May 8, 1884.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



293 



Floy: Stearic de B. Smith's Peek-a-Bpo, hlue be] ton. lOmos.. Perfec- 

 Impofted Beauty: IT. D. Townee's Count Ranger. Mack, white 



and tan, Omos.. Count' Noble— Gertrude; J. H. Tree's Cashboy. blue 

 belton. llroos. 21dyd., CasluVT— Upk". High com.. Dr. R. T Tull's 

 tag Aneidri, bracl and white ticked. llmos..DasHne Monarch - 

 Armida ; Dr. R. T. TuU's DafhinpPrim, block and white ticked, limns, 

 i an Monarch— Armida; Pierre Noel's Yerra, white and orange. 

 smos.. Brace— Abbey. _, , , 



C hampion Irish Setter*. Bitches.— 1st. W. Kemble. Lent* s Tnx, dark 

 veil. 4vrs.. champion Elcho— champion Fire Flv. 



Irish Setters. Dogs.-lst, Hiram & William Harris's Jack. red. 8vrs., 

 imported, Barney— Rhoda; Bd, J. Henry Roberts'* Brwe*. red 8yrs;, 

 champion Elcho IA.K R, 2fi5i-cbampion Noreen (A.K.R. S97)i Sd, 

 Rory O'Moiv Kennel's Rexford. red. Syr*. 3mos.. champion Berkley— 



shire, red. lSUmos.. Chief:— Kate, High DOM. Charles R. Tborbiira's 



Rory O'More.Jr.. dark red. 2Uyrs.. champion Rory O'JWore— Nora 

 O'M'ore; F. L. Van Bensehoten's Red Pick, red and white. Byre., 

 Eleho-Jessie; Philo. red. 4yrs . Derg-Kathleen. Com.. MaxL. Ran- 

 son's Larry H.. red, lvr. 9mos., Larry— Red Lassie. 



. p.r Spaniels (liver or black) under 28 lbs., Bogs or Bitches.— 1st, 

 B F. Wilson's Peerless niass, black, 38m os., Tonne Berwerlac— Nel- 

 lies 2d, E. W. Puikee's Jumbo, liver, 12mos.. Hornell Dandy— Horueli 

 Dinah. Very high com.. Andrew Laidlnw's Woodstock Flirt (A.K.R. 

 6(51). black, 1 USmos.. imported Tippo— imported Toronto Jet (A.K.R 

 860). High eom..Wm. Dunpbv's Bessie, black. 15mos.. champion 

 Bean— Fancy. Com.. Ho rnell* Spaniel Club's Sam, black, 20mos . 

 champion Bonanza— Pansv. 



Field or Cocker Spaniel Puppies (any color) under 12mos. -1st. W in- 

 cliester Johnson's Black Tonrnie, black. Smos., Obo II. (A.K.R. I82V- 

 Critic A.K.R. 3> H); 2d. W. n. Parrndee's Helen, black. Smos., nbo H. 

 (A K.R. 432)— Critic. ( \ K.R. 3081 Very biirb com.. Dr. J. S. Niven's 

 Niven's Barkev, black. Smos.. Frank— Nellie. High com., Hornell 

 Spaniel Club's Darlings, liver. lOmos.. Dandy— Topsy. 



Champion Foxhounds. Dogs or Bitches.— 1st, Essex County Hunt's 

 Vinegar, white and inn tivrs., imported. 



Foxhounds. Boss or Bi'ehes.— 1st. Essex Rounty Hunt's Cardinal, 

 white and tan. Byrfe, imported: 2d, Essex County Hunt's Warrior, 

 white and tan. tly'rs.. imported; 3d. Essex County Hunt's Manager, 

 while and tan. 5yrs.. imported, Bieh com.. W. Ball's Brownie, dark 

 tan, lTmos., Sam— Flora. Com., Essex Kennel Club's Sport, black 

 and tan, 2vrs. 



Dachshunde, Dogs or Bitches.— 1st, W. B, Vogelsang's Gretchen, 

 dark brown and tan. 15mos.. imported : 2d, J. B. Harris. Jr.'s Dutchy, 

 hrown. 3yrs., imported Hijrh com , Essex Kennel Club's Waldman, 

 black. Com., W. Schell, Jr.'s, Cora, hlaek and tan, Byre., Dan— 

 Tankell. 



