The engraving shows a woman at the top of a hill or mountain, assumedly after a long hike, with a handful of friends below her (three women and two men, perhaps). She is excitedly calling down to them, as she has reached the peak first and is undoubtedly proud of her accomplishment. The editors and writers of the Illustrated London News condemn this expression and mindset instantly. She is "too ambitious," "silly," and "unfeminine," because of the bravery she has shown and the pride in her accomplishments. More and more, women were exiting the private sphere, even in small ways such as this, and growing in confidence regarding their abilities, and the response of the news speaks volumes on the broader societal opinions as they police women's bodies and what they do with them.

Text as follows: "This enterprising, fearless, rather too ambitious young lady, who has out-run her friends of the summer picnic party among the cliffs and rocks of a tremendous sea coast, had better take care. If she were a young man or boy, we should call her something more than fool-hardy---or, perhaps, even something less, deducting the last two syllables, "hardy," and giving her the benefit of what was left of the word. Being a lady, she will be entitled, by courtesy, to more gentle language; but we shall not flatter her reckless vanity with any expression of admiration. The fact is, that we are not so young and active as we once were; and our brain and nerves, as well as our limbs and lungs, would fail to command success in the feat which this silly girl has so gratuitously performed. We take refuge, therefore, in an affectation of masculine dignity, and decline to commend such an unfeminine exhibition of physical courage."