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can put in " bulls " at known ranges upon a white target 

 with a jet-black " eye," but the man who can find the 

 range soonest and hit oftenest a dusky bull's-eye on a 

 khaki target with a background of brown butt. Then, 

 instead of mere fancy-shooting, there would be something 

 approaching to sensible training in the practical marks- 

 manship which alone can make a rifleman efficient on 

 a modern battle-field. 



The born marksman, who takes naturally to a rifle, 

 will probably need no incentive to the cultivation of 

 sharp-shooting. But unless there is some element of 

 sport introduced into rifle-shooting you will never get 

 Young England generally to take it up as a pastime. 

 To become an efficient rifle-shot a man should practise 

 at least twice a week, should accustom himself to 

 every variety of wind and light and weather, should 

 be as complete a master of his rifle as John Roberts 

 of the cue or "W. G." of the bat. Now, supposing 

 a man has the necessary enthusiasm for rifle-shooting 

 to carry him through such constant training and 

 practice and you will not find one man in a thousand 

 with that enthusiasm where and how is he to keep 

 his hand in ? Ranges are becoming scarcer and less 

 accessible every day, ammunition is expensive, and it 

 is simply impossible even for the enthusiast to perfect 

 himself in the study of marksmanship, unless he be a 

 man of means and leisure. 



And, as I say, the enthusiast is rare. To most young 

 Englishmen rifle-shooting holds out no attraction 

 whatever. In times of national storm and stress all 

 young fellows of spirit will take up arms and will, as 