Champion Mastiffs, Dors.— 1st, Chas. H. Mason's Neviion, im- 

 ported, fawn, black points, 4^£yr.«.. Gurth— Juno. 



Champion Mastiffs, Hitches.— 1st, Ashmonf Kennel's Dolly Varden 

 (A.K.R. 73). fawn, black Points. 4vrs.. Young Prince— Merlin. 



Mastiffs. Do^s.— 1st, Harry Hill's Dan. fawn, 4yrs.. full Dedisrree; 

 2d. Henrv Pratt's Billo, ISrhos., imported stock— Nellie; 3d, W. P. 

 Stevenson's Homer, fawn. 16mos., Cato— Queen H. (A.K.R. 158). Very 

 bieh com.. David G. Yuhcling, Jr.'s Jim, fawn, 3yrs.. full pedigree. 

 High com.. William H. Lee's Tlford Cromwell, brindle, 3yrs.. Car- 

 dinal— Cleopatra. Com.. Max Meyer's Bruno, fawn, 18nios., full 

 pedigree. 



Masriffe, Bitches.— 1st. A. Grant's Regina, fawn. 3yrs.. Youne King 

 — Rannee; 2d. W. R. MacDiarmid.'S Monmouth Mep, fawn. 24,ivrs., 

 Salisbury— Ti'-Tess II.; 3d, James L. Filing's Nana. fawn, hlaek 

 points. Syrs., Csesar— Dido. Very high com.. C. D. Arthur's Queen. 

 fawn, 20'injs.. Harold— Dido. High com., A. F. Hennin^s's Dizz. 

 fawn. SOmos., imported Monarch- Nell. 



Mastiff Puppies, Bogs or Bitches.— 1st. W. P. Stevenson's Hector, 

 fawn, Omos.. Nevison— Venus; 2d, James Lenox Banks's Mayor of the 

 Cedars (A.K.R. "4fo. fawn and black points, lOmos., Nevison— Venus; 

 3d, M. M. Frothingham's Sandy, fawn. 4mos., G'im— Sallic Waters. 

 Very lush com.. W. S. Plrraners's Court, fawn. 4>5mos., Harold— Dido. 

 High com..C. F. Frotheringbam's litter of puppies, fawn, 4mos., 

 Grim— RaDie Waters. Com., C. H. Hays's Veuve Clicquot, fawn, 

 6mos., Harold— Dido. 



Cocker Spaniels (any color other than liver and block) under 2Slbs.. 

 Dogs or Bitches.— 1st.' Hot nell Spaniel Club's Rattler, chestnut and 

 tan. lyr.. Dandy— champion Dinah: 2d. Wm. Dunphy's Fancy H., 

 black,'l5mos., champion Beau— Fancy. Very high com.. Capt. J. E. 

 Jones's Blossom, liver and white, lomos.. Charley— Powder. High 

 com., Capt. J. E. Jones's Powder, liver and white, lyrs., Lord Cardi- 

 gan's Kennel. Corn.. George Miller's Clytie, liver and white, 6yrs., 

 Watson's Shot— Hall's Lou. 



Italian Greyhounds, Dogs or Bitches.— 1st, Mrs. Constance A. An- 

 drews's Queenie, golden yellow. 3yrs., imported 18S2, born in Italy; 

 2d. E. W, Jester's Pearl (A.K.R, 758), fawn, 5yrs., Douglas-Gypsy 

 Queen. 



Newfoundlands, Dogs er Bitches.— 1st, C. J. "Whigam's Jack, black, 

 5yrs., imported: 2d, Chas. T. Strftuss'S Tasso, black. 2yrs., Pontoon— 

 Fannie. Very high com , W, H. Lacy's Bruno, black. 3vrs., imported. 

 High com.. W. Barbour's Cabot, black, white spot. 7^mos. 



Champion Prevhounds. Dogs.— 1st, H. W r . Smith's Friday Night, 

 black and white. 2>£yrs., Master's Prince— I H. Salter's Sally. 



