The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1894-03-17
SHE SELLS HORSES.
MISS NTTle WILKINS is HER "a
THEIRS PARTNER IN A RANCH.


Most Men PoIlts on Equine stock-she
would Rather Raise and Sell Horses
Than Live In a Big city.
IL doesn't seem "A proper and chiyalrlc
thing to call "A young and handsome won
an a pioneer. even when she las been the
first woman TO enter "A new occupation.
But Miss Kittie wilkins, OF Idaho, has
20 objection to being called the pioneer
woman horse dealer She would rather Dr
called that. she says. than the cattle
uueen.r Some western papers have given
her that title, but she detests II. partly be
cause she thinks il Is absurd and partly
because she doesn't like cattle But she
loves horses dearly. and has always loved
them ever since she was tiny bit OF
girl.
"Yes. that is partly why ! have taken up
this occupation." said Miss wilkins. MY
father has been n raiser OF horses for many
wears. and from the time was a little girl
/ was always around with him among the
horses and on his selling trips, and so when
grew up just drifted gradually into the
work OF selling the horses, until now
have entire charge OF that branch Of our
business"
Miss wilkins is equal partner with her
father and two brothers in the big wilkins
horse and cattle ranch In southwestern
Idaho. The father and brothers devote
themselves to the ranch side OF the busi
ness. while into the sisters hands have
been put for the last six years the outside
work, and she has attended to the sales
and shipments OF both cattle and horses.
She doesn't care for cattle. and her work
with them is perfunctory, but all through
the west she is famous for her thorough
knowledge Of horses, her quick and excel
lent Judgment upon them and her skill In
their management.
Miss wilkins has made business trip TO
New York. Heretofore she has made her
sales in Chicago and the large cities west
OF the Mississippi And in all the big
stock yards Of that region her annual visit
and her consignment Of big ranch horses
are expected with interest. For her horses
are always big, healthy and salable and
she is handsome and interesting young
woman Although she goes about her
business in as businesslike way as II she
were nan, she is like "A refreshing breeze
from her own far away prairie.
My success in New York has been very
good" said Miss wilkins. land | intend
hereafter to make business trip TO your
city every year.
Yes, enjoy the business very much.
and its fascination grows upon me con
stantly. Do consider it my profession for
lifeS Why, yes, certainly; just as much as
my brothers consider it theirs Why noti
devote all my time and energy to learn
ing all | can about horses, their breeding,
care and management. And the more !
learn the more find out there is yet to be
learned. It's the most fascinating occupa
tion know Of. and am thoroughly happy
in IL.
did ever find any obstacles and did
anybody ever hint that they thought it
was unwomanly' Well. those are queer
questions Do you know, it never oc
CURED to me before that anybody might
think it was an unwomanly business for a
woman to be engaged in. Even the most
disagreeable person | ever saw never hint
ed It. But it's my chosen occupation,
enjoy It and am successful ia IL, and my
father and brothers trust my Judgment
and capacity in the business just as they
do their own. And If we are satisfied
what affair is il Of any one on the outsidei
As for obstacles, why. bless you, no,
never found single one. On the contrary,
every one has always been kindly and
courteous, and | have never met with any
thing that was in the least bit unpleas
ant"
Miss wilkins is thorough western
woman. and has lived all her life in Cali
fornia. Oregon and Idaho She has the
frank, cordial, straightforward manners OF
the westerner, modified by the native del
icacy and self control of woman Of refine
ment. There is nothing that is in the
least unrefined, or dorsey" or suggestive
Of the horse market about her manners or
her cor yersation. She is healthful and
wholesome looking, and when she is ami
mated in conversation her appearance is
very pleasant to look upon. Her frame is
rather large and her body well rounded.
and the impression she gives is OF overflow
ing health and vitality Her hair is as vel
low asher own prairies in August and her
eyes are clear and steady and blue and
look straight at you with frankness and
sincerity. And the expression Of her face
Indicates that when she has set a price on
a horse II doesn't leave her hands for a cent
less
Our ranch" Miss wilkins went on in
answer to question, sis in Owyhu coun.
W, and we have on II, after this season $
sales, about $500 head OF horses and 500
OF cattle. No. our horses have no mustang
blood in them, but are descended from
Clydesdale and Percheron stations, with
occasionally some trotting blood. and
american mares brought from the east.
We breed first for size and strength and
the lung powe- that we think cannot be
produced except by range breeding at a
considerable altitude
Our ranch is at a height OF about 900
ieet above sea level and our horses are
never housed or fed until we round them
up TO send them east"
Miss wilkins has not been satisfied with
studying the horse OF the present, but has
olFed into geologic records, and can tell
you about the five toed aud three toed
. norses' no bigger than sheep. that roamed
Tue pains OF Idaho ages and ages and aces
ny as huently rs she can expound the su.
Perlorlty OF open air breeding.
VI course" she admitted. the babv
treatment Is all right n you want 70 nro'
ouSe phenomenal and fancy priced trotters
anu race horses But II YOU want hardy
ssoes with the lung power that is one 81
~ nrs' essentials Of all round usefulness
Lieu ,ne range system is the one 70 EN-
pioy-"-New York Herald ~ g"
rover Of Woman. rl..~h