THE AXGLKK AND HTXTSMAX 117 



was tlit 1 second step in the evolution of modern firearms. To 

 this day slings are used in certain countries, and are in 

 vogue by young boys here in our own country. 



The third great step was tlie invention of the bow and 

 arrow, and the early settlers of America know what 'a 

 deadly weapon it proved to be in the hands of the blood- 

 thirsty Indians who roamed this country in colonial days. 



The bow 7 and arrow made man lord over every beast 

 that roamed the jungle or galloped over the prairies. As 

 time went on it was improved until it could be depended 

 upon to stop the most savage animal. Not only was it 

 employed against dangerous animals, but against the 

 members of other tribes, who vied with each other to see 

 who could invent the most deadly and fearful weapon. 

 This spirit, we regret to add, still thrives, as recently 

 shown in the great world war where every means was em- 

 ployed by the bloody Huns to gain their ends liquid fire, 

 poison gas, shrapnel, big guns of wonderful range, etc., be- 

 ing freely used in an inhumane and unthought-of barbarous 

 fashion. 



The mechanical age at last appeared and the cross-bow 

 was evolved. Every student of history knows the impor- 

 tant role the cross-bow has played on down through the 

 ages in many a bloody strife between tribes and between 

 nations. 



The cross-bow was developed until it had the appear- 

 ance of our modern gun. This weapon was perfected in the 

 war between China and Japan. 



It was by accident that the first primitive weapon of 

 defense was conceived, and so it was by accident also that 

 another powerful agency was found an agency whose po- 

 tent qualities man little knew in those early days. 



The age of chemistry was at hand. Two monks con- 

 ducted experiments in their monastery in an effort to 

 discover a mixture suitable for use to make fire, which was 

 to he thrown on enemy buildings, composed of such ma- 



