions OF the parlor or the lawn could load
and shoot a gun as well as a rifieman mount
and ride horse like a trooper, Or climb noun
talns with uDtirng limb.
A few weeks ago a pumn youpp woman in
| this town who rides hunts, fishes and climbs
had her photograph taken in her fresh air cos
tune, and sent one OF them to relatives i'm Ill-
nols. The portrait exhibited a girl of 1S with
jaunty turban her long hair done ND tightly i'm
coil. her face full and fair and her ewes bright
| as dollars. Her dress was Tight fitting at the
waist. and sleeves OF dark seryiceable material
ana the skirt coming just below the knees failed
to meet the tops of her high-huttoned 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 pro-
foundly shocked and, in acknow lodging the re-
ceipt 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 costume Probably they will be
more Mortified 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 ex-
pert with the rifle, who threatens to carry Off
the honOrs in craftsmanship if she ever con-
sents TO appear in contest of skill. She is
only thirteen years of age but she appears much
older. She has strong frame. abundant dark
brown hair, and big brown eyes. Tanned bv
continued exposure to sun and wind. she is the
picture Of health and of typical far western
beauty. When only nine years of age she mani
lested Loneliness for the rifle, which her parents
readily -gratltied. She often went off into the
wllds OF Mono county on hunting expeditions,
and frequently secured game which she was
obllged to procure assistance to bring in. OF
late she has amused herself at odd times with
shooting at glass balls and at targets. and SO
unerring has her aim become that a failure to
hit the mark is considered almost out of the
question. On her hunting tours she uses a o.
CALDER rifle, which she handles with the ease
ana precision OF an expert enced marksman
one OF her ieats with the rifle which has at
tracted most attention is the breaking OF glass
ball travelling 5000 feet per minute She shoots
straight forward and also over her shoulder.
using hand-mrror to sight with.