Greyhounds, Dogs.— 1st H. W. Huntington's Bouncing Boy, black, 

 Iters'., Walton Lad— Creniorne; 2d. Mrs. Henry Allen's Dell, fawn, 

 2yrs.. imported. Very high com.. J. Coleman Dravton's Slingsby. 

 black. 7 yrs.. Rapid— Sally. High com., Edward Cullan's Moscow, 

 fawn. 3y'rs.. full pedigree. 



Greyhounds. Bit hes.— 1st, H, W. Huntington's School Girl, black, 

 ll^yrs.. Schoolfellow— Sol Fa; 2d. withheld. Very high com., H. W. 

 Huntington's Begonia, black, 4yrs., Born a Demon— Bella. 



Greyhound Puppies, under 12mos., Dogs or Bitches.— 1st withheld ; 

 2d. K'y. Henderson's Flash, fawn. 9mos. Very high com., H. W. 

 Huntington's La Belle, black, lOmos., champion Double Shot— cham- 

 pion Clio. . „ - , . „ 



Champion Deerhounds.— 1st, Clovernook Kennel's Roy, brmdle, 

 2vrs., Paddy— Lassie. 

 'Deerhounds, Dogs.— 1st, Archibald Rogers's Bruce, dark brindle, 

 UXyxs.. Grey Comyn date Hector)— Leona (late Linda): 2d, W. D. 

 Whipple's Bruce, dark grav. 5yrs. Very high com., Archibald Rogers's 

 Sprins-, gray. Stjiyrs.. Marni— Thulah, 

 Deerhoiuids. Bitcl^S.— Awards withheld. 



Champion Pointers, over 55 lbs,. Dogs.— 1st, John W. Munson's 

 Meteor, imported, liver and whPe. 3vrs., Garnet— Jilt. 



Champion Pointers, over 50 lbs., Bitches.— 1st, Luke W. White's 

 Grace, liver and white ticked, Match— Nell. 



Pointers, over 551 bs.. Does.— 1st. C. W. Littlejohn's Fritz, lemon 

 aud white ticked, whelped June. 18S1, Beaufort— Spot; 2d, Neversink 

 Lodge Kennel's Drake, liver and white, 2yrs., champion Croxteth— 



INTELLIGENCE OP A SPANIEL.— Johnsontown, Via.— 



About Mo or '40 I became the owner of a. cocker spaniel ring- 

 pup. I called him Cassius, which, of course, was shortened 

 to Cash. He was very affectionate and intelligent, and I 

 taught Mm marly tricks, and some he took up of his own 

 accord. T lived ftt that time on the south side of a street run- 

 ning east and west. My mot nmg paper folded in the shape of 

 a parallelogram w.is slipped under the door every morning 

 early by the carrier. Cash would pick it up and bring it to 

 my chamber door every morning and bark for admission. One 

 morning a northeast rainstorm was prevailing. Cash came 

 up as usual but without the paper. I asked him where it was 

 and he dropped his ears aud tail, and I supposed that the 

 paper had not come. When I went down stairs 1 found the 

 paper in its proper place, but the rain had beaten under the 

 door, wet the paper thoroughly and it stuck to the oil cloth. 

 On the corner where the folds were thickest were the marks 

 of Cash's teeth plainly visible, and the paper showed signs of 

 tearing. Now. Cash seemed to have found that he could not 

 get the paper without tearing the corner, and to have known 

 that it must not be torn, and so he left it. If that was not 

 "reason' 1 what was it.'— Old Fogy. 



CANINE JEWELRY.— They are haying a big dog collar 

 competition in this city. The Bedford Fancy Goods Company, 

 of Chambers street, without whose collars no well-bred dogs 

 assume to bark or bite, has given a dozen collars for the best 

 dogs at the Westminster show. There are silver and gold 

 eoiiars for pointers, leather aud salver collars for greyhounds, 

 fancifully ornamented collars for setters, big collars for mas- 

 tiffs and St. Bernards, Morluner collars for bulldogs, a collar 

 with a silver buckle for the~ollie that is smart enough to win 

 and wear it, and a set of harness for the best pug. When the 

 successful collar competitors are arrayed in all this finery, the 

 rest of the dogs will be mad with rage, unless their respective 

 owners go down to the Medf ord Fancy Goods Company to buy 

 for each a collar. 



