PRACTICE VERSUS THEORY 185 



what are needed, and all the theories in the world are 

 unavailing at such times. The only theory which I 

 know, and which may be said to be of use, is that 

 which will serve to prevent a nervous shot from firing 

 too quickly. Let him determine to count one, two, 

 three, four, before he fires, and the time he thus gains 

 —or, as he may imagine, loses — will give him an 

 opportunity to collect himself and make the necessary 

 calculation as to where to aim and when to fire. No 

 theory of which I am aware is of equal use to this. 

 As I have before remarked, it is in the power of any- 

 one gifted with ordinary intelligence and ordinary 

 sight to learn to judge pace and distance ; and nothing 

 further than to put up the gun and swing with the 

 bird, hare, rabbit, or whatever it may be desired to 

 shoot, so as to lodge the charge in a vital spot, is 

 necessary. I have shown where that spot may be 

 looked for and seen, and all the theory in the world 

 can do no more than this. Only let the gun be 

 properly handled. Due swing cannot be given if it is 

 held too tightly. A man need not hug his gun as if it 

 were his wife. 



There can be no greater mistake than for a nervous 

 man to have recourse to artificial remedies for the 

 purpose of quieting his nerves. Such remedies only 

 answer for a short time, and in the long-run make 

 matters infinitely worse than they were before. Far 

 better is it for anyone so constituted to pay a little 

 more attention to his mode of livings, and far more 

 manly and worthy than to be dependent on artificial 

 means. Where young men have ruined their nerves 

 through their own carelessness, it behoves them to let 

 Nature have fair play, and a chance of reasserting her 



