ABSTRACT
It came as something of a shock to mid-Victorian minds to discover that, incredible as it might seem, lady mountaineers actually existed. People suddenly became aware of the fact; the exploits of the great male pioneers were known to all; their names were household words; but climbing by women was unheard of; such a thing was entirely out of keeping with the current idea of a well-bred young lady. At first Victorian drawing-rooms were horrified, but so demure and so unobtrusive were these adventurous young women that no public scandal ensued. The critics shrugged their shoulders and left it at that and slowly but surely women climbers were not only accepted but publicly applauded.
