Year: 1876

ly presented with gold medal, and lured
from the ground before she had time 10
fire second shot.


Californians have been SO long in tho
habit Of having themselves shot in the
course of "social difficulties that they
ought not TO be seriously alarmed because
they are now threatened with the devasiat-
ing rifles of ambitious rifiewomen. II Is,
however,, matter of very great import
ance TO rinemen of other States that a wom-
an has set her sex the example of shooting
at a mark other than an Objectionable hus-
band or an unsatisfactory lover. Women
have already invaded the domains Of ply
sicians, lawyers, and clergymen, bu; il
they are bitten by desire TO become ex-
pert rinewomer, the insecurity OF life and
limb which will onsue will be a serious, if
not fatal, check 10 the prosperity Of the
country.


1t is quite possible that by careful study
women may learn 10 distinguish between
the muzzle and the Lreeeh of rifle, al
though they are undoubtedly born with
the idea that The breech being much larger
than the muzzle, is the active and efficient
end Of a gun. II is when they have learn.
ed the truth as TO this matter, and rashly
fancy themselves able to load aud fire, that
the real danger 10 the community will be-
come imminent. Unfortunately, the car
fridge of breech-loading rifle is 50 con-
structed that 1t cannot be inserted wrong
end first; and hence women can hardly
make any woful mistake in loading their
weapons. If we had a rife which, when
carelessly loaded, would discharge itself
backward, the slaughter resulting from fo-
male rifle-practice would be greatly cur
tailed, and would, moreover, be of kind
which would tend to discourage the sex
from meddling with firearms. Such ri
fle will, of course, be invented as soon as
the number of riflewomen demonstrates
its necessity, but before that time our fair
land may be covered with the corpses of
unhappy men who CHANGED to be within
range OF rifle welded by feminine hands.


The riflewoman will have no insupeta-
ble difficulty in assuming the "Creedmoor
position" though she will naturally kill
few persons by accidentally twisting the
hammer of her rifle in her back hair while
tying herself into the requisite quantity of
knots. II is when she shuts her eyes and
aims at the vague target which, to her i'm
agination, extends along the horizon
through an arc of 1909 that the chief
slaughter will begin. That she cannot fire
without previously shutting her eyes will
be universally conceded by every one who
has the slightest knowledge of her sex, and
hence the direction which may be taken
by her ball will bo wholly a matter of
chance. The innocent boy who may be
bliLhely stealing APPLES in tree hundred
yards 10 the right OF the target will be as
liable 10 he hit as is The man who is stand
ing by the rihewomaD's side, and the yells
of those who are unexpectedly hit in pain
full places will be the only means of ascer-
tanning whittier the wandering bullets
have sped. OF course, most persons will
regard the space Immediately in front of
the target az The safest position, but even
here they cannot be sure Of immunity.
The riflewoman may suddenly take II into
her head 10 aim at the north star, aud thus
hit the very centre of the bull's-eye. The
simple truth is that there will be no such
thing as safety within radius of at least
fifteen hundred yards OF woman with
rifle, and her path 10 and from the rifle
grourd will be strewn with the victims of
accidC ntal discharges.


This is picture which may fill us with
alarm. The poet has fUrclbly, and appar-
emily prophetically, said, "that angels rush
in where rflemen fear 10 tread" and there
is every reason TO fear that the example OF
the California rihewoman will inspire her
contemporary angels with thirst for tar
get-shooting. Fortunately, however, we
do not grieve as those who have no hope.
We cannot expect TO keep women out of
Creedmoor and other rifle grounds by
force, but we can call TO our aid the fierce
and terrible field-mouse. With a little en-
couragement in the mature of crumbs,
Creedmoor can be made, in the course of
another season, 10 swarm with mice. Let
it be once thoroughly understood that to
assume the "Creedmoor position on any
rifle ground is TO deliver ones self 10 the
careful and conscientious scrutiny OF hun
cry and curious mice, and no woman will
venture within miles of the place. 1t would
not be necessary 10 go 10 the extreme
length of rats, or even 10 circulate rumors
of suppositlous snakes. The mice alone
would insure Creedmoor from female inva-
sion, and If husbands and brothers would
aid in the good work by stealthily conceal
ing mica in the carlridge-box of rifle
women, ii is morally certain that feminine
zeal for rifle-shooting would suffer sud
den and complete eclipse.-N. Y. Times.