The times., 1901-03-10

Mountaineering, said Mr.. BERTHE Val
lance. in the tone Of one stating an in
disputable fact, lis no occupation for
women"
There was a slight rustic among the
guests assembled IN the salon Of the most
popular hotel in SchwarzenDerg. a little
known village OF the higher Swiss Alps,
which dominated as it is by two splendid
and highly dangerous peaks, and many Of
somewhat inferior height and less dan
ger, is mostly known To and freQuented
by ardent enthusiasts Of mountaineering
and the rustic OF excitement was due
TO the fact that Miss Grimm, the ardent
and weIl-known advocaJe Of woneu-s
rights and president Of countless wJm-
ems societies. was present
Everyone felt that Mr.. yalIance's
speech was nothing short Of a direct chaI-
lengc 70 Miss Grimm. and no one was
surprised when she took IL up.
everything is d suita bic occupation
1or 2 oman as long AS she does IL thor
oughly and well, and harms neither her
self nor anyone else. she said. taking OF
her SpectaCies and looking uxsliy into
Mr.. Nallance's handsome face Ia ii few
words. TINS was nCr gospel. and not such
q Dad one, either and she WIS known 20
i've Hp 10 II, too, which is the great test
Bll Inc superiority. physical and men
Ial' on inc masculine sex Was as much
BertIe kaliances hobby as was the ,uual-
JtE Of the feminine that of Miss Grimm
ana he sat uu In bis chair and warmed
70 the discussion. Bgth Miss Grimm and
he had been staying Iu the hotel over a
week, and many spar had they enjoyed
over their after-CiIler coffee and cigar
ette-lt made his blood boil. but for sim
pie COurtesy's sake he had 10 offer her
one of his favorite Egyptian blend now
and then And she. with her advantage
Of years, and reading, and experience.
thought him an ignorant and bumptiJus
young fellow and he thought her blot
on creation.
The young man was silent "a moment.
thinking out a reply that would cliuch the
matter and leave him in possession of
the field Be gave il out deliberately TO
an attentive audience.
Woman he id. possesses neither
the physical strength the power Of en-
CuraEre. the caiIluess of Judgment the
Goodness of head. the koenuess of eye the
sWHlncSs Of movement. nor any Of the
otuer lunumerabie qualifications uecessa-
~ 10 the expert mOUDtaineer.
have You ever heard Of olga Braun?"
asked Miss Grimm. by way ri retort
he Queen Of the Alps. as they call
Eer- valance said, with lazy contempt
'Df course ] have"
She ascended <unchin-g gnga." Miss
Grimm went on, and " hen she was over
taken Dr suOW-zt0rm remained alone
al an attitude Of 100 feet all night while
her guides went for help"
,.,.I.L,ii.i lnala IS a very long way OF. Valance
suggested, IN his former tone The Him
ala1a$ are very convenient. and guides'
tales are not very trustworthy. YOU know
Indian guides are mortai-and purchase
BILE"
That is not q worthy rctort.~ said Miss
Grimm. rather stifi1v.
lie felt somehow that IL was not birf he
could not very well deny fatty tho feat Of
, rnouutaineer whose name was A house
hold word, and he felt at that moment
that the intrepid Hgmau's splendid
achievement had been planned and car
ried out with the sole object of his hu-
initiation.
what DO you think Of the subject.
madam Valance, 10 hide his uortif-
cation l1lned TO a young woman who sat
IN the window, reading one Of the books
IRON the limited hotel library She had
taken no part IN the conversation. she
had only arrived that morning. and her
manner matched her quiet rather ucl-
tral. appearance.
Finding herself directly addressed by
the young man she laid down her book
and answered, with Il pleasant smile and
another question.
Have you ever seen a woman who IS a
mountaineer?'
Yes he said, with angry warmth
''Jier-er-garments were torn and
stained, and her face and hands like
those Of a sweep. What can men think
OF such women. who forget that their first
care should be 10 look charming, to real
fze a mans IDEA Of the beautiful the rest
ful-the ide3I2'
Perhaps she had just come back from
some perilous climb; maybe she had faced
Perhaps she loved the mountains more