Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1871-08-05
HISTORY OF ARMS.
BY THE FAT CONTRIBUTOR.

The history of arms would be in
teresting, properly handled. l never
was all adept at handling arms. l
think could handle my legs much
better i'm an emergency.
The first arm of which there ap-
pears to have been any record was a
club Cain administered to his brother
on the occasion of II family difficulty
that is historic. Notwithstanding
the vast improvement that has been
made in arms since that early day,
clubs are frequently trumps yet. The
club does not always come to the
man, but the man goes to the "Club''
greatly to the disgust of his wife, II
he has one. In such cases clubs are
more offensive than defensive.
Political clubs are welded to de-
molish opposing candidates, and are
often very effective weapon. The
reason Women's Rights clubs break
up so often.is because every woman
wants to WELD 1t her own individual
self.
The spear seems to have succeeded
the club as an arm. Mankind grow
ing sharper, they sharpened the prim-
tive club to a point, and in place OF
bluntly beating one over the head
with a blunt end, they scientifically
thrust each other through and
through called, in the classic lang
uage of the period, going through a
man. This was when they first be-
gan to bring warfare down to fine
point.
Then came bows and arrows. They
were suggested by young lady too
indolept to hurl her spear, who got
her beau to hurl 1t for her. In those
days young ladies never went out
unaccoLlpanied by their beaux and
arrows. Beaux have never been en-
tirely superseded for ladies' arms
since their introduction-hardly wait
ing for an introduction sometimes
This is agreeable to the beaux, am
arrows the question down consider
ably.
The tomahawk Is classed among
the primitive weapons. 1t was in
vented by an Indian named Tommy.
who (toma) hawked 1t about the
American forests. 1t was known in
Shakespeare day. Hamlet says: ~
know u tomahawk from u hand-saw.'
The scalping-knife usually accom-
panies the above weapon, by way of
side-arm. AS an invigorator for
bringing out the hair it has never
been excelled by any of the hair ton
les.
Slings have been popular in their
day, their success depending a good
deal on who got them up. Goliah
was so struck with one that he never
took anything else. BE
sides this implement for singing
stones, the ancients had IA machine
for throwing mud. Mud throwing
has never gone out altogether. 1t is
confined for the most part to q GER
tain class of newspapers.
Missiles of various descriptions be-
sides the above, have been i'm vogue,
from time to time, not forgetting the
Inever hear a dogs
bow-wow at night without feeling
nm overpowering inclination to send
q missile bow, in the shape of a |
brick or u pavlng-stone.
The discovery ofgunpowder divides
arms into two classes, ancient and
modern. (Gunpowder, II will be re-
was discovered under the |
House, in the days of
Guy Fawkes.) The ancient Greek
Ought with the pike, and the Ro-
mans with the javelin. ] may re-
mark, incidentally, that the Cincin-
iatians fought with the Pike for some
line, but the Pike has handsomely
them Mt last.
Swords were never the most effect.
We arm. Richelieu said derisively,
the pen is mightier than the sword"
lie forgot old cheese. That is FIRE.
Iuently mite-ier than pen and sword
ogether.
Daggers have figured conspicuously
n the affairs, as well as the ARRAYS
f men, and changed the course of
history frequently. a dagger thrust
verthrew Caesar as the bristling arms
4 hostile legions could not. Mac
'eth's bloody imaginings took the
Drm Of a dagger. Instead Of saying,
,owever, ais this dagger that see
'efore me:r his exact words should
ave been, under the circumstances,
Is this dagger so persistently after
ne%
Gunpowler effected an entire revo-
ution In the construction and use of
rms. Spears, mauls, javelins aud
he like are obsolete. Swords are
merely ornamental, aud bayonets
arely appealed To. Bayonet may
l,s,I h,,t ,,,,,,nn,r,lar .lnpG thn talk ,