Evening star., 1924-01-27
by GEORGE II. DACY.


remarkable story of the
~ sharpshooter proweSs OF higi,
Echool and college girls OF Washington.
who would rather don their shooting
bIouses. grab up their rifles and scurry
80 the ranges for practice sessions than
60 attend the best gold plated afternoon
tea party ever celebrated in the zone Of
the peaceful Potomac.
If modern cities could be identified
by their most peculiar and persistent
noises, the crack OF the target rife
doubtless would be the official sound OF
our rnatchless Capital City, for there
are between 1900 and 1000 young wom-
Zen in Washington and vicinity who are
enthusiastic users of the rifle.
Woe betide the unfortunate highway
man who ever tries to rob one Of these
girls as she is returning. perhaps. from
her daily practice on the ranges. The
girls are adept enough, with the fire.
arms that they handle so eXpertly. to
scroll their initials in leaden bullets in
the carcass Of any robber who may in
terrogate them in such piratcal fash
ion.
OF course. whether they would act In
this manner or not is quite another
NnanCeS are the noes would
win in such a voting contest, for, in
the main, these young ladies. although
they thoroughly enjoy puncturing the
bulfs-eyes in paper targets. do not
banker after drawing real blood with
their bullets.
In times of potential warfare the men
folks OF Washington can dash to the
front to defend the honor Of their
country and leave the fortfication of
THE city to these competent ri1ewomen
who have hung up championship rec
ords along craftsmanship lines. 1t will
probably be astonishing news, but
nevertheless it IS true, that thrre are
more expert rife shots among the girls
and women Of Washington than in any
other American city that approximates
the size of the National Capital.
IL is even questionable if the feminine
''sure shots" OF any foreign country
tnder the sun can equal the Washing
ton misses when it comes to 4 question
SDf shooting superiority
Mayhap you are visualiziug all to
yourself what girl must look like
70 be the skipper of an accurate rifle:
And right here and now let me tell
you you are quite wrong In your
y suallzations. These young ladies
az neither Amazons nor outstand-
insly pugnacious. Their familiarity
with firearms has in no respect di-
ninished their maidenly graciousneSs
or their charming traits of femi-
rtnity. They are just as attractive
and girlishiy engaging as they were
before they first heard the report of a
rifle Many Of them would qualify
in beauty contests or prize scholar
ship competitions. They are nothing
more or less than great group of
typically American girls who have
reacted favorably to the lures of a
new and novel hobby-rife shooting.
:: = i
VISIT any Of the leading Washing
ton high schools one Of these
wiuter afternoons and ask 10 be
shown the girls rifle range Shortly
Jou will be gazing upon such a scene
YOU probably never before have
observed. \ perfect galaxy Of girls
viii appear before ycu-girls trim
and portly, girls slender and tall,
light girls, dark girls, short girls, shy
girls and forward girls-all attired In
regulation bloomers and shooting
Jackets, eager to take their turns out
IA the firing line.
You will find the squad of fifty to
seyenty-five girls in the charge OF a
lady coach who is herself a champion
rifle shot. The team captain will be
on hand-usually the most popular
and most proficient Annie Oakley"
OF the squad.
In groups Of eight or ten each the
various candidates then "show their
stuff" Perhaps the first test will be
one Of erect firing at fifty feet The
girls will stand upright, left feet
slightly advanced, holding their fire.
arms in an easy. natural position.
Then. with the deliberate precision of
Persons who know how to shoot, they
VIII begin to blaze away with me-
chanical accuracy at the paper
targets at the rear Of the range.
If you will but take the trouble to
end of the session you will be sur
prised to see the deadly "beads"
which most of these girls draw.
After they have shot a few rounds
in an erect position they will prac-
tIce few shots from a half-kneeling
position. Then they will try little
prone firing to top off the afternoons
practice.
In any or all of these various
postures you will find the rife girls
very accurate.
Out at the new Eastern High
AchooI, which overlooks Anacostia
Tark, you will find the largest and
anest rife ranges IN use in any high