3vrs, ..... 



and white, 3yrs. , Garnet— Jilt: J. W. Munson's Bang, imported, liver 



and while, Byrs., champ. Bang— Luna. Bigh com., J. H. Stromberg's 



Guy. lemon and white. 2yrs., Beaufort— Spot; C. M. Munhall's Donald 



II.,' liver, white, and ticked, SOmos., champion Donald— Devonshire 



La«s:H. W. Force's Clydesdale.white, 3yrs., Massey's Dash— Virginia 



Belle. 



Pointers, over oOlbs., Bitches.— 1st Frank E.Rogers's Miss Merry- 

 may, liver and white, 3yrs., King Bow— Grace; 2d. J. O. Bonner's 

 Fan Fan , liver and white. 4vrs., imported; 3d, G. W. Aniory's Sal, 

 liver and white. 3vrs., Dick— Ruby. High com., Knickerbocker Ken- 

 nel Cub's Lad v Mae (A.K.R. 1040), black, 3y rs.. champion Pete— Mab. 



Champion Irish S-tters, Dogs. — 1st, Dr. W. Jarvis's Elcho, Jr. 

 (formerly Elcho VII.). dark red, 2yrs. llmos., champion Elcho— 

 champion Noreen. 



Champion Bush Water Spaniels, Dogs or Bitches.— No entries. 



Irish Water Spaniels, Dogs or Bitches.— 1st, Archibald Rogers's 

 Irish Chief . liver, 3yrs., champion Barney— Irish Nell; 2d, Esses Ken- 

 nel club's Wassd, liver, lSoios., Sailor— Fannie. 



Champion Field Spaniels (any color) over 2S lbs., Dogs or Bitches — 

 1st, H. W. Huntington's Benedict (A.K.R. 61), black, 4yrs., champion 

 Bachelor — Negress. 



Field Spaniels (any color) over 28 lbs., Dogs or Bitches— 1st, Win- 

 chester Johnson's Critic, black, 2yrs.. Brush II.-Blackie II. ; 2d, 

 James Watson's Biteman, imported, lemon and white. ISrnos. Very 

 high com., Andrew Laidlaw's Toronto Jet (A.K.R. 800) imported, 

 black, 2^yrs., Nigger— Belle. Higb com.. HorneU Spaniel Club's 

 Jewell, biack, 2yrs. lOmos.. Brag— Nelly; Frank Thomson's Don, 

 lemon and white, Bruno— Gill Com., Herman F. Schellhass's Bene- 

 dict's Boy c A.K.R. 130), black, 22mos., imported champion Benedict- 

 imported Beatrice; Frank Thomson's Punch, lemon and white, Bruno 

 -Gill. 



Chanmion Cocker Spaniels (any color) under 28 lbs.. Dogs or 

 Bitches.— 1st, J. P. Willey's Obo II., black, 23mos., Farrar's Obo— 

 Chloe II. 



GREYHOUNDS FOE SALE.— We direct the attention of 

 breeders and exhibitors of greyhounds to the advertisement of 

 Mr. Wm. Graham, who has received instructions to dispose of 

 the dogs belonging to Messrs. Charles, of Neath, Wales. This 

 is the finest kennel of greyhounds ever brought together, and 

 the prices, considering the value of the dogs, ate very reason- 

 Die, Catalogues can Be obtained at this* erffice. 



§ifle nnd §ntp ^hooting. 



FIXTURES. 



May 20 and 21.— Illinois State Sportsmen's Association Tournament 

 Delaware. 111. D. G. Cunningham, Secretary. San Jose, 111. 



May 20 to 23.— Knoxville Gun Club Second Annual Tournament, 

 Knoxville, Tenn. C. C. Hebbard, Secretaiy. 



May 26 to 31.— First International Clay-Pigeon Tournament, at 

 Chicago, HI. Managers, Ligowsky Clay-Pigeon Co., P. O. Bos 12Q2, 

 Cincinnati, Ohio. 



