New-York tribune., 1868-05-04
THE SCHUTZENFEST.

national sports to such system the Germans and no
other people have the faculty OF combining utility with
recreation in great degree An appreciation OF the
value OF time seems TO be prominent characteristic OF
the race Teutonc though much in their way
of doing things that to our American hury-bury, rush
ing making yls0n seems TO cOntraNene TINS prop
into their mode of life attest its truthfulness 1t may be
urged that the r0tund German who, whether bent on
business or pleasure perambulates with an almost
studied eNactness whose pace is scarcely ever aeeee
rated beyond systematically sober walk ana whose aI
is 10 show forth his social nature in company with kin
dred spirits, in the temples Of Gambrnus is not alto
geher imbued with that dea Of the worth OF time which
in view is requisite in order to profit by its hight
But nevertheless there are none who put the Meeting
and who better know how to draw from more real
profit or genuine pleasure Tey enter % INTO e d nSTse
therein until the yield is satisfactory Inc Germa
aborer is surpassed by none in assduty ana te Iera
merchant prOverbal for strict attention to his calling
| Unlike men of other nationalies, however, No never
allows deprive him entirely of recreation ON
the contrary must have the latter, and have II be-
times, too Paradoxical II may appear. he makes
SYSTEMATIC as that which dstinsuishes him In connection
with LIES sterner realities Not only does he subdyide
labor recreation rest; but the year, also for him.
M its RSeh9 Of e eTSes 6s en to Po
which act benecially on both his mental and physical
organism These recurring seasons are invariably made
known TO u.s. In the larger cities where the Germanc ele
aggregated by advertisements ana posters setting
veren." and the Mannerchor about to give exhi.
bitons of their Skill musical and gynnasic or that the
delight the hearts Of frau and pGdceu The former see
its return chance TO enlist the feelings OF the younger
and the latter fully appreciate the advantages offered by
it to exhibit their charms TO the admrnG gaze OF air
faced youths whose physiORnomes plainly eVnce iheir
nativity % ana 5a5ea And OehE s b9nes ys oo 10
| the subject OF which desire in this article
to speak more particulary-the schitzentest
Tie custom Of holding festivals whereat trials OF
marksman like skin is the prominent feature dates back
to the medieval Archery was then in vogue, Gt
St % arrow Ored me the WeSp On Of oHe and de
fense. The fest originated IN Switzerland, where the
ing the chamois among the and peas Of the ALPINE
mountains attained proficiency In arkslna6ship that
William Tell illustrative Of this superiority Of his couH
trymen, is well known to every schooboy. More than
was revived in England, nl9O and had the special pat
ronage of the King Orchard IT, who himself Killed
by dnt OF continuous practice with the long bow became
renowned marksmen and to their superiority over the
French in this respect are attributable the victories
Of CresSy PoctieIs ana ASlneourt wheh sn6seqsehIy
gsh dominion over the Kingdom OF France The organ
izaton Of arcbers associations In Germany followed their
establishment In Switzerland and the young men gene
rally became members OF theSe bodies Wherever uey
formed They first took defnite shape In the Free
societies. aud were granted charters directly by the
peror. AS in England these organizations were origin
which had attained TO great proficiency and whose dam
battle in the Free Cities they from the necessity
OF having effective organized opposition TO the Fe
dal Barons whose lnaIaudng DahdS OF ieaIners made
OutTages and rObberes OF the most heinOus character
led e 70 the S Of like in other portions
OF the Empire and soon every German town and village
held In each province, at which ali the oTgani-
zSt0Ss ,o therein met met for % the the Of SS
by the nobles TO the most successful marksman.
wherein music added its charms 10 the seene aud dane
cling participated in by all the attendants They
presentation of prizes To the lucky wnnersthe sharp
shooters Of those days The nobility and high officials
ff v IN oleu1
at these ste and IN some instances members Of
the prizes contended for on the successful arsme In
Britain similar festivals were held The English arcners
used the simple long bow (slmar that used by the
North American Indians Of the present day but in
France and Germany and on the Continent generally,
the crossbow was the weapon mostly in vogue After
the battle OF CresSy however the long bow gradually fell
into dsuse In England and the crossbow was substltut
ed AS the schnzen societies increased III number the
competitors at the festivals drawn from enlarged
area, but no ndhonG gatherlng Of marksmen was, in
1920 supersededh use OF the bow and arrow and as
consequence, the custom OF holding Scuenete became
almost obsolete when the good results O~ng from these
organizations Of scuE corps became apparent IN order
pose Of stimulating their members 10 the attainment Of
Still greater proficiency In marksmanshp certain special
which they owed allegiance The real property owned
by the societies was exempted from tax costly prizes
donated by the State aud municipal authorities,
and the members relieved from the performance Of
jects we're amenabe During the sixteenth century
ever, hear but little Of the Schuzencorps. The total
revolution wrought the art Of war by the invention OF
gunpowder. had long since rendered archery, system
OF begerency, comparatively yalueess, and Its practice
soon became the exception rather than the rule Although
there does not appear to have during this period
any formal dsbandment Of the 6chutzen organizations,
but When the nations Of Europe had become
with the use OF firearms we find the 0tden or assoca-
the rife instead OF the crossbOv) striving against each
schntzenfest thoroughly revived and the first grand
national gathering, hed at Argan; 10 sWitlerland: &
sS when the swiss war OF secession prevented its being
held The fest observed however n lS47 and after
swetz in the Canton Of swetz was the site Of the compe
ton The national festivals thus far number twenty
HH Which sWltzerand is divided The next Swiss fest IS to
he held n Ln5eTns n 1859 There 10 6e gFsndtea val
third among the Germans proper. Great preparations
Ts S Sfns the ed sGsS saes q Gey he Asa
provinces, and such other larger and smaller kngdoms
GuOta for the grand spOit and competition in the I'm
peral City" The Germans held their first national fest
1866 and the third to be in Vienna above mentioned
Tie OF the Teutonic element in this coun-
nous parts = OF the Unlon but there was
gathering Of competitors from the States at large nnti
1865 when the first fest was held at Highland Madison
Co. ILL.,, and such its success that II was agreed TO
form association TO be called "Ihe american sharp
shooters society," The next festival was held at CheagO
and the third, which IS 10 take place in June at Jones
Wood in this city w give 10 the sate on no horH tne
German festival 1t 70 commence on the 2h Of June
same plan those held in Europe IL is intended not
only for the amusement and entertainment OF the
participants but also for the good that must fol-
low to the naonalities represented, by enargng in
every respect the minds and OF those whom they
send take part therein II viii be neither exclusively
American German, French English Italian but will
be composed Of aud participated in, by men OF worth
from ali nations The building now In process OF cree
ton TO be 7O feet long by 100 feet vide and including
two stories As feet high IL will furnish table accomIo-
daons 900 persons and will be connected with the
hotel and han on the grounds by bridge which also
connects with the committee rooms The upper part OF
the building will be used as ballroom, ana the lower
lion Is 100000 The hall 10 be provided for the competitors
for the prizes and from which the shooting VIII be DONE
IS be 1855 feet long by l9 feet WIDE Opposite this are TO
10. 81 tbo "a MI