354 



RECREATION. 



Grip lightly, almost loosely, the hand 

 rather supporting than holding the re- 

 volver. Keep the arm perfectly straight 

 and bring the revolver slowly up to 

 the target. Try to get the top of the front 

 sight level with the too of the U in the 

 rear sight and just touching the bottom of 

 the bull. Pull the trigger by a gradual 

 squeeze of the whole hand. While cocking 

 the pistol take several deep breaths and. 

 take a deep one while bringing it up ; then 

 do not breathe again until the shot is fired. 

 Miss Creedmoor did all this as if she had 

 been at it all her life. If you let beginners 

 have their own way they usually wave the 

 revolver around their heads, cock it with 

 a snap, flourish it some more, finally point 

 it somewhere toward the target and let go,. 

 The bullet goes anywhere except within 45 

 degrees on either side of the target, unless, 



perhaps, the novice keeps too much pressure 

 on the trigger during the preliminaries and 

 fires up in the air. Miss Creedmoor' s first 

 6 shots were thrown around a 2-foot circle. 

 After that she steadied down and made the 

 most remarkable 10-shot group I have ever 

 seen, all things considered. Bear in mind 

 that when she commenced this group she 

 had only fired 35 shots in her life, and that 

 the grip of the pistol was absurdly large 

 for her hand. Needless to say I was de- 

 lighted with her work. 



We took about 19 photos, all of which 

 turned out to be silhouettes, and then 

 cleaned the pistol. Miss Creedmoor insist- 

 ed on cleaning the cylinder while I was 

 wiping the barrel. She did it well, too. I 

 was surprised. A woman generally cleans a 

 gun with about as much gumption as she 

 sticks a fish-hook through a worm. 



THAT PESKY POLE. 



A. L. VERMILYA. 



Let us go and snatch that old North Pole 

 bald headed, 

 Let us bring it home, and stop the bloom- 

 ing show ; 

 It's a nuisance and a menace to the nation 

 While it sticks there in a bank of Arctic 

 snow. 

 It has dodged around and cheated us too 

 often, 

 Now we'll go and fetch the wily thing 

 away ; 



We will set it up in town, 

 Paint it blue, or green, or brown, 

 Nail it to the earth and never let it 

 stray. 



For that skittish Pole has been a lot of 

 bother, 

 And we've had to rescue someone every 

 year 

 Who had gone to rescue someone gone to 

 rescue 

 Someone else who'd journeyed to that 

 region drear; 

 So we'll pull it up, and try to stop excur- 

 sions 

 To that country of eternal snow and 

 gloom ; 



For it's not a pleasant land, 

 Where there is no German band, 

 And the sweet magnolias hardly ever 

 bloom. 



On its top we'll find the bear and dodo sit- 

 ting, 

 But we'll pull the pesky thing up by the 

 roots ; 

 Then we'll have no stubborn pilgrims up 

 there trying 

 How to live all winter on a pair of boots. 

 This will throw exploring fellows out of 

 business, 

 And for them we shed a large and salty 

 tear; 



But although they like to roam, 

 They'll be better off at home 

 Than up North among the icebergs cold 

 and drear. 



But most like they'll find excuse for ex- 

 ploration 

 After we have brought away that artful 

 Pole; 

 They will want to see just where the thing 

 was growing, 

 And will go and search around to find 

 the hole. 

 They will try a shorter cut to Indo-China, 

 If they possibly can squeeze or wiggle 

 through ; 



And with reindeer, dog or goat, 

 Big balloon, or tin-clad boat, 

 They will still go hunting round for 

 something new. 