June 2 to 9.— Annual Tournament Louisville Sportsmen's Associa- 

 tion. Louisville. Ky. J. O. Barbour, Secretary, 157 Third avenue, 

 Louisville. J 



RATIONAL TARGET PRACTICE. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Tour editorial on regular army rifle improvement in your issue of 

 Feb. 25. leads me to request space for some remarks upon this sub- 

 ject, based upon my own observation and experience as an instructor, 

 hoping that from these remarks otners may be led to state their ob- 

 servation, and to see if we cannot get true improvement instead of 

 fictitious merit. 



At the very outset let me say that no one will more readily concede 

 than I tha*. improvement ba's taken place, for the time was not so 

 very far back when such a thing as a regular organized target prac- 

 tice was unheard of; hut although I fully sympathize with the pres- 

 ent enthusiasm, and aid it in every way po-sible, still I contend, and 

 always have contended, that our efforts are all tending in the wrong 

 direction, and have not the true object in view, namely, the making 

 of skilled and reliable shots, able to shoot at any aud all tinier with 

 a fine, degree of proficiency. 



Our system of instruction, though originally based upon "Lindley's 

 Manual'." has spread and extended under the various orders and in- 

 structions that have been issued from time to time, so that besides in- 

 struction we now have an elaborate series of reports to render, pre- 

 sumably to show what progress has been made from month to month, 

 and it is this series of reports that I would particularly mention as 

 being the primary cause that has led 1o the fictitious merit of which 

 I complain, and to which I would direct attention. Doubtless emula- 

 tion, as well as instruction, has beneficial results if properly guarded, 

 but when reports are based, as at present, then emulation, being upon 

 an improper basis, and not properly guarded, may, and I contend, 

 does, produce improper results, and may. as I think it does, produce 

 discontent and discouragement instead of pride and confidence. 



Let us begin at the beginning and touch upon each point as it pre- 

 sents itself, not only as more systematic hut as dividing the subject 

 up into heads the more easily to he answered. 



Instruction.— The principles of rifle shooting having been taught as 

 thoroughly as may be, with a view toward making men good shots, 

 skould'not individuality in the practice be then taught '? Is it right for 

 the instructor to continue to adjust wind gauges and elevations for each 

 man, and coach him on every shot, so that he. the instructor, fires the 

 shot in all except actually holding the piece and pullingthe trigger. 



Formatchor team firing I admit that the coach is indispensable; 

 there the coach has nothing else to do but coach, and as a means to 

 an end, coaching in practice may be admissible when not abused or 

 carried too far; but the end we should have in view, being to make 

 reliable shots on the field of battle against animate instead of inani- 

 mate taigets, the coaching allowable should only extend to proper 

 instruction and seeing that such instruction is followed by the men, 

 and each man be taught to depend upon his own Judgment and skili 

 for success, whether at the target or the enemy. 



At present I am convinced this is not the case. Shooting for record, 

 under the vicious system of reports that are required, as will be 

 shown later on, causes the instructor who desires to emulate in these 

 reports, to substitute his knowledge, his judgment and hi« skill, for 

 that of the individual, to the bettering of the record to be suie. Dutat 

 the same time to the production of a record that does not exhibit the 

 true merit of the shooting of his men. but a record that exhibits the 

 result of his individuality impressed upon each man, instead of a 

 record of his men as individuals. 



In my own experience I have seen the bad results following such a 

 system. I have seen men who were good shots when shooting under 

 their coach, makemost wretched failures when shooting as Individ 

 uals, and from the acknowledged tact that they could not shoot when 

 placed upon then- own individuality. Apart from the coaching our 

 system of instruDtion appears to me to be radically wrong. 

 After such course of preliminary firing as may be followed, generally 

 a full course of galleiw practice during the winter months, the rifle- 

 man begins in the spring at 100 yards off-hand. Following the system 

 of classification to be mentioned further on, as soon as he has 

 made 66 per cent, for two scores, not necessarily consecutive, 

 of five shots eac,h, he is advanced to the 200-yard range; and so on up 

 to 600 yards. Right here in his first advancement is the first error. 

