New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-08-30
THE BEST OF ITS KIND.

THE BEST OF ITS KIND.
At present shooting at target specially oc-
cupies the public attention, ana many men
and even women who have never handled llile
or musket are warmly waiting for the Creed
moor competition. Those of us who have no
other interest in the affair are little anxious
for the glory and honor of American marks
manship. We shall do nothing toward WIN
ming the prize. but we shall share all the same
in the renown. So 1T was even with the most
pertinacious of landsmen when our yacht car
ried off the cup in British waters. People who
never PLAYED a game Of chess in their lives
relished, like true patriots, the chess expiolCs
of Morphy, and grave and learned gentlemen
i'm Boston gave him a complimentary banquet
Even when the contest comes down to pIlze-
fight, we prefer to have our Heenan hