THE GUN, AND HOW TO USE IT. 97 
orifice, and will explode under a blow as readily as the 
cap itself. 
On going into a house, never take off the copper caps. 
Men often do so, thinking thereby to render them safe in 
case of their being thrown down by dogs or played with by 
children. In that case, the only safe plan is to place them 
where none of either the probable offenders can get at 
them. 
The danger in reality, is increased tenfold by removing 
the caps; for to do so is to represent the loaded gun as 
unloaded and innocent. Nothing but a very small boy 
indeed takes up a capped gun, without perceiving it to be 
loaded ; and it is rarely, if ever, with such pieces, that acci- 
dents happen. 
With loaded guns left uncapped, scarcely a week pass- 
es, but we see that some unhanged idiot has had, as it is 
glibly termed, the misfortune to blow out the brains of 
his sweetheart, wife, or child, by capping a piece which 
he supposed to be unloaded, and snapping it at the head 
of his victim. 
The writer can only say that, should he ever sit on a 
jury where one of these unfortunate gentlemen shall be 
tried for such an accident, his misfortune will probably be 
increased by having to serve out a sentence for manslaugh- 
ter, or murder in the second degree, in the State prison. 
One would not suppose it necessary to write for the 
information of sane folk, that it is not altogether safe to 
put the muzzle of a gun into his mouth, and then for one 
to pull the trigger with his toe. 
I have, however, within 2 month, read of two deaths 
5 