 True, it may be that firing at 100 yards at our eight inch bullseye is 

 •'nothing more than aiming and pointing drill," as I so frequently 

 hear; but does any well instructed riflemau mean to say that long 

 practice is not beneficial at this range, and that, a tyro is sufficiently 

 well instructed when he has made 66 per cent for two scores as above, 

 to be advanced? I have had men who never had tired a piece before 

 in their lives go out and "scratch" 66 per cent, the first day, then miss 

 the target nearly every shot for a week's firing, then "scratch" 6t 

 per cent, again, and consequently "by order" be supposed to know 

 how to shoot well enough to be advanced; but who will claim that 

 they did "know enough to he advanced? As an experiment as well as 

 obeying the order, I advanced them to the 200-yard range, and as a 

 matter of course, they could not hit the target and had to go hack to 

 the 100-yard range and stay thsre until they could do reasonably good 

 shooting before they wei e fit to he advanced. 



It strikes me that preliminary practice at short ranges should be 

 continued until a rifleman was thoroughly well grounded, not only m 

 the principles of rifle firing but in ability to shoot, and 66 per cent, 

 for two scores does not make him so. I have been shooting for the 

 last nine years, nearly constantly, and I yet have to regret the long- 

 continued "short-range'' praqtice and training I subjected myself to, 

 and I yet shoot at from 50 to 1 00yds. constantly to keep my hand in. 

 It is true that I practice at smaller targets than the S-inch bullseye, 

 but still I keep up the short-range practice, for I know it benefits me 

 at every other range, no matter how far, or even if I then am lyiug 

 down, 



But, following the order, let us see what becomes of the rifleman. 

 Having made his 66 per cent, for two scores of five shots each up to 

 and including 500yds., he is then a first-class man; that is, I presume 

 a first-class shot. Now observe that but two scores are considered, 

 that his best shooting is a!J that is taken account of (for as soon as 

 be makes 66 per cent. Jje goes up and does hot .remain to better it), 

 and that a man can ma$S 66 per .cent, by one score of 16 and one of 

 17 oat of Set' not necessarily consecutive, or in the same month; that 



a score of 17 can be made with three centers, one inner and one 



outer, or by two centers and three inners (not counting better combi- 

 nations of 5-1-3-2 to produce Vi) and that even a center does not neces- 

 sarily hit the size of a man from the circular shape of the target, nnd 

 one then can see for himself « nether this m-in is in reality a first- 

 cla-ss shot, or anything approaching one. Remember. al=o. that the 

 poor .shooting has not heen considered, that no average is taken, and 

 it will then be sufficiently apparent that this rifleman may be and 

 probably is anything but a first-class shot. 



Hut let us follow him again and see what becomes of him. Having 

 Man (?) he now goes back to 300yds., or the low- 

 est range, where he has yet 80 per cent, to make; for a man may have 

 made S> per cent, for two best scores, when he was only trying for 66 

 per cent. Here he begins again and shoots and shoots, under his 

 "coach" Or not, depending upon the belief of his instructor as to 

 such a system being advisable or not, until he makes BO per Cent, 

 for three scores, not necessarily consecutive or in the sume month, 

 when he is advanced to the next higher range, to there repeat the 

 lesson until he has 80 per cent, or better for these three scores at 200 

 and aOOyda. He then jumps the 400 and oOO-yd. ranges and begins at 

 the 600, and hammera away there until be has made his 70 per cent, 

 for three scores. Each score must be of the required percent* 

 that is each score of five shots must be 80 per cent, at 200 and 800yds. 

 or better; and each score at 000yds., Of five shots each, must be 70 

 per cent, or better. Perhaps some one right here will tell me how to 

 make a score of 70 percent, ou five shots; it is beyond my arithmetic; 

 but anything less than 70 per cent, for five shots don't count: conse- 

 quently a man can't make 17 aud 18 for two scores and count that, but 

 must make 18 or better. Why don't the order then say 72 per cent, 

 nnd have done with it! For scores of five shots are the standard, and 

 not scores of ten shots, even if they be consecutive and on the same 

 day (See G- O.. No. 53, .series 1882, A. G. O. % XI.). 



