St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-06-22
Orange Judd's Rifle Experience.

MIDDLETowN, Conn.,, May &c, 1877.
Editor of Forrest and Stream: l be-
lieve in rifle clubs. If in each of 90, 900
towns of our country we have an aver
age of twenty-five men, who, from
practice, would be able to send most of
their bullets within a three foot ring at
forty yards, and at least one shot in Eve
at half a mile or more, we should have
a constant ready force of half million
men, who would be expert enough to
warn off or strike down all the invaders
the combined world could send against
US. 1t would be wonderful economy,
and add immensely to our national
strength, if our general government
should discharge ten regiments of regu-
lars, and expend the money they cost
(SS, 100000 to $4,000, 900 annually in
promoting local rifle clubs, by furnish
ing trainers and, if need be, ammunition,
and even ranges and guns, and badges
or medals to be competed for as stimu-
lants.
My own observation is, that rifle
clubs are prOmotive of good morals.
The people will have amusement of
some kind. Every rifle shooter is
aware that the use ofliquors and tobac-
co units him for good Workmanship. l
know case where a man was fast be-
coming confirmed topper, but on get
ting interested in shooting at club,
where he was ambitious to excel, he
laid aside his cups-to the great graft
tication of his friends and neighbors
The tendency of rifle shooting is in this
direction. Any one giving attention to
the matter will be surprised at the alb
sence of drinking, profanity, low Ian
guage, pickering, etc, at the rifle range
gatherings, as compared with horse
racing assemhlages, and even ball play
ing. In ball playing and boating only
picked "nine," or six take part, and
have the benefit of the exercise. At the
rifle club, however large, all take part
In the former two, especially i'll ball
playing, the exercises consist of short,
sudden, straining spurts. In rifle shoot
ing, the continuous gun-cleaning and
the gentle reaction of the gun supply
just enough of appropriate exercise,
while the study of the effects of gravity.
wind, light, barometer, thermometer,
ETC., are of an educating and elevatiug
character. Many have died from di-
rect or indirect injuries in the ball field
and there are to-day in our country at
least ten thousand men and boys with
broken fingers or other injuries incident
to ball playing. In all the rifle shoot
ing in the whole country there have
probably been score of accidents, fa-
tai or otherwise.
l think the above reasons are enough
to justify my ''belief in rifle clubs"
More could be added if need be. have
personal reasons for speaking well of
this recreation. From malarial disease
contracted in the Volunteer Sanitary
Commission Service during the cam
paigns of 1863 and 1864, was more or
less an invalid for a dozen years. In
the summer of 1875 procured Greed
more rifle" studied up the "prlnciples
of gunnery," as taught pretty thorough
ly in my college mathematics thirty
odd years ago, and, by reading, picked
up what information | could from re-
cent improvements and practice. Dur
ing nearly two years | have, weather
permitting, spent a few hours each Sat-
urday afternoon at rifle range, and on
as many other days as business would
allow, sometimes an hour or two daily
towards evening making this my chief
exercise and diversion from business
thought and care. AS the result have
better health and more strength and
vigor, and do more business and writ
ing than in a dozen or fifteen years
prior to taking up the rifle. When 1
began shooting had to have help to
carry and clean ten pound gun, and
could only fire eight or ten 80 grain
charges without being Frustrated now
l can carry my gun one to three miles.
clean it myself at every charge, and
fire, without stopping, fifty or sixty, or
more 963 grain charges, and enjoy the
pleasant Earring sensation, coming home
refreshed by the exercise. Oh.