The New York herald., 1876-09-11
May the Rest Men Win.

Tomorrow the grand series of centennial
two individual matches which will serve as
first courses to the piece dc resistance of the
two days following-the international long
range rifle match for the championship of
the world. Over the international short
range and mid range matches the public
may be anxious to hurry, in view of the
great match of teams which is to
follow it; but there will be fine
shooting of its kind tomorrow on the
splendid range on Long Island. There, as
on the succeeding days. our marksmen will
have to look to their laurels, for the personal
nature Of the contest gives each of the
foreign marksmen a chance to win which
must be denied to at least three Of their
teams on Wednesday and Thursday. With
these contests out of the way will come the
battle Of the giants. 1t is with especial
qualification We note that nothing has
been left undone to make the meeting in
friendly combat before the butts a success
the conduct of the match. Nothing less
would meet the needs Of the case. Respon-
sive to Americas centennial invitation Ire
land, Scotland, Canada and far Australia
have sent us the pick and flower of their
marksmen-their pre,sc cher0liers of the
rihe-to take part in q passage at arms
which will be as memorable In rifle annals
as was the gorgeous tourney of the Field of
the Cloth of Gold in the chronicles of the
times of the lance and the batteaxc. If
there is less glamour about the rifle match
there is q wider interest, and, what is best
of all, kindlier feeling, than ever formed
about the contests Of the olden time when
Tho trumpets blew; and then did either side.
They that assailed and they that held the lists,
Set lance IN rest.
We have grown to better ways, and when,
in our sober Joy that this Republic has sur
vived hundred years, we ask the world to
send it's rifemen to vie with ours, we have
no fear that any of the gallant gentlemen
now our guests will need such surgical atten-
ton as did the fiery Lancelot of the Lake
after the day of "sport" at Camelot.
There is every promise Of most exciting
contest. Among the five teams that will face
the ten targets on Wednesday there is none
which can stand above it's rivals as did Sir
Lancelot above his fellow knights. How
ever fondly We may hope to see the prize
and the honor Of winning remain with us,
careful scrutiny of the practice for the past
week forbids anything approaching q fore
cast of the arms to which the victory will
fall. If our own sharpshooters cannot win
we have no choice to which of the foreign
teams we would have the triumph
60. We should feel glad if tho Irish
marksmen who crossed the seas to meet us
once before should take the prize to green
Erin; we should feel pleased if it went to the
land of the hardy Scot, for that would insure
our meeting the stout Mcdonald and
his men where the scent of the mountain
heather was fresh on the air; we should be
merry if it went to Canada, for the trip after it
would be n short one, and perhaps we should
be most pleased if it went to the antipodes
for the gallant Australians deserve it most,
since they have come the furthest in its
quest. Among such kindly rivals there can
be no choice for us, save that which is con-
veyed in the phrase of chivalry, "May the
best win"