And now the man is a "marksman" (r), and ou what qualification? 

 He has gene over the range once and made 66 per cent, or better at 

 from 100 to 600yds., inclusive, counting his two best scores of five 

 shots each at each range; he has thus gone over the 200. 300 and 

 6i)0yds. range, or as much as may have been necessary, and has 

 made B0 per cent, for his three best scores at the 200 and 300yds. 

 ranges, and 70 per cent. i72 per cent, in fact) for his three best scores 

 at this distance. No account has been taken of his poor shooting, 

 and he has not been required to shoot in allkindsof wind and weather; 

 but I'll guarantee that the weather was fine and the wind did not blow 

 when he made his ••qualifying scores." And it is on this basis ( ?i 

 that our marksmen i?) are "qualified" and orders are published and 

 go forth to the world showing the number of marksmen in the army ! ! ! 

 Ou paper we have J.i-3-1 marksmen, or had when the order was pub- 

 lished, and I ask in all seriousness, how many of these were and are 

 bona fide marksmen? I'll answer, not 50 per cent, ; by which I mean 

 that not 50 per cent, could go on to the fine of battle and at 200. 300 or 

 600yds. repeat their qualifying scores of £0 per cet it. or 70 per cent. 

 against a .live target, or who could, except under extraordinary con- 

 ditions, repeat then- qualifying scores upon the Creedmoor target. 



But let us follow the rifleman a little further, and see what now 

 becomes of him as a marksman. To become a sharpshooter he must 

 go back again to the 2C0yd. range and there make 88 percent., then to 

 the 300 and 600yd. ranges aud repeat these percentages for three 

 scores at each range— making the required percentage, for each score 

 of five shots — and making the third time he has gone over the range 

 up to 600yds. Having, for his best scores still, made these percent- 

 ages, he how for the first time begins to shoot at 800. 900 and 1000yds., 

 and when (by a combination of favorable circumstances, by some 

 coaching or what not) he has made 76 per cent, at these ranges for 

 each of his scores, he. is then a "sharpshooter" and supposed to be 

 ahle to repeat his scores at any time (or he should so be able if he 

 really is a sharpshooter) and to be qualified to act as sharpshooter 

 against the enemy when called upon. As jet we have no sharp- 

 shooters, but next year how many may there not be who have made 

 the scares requisite, but who, the same as marksmen now, will not in 

 reality be sharpshooters. 



Let us again follow the rifleman and see what now becomes of him. 

 All this going over the range has had some good effect, or else has 

 been so much "love's labor lost;" but by the time all this has been 

 done, the "end of the target year" (Sept. 30) has probably drawn 

 pretty near, and no more time is left for anything further. The 

 movable, vanishing, skirmishers', or dolly target, have all been 

 neglected so far and not a shot has been fired except at the regular 

 Creedmoor range targets. 



Oct. 1 conies to hand, and with it comes the "new target year." The 

 rifleman who has not made his qualification as marksman, sharp- 

 shooter, etc.. but who l.as yet but one score at the last range left to 

 make to so qualify, loses all credit made for the preceding twelve 

 months, and must begin again at the 100yd. range, make his 60 per 

 cent, there, his SO per cent, and 70 per cent., etc. anew, instead of 

 going on from the point he had reached Sept. 30, and make that a 

 stepping stone to something higher for the following year. 



Would this going back he at all necessary if he had been properly 

 grounded at first at the 100yd. range? Wouldnot he have shot better 

 all through the year if he had been so properly grounded, and would 

 he not have been ready— if a marksman or sharpshooter — to have 

 gone on to something better instead of going back? and if not quite 

 vet a marksman or sharpshooter, would he not be then ready to keep 

 on aud make himself one during the remaining fine days in October 

 or November, rather than to lose it all and have to begin an^w? and 

 what is the sense of this going back each year any way? If once I 

 have learned to spell in two syllables, must I each year go back to 

 rudiments because by a certain time I have not learned to spell in 

 five or six? H I have learned once to spell properly in four syllables, 

 and have not quite, learned the five, must I go hack and re-ruasterthe 

 two, three and four before I complete the five? Would it not be better 

 for me to keep on wh.cn 1 am just on the point of success and leave 

 the five and then go on to six or seven? But no: Our system ons- 

 laught me a smattering of two-syllable words, then a smattering of 

 three and four, and consequently I am "stumped," because I didnot 

 learn the smattering of five syllables in the time set, and I must go 

 back to the t\\ o syllables and get a re-sa 1 altering, and so on up again 

 ad infinitum, and most decidedly ad nauseum. 



This is our system and these our marksmen, and these wiU be our 

 sharpshooters. Let us look at the cause, to be found in our classifi- 

 cation, from our reports. Let us look at the reports first: At the 

 end of each month each troop, battery or company commander has 

 to render a report of target practice; said report only mentions the 

 two best scores made by each officer or man during the month, and 

 again no report is madeupon the worst or average shooting of any- 

 nody. The result of these reports is published, and here the emula- 

 tion* conies in. Naturally I, being a troop commander, desire to have 

 a high average for my troop, so as not to compare unfavorably with 

 other troops, etc. Naturally, therefore, I select my days; I shoot 

 when the weather is good and but little or no wind, and only then ; 

 for otherwise my percentage might be poor as compared with others. 

 Naturally, also, I coach my men ; I watch each mau set his wind- 

 gauge, fix his elevation, see that his piece is "level." etc.. and do all 

 the line part of the shooting myself, aud do not allow the individual 

 to exercise his judgment in the slightest. Result,- 1 have a fine report 

 to make, and I stand "away up" as compared with others; I am 

 "patted on the back" and called a good boy, whereas, for all any 

 one knows, I may deserve censure rather than praise: for I may 

 have given a false impression, even without any falsehood or false 

 returns, and the average of my shooting or ot my troop be much 

 lower than that of some other troop whose best scores are lower than 

 mine. 



it is true that another report has to be made, giving the total num- 

 ber of shots fired by each man at each range each month, together 

 with the percentages for this total number at each range, but what fur 

 passes my understanding, for no account seems to be teken thereof 

 in any qualification, classification or figure of merit. If some account 

 were taken of it; if marksmen were qualified and classified on their 

 average and their number of shots, even if a lower percentage were 

 called for; if the results were published, or any standard of compari- 

 son taken therefrom or allowances made in figure of merit, then and 

 only then would we begin to have intelligent and honest results. At 

 the" end of the year an annual report has to be made, and here comes 

 in the "classification." This report is made fr*m the monthly recoid 

 of best target firing, and "any two scores of five consecutive shots, 

 each at the' same range, during the. year, may be taken for determin- 

 ing the percentage at that range." From this we get our marksmen 

 (except that now it will read three scores). So here we have the re- 

 port of best firing at each range for each man for the entire year, and 

 80 per cent, at 2U0 and 300, with 70 per cent, at 600. makes a marks- 

 man—those who have made 66 per cent, at 200, 300 and 500 are first 

 class men; those who have made 50 per cent, at 200, 300 and 500, 

 second class men; and all others third class men. Nice qualification, 

 isn't it, and ought not one to be proud to be classed as a marksman? 



Now I have "qualified" as a marksman for two consecutive years, 

 and, to he a little egotistic, let us see what I have done on my best 

 scores for three years, and then, to be honest, let us see what my 

 average was, countiug every shot I fired, good, bad and indifferent. 



In 1862, I was published in order as a marksman, with the follow- 

 ing percentage for two best scores: 200yds., 62 per cent-: 800yds., 82 

 per cent. ; 600yds., 82 per cent. ; total. 82 per cent. 



I began firing on Aug. 5, having been absent up to that time, and 

 (■fired up to and including Sept. 28, with the following- results: 

 At lOOvds.. total 45 shots, average percentage. Si.G. 

 At -jOOyds.. total 15 shots, average percentage. 76 8 9. 

 At 300vds.. total 110 shots, average percentage, 59 4-7. 

 At 400yds., total 110 shots, average percentage, 66 2-11. 

 At jWOyds., V'""<i J WO shots, average percentage. 66 1-5. 

 At 600yds. . total 12-5 shots, average percentage, 51 7-Sh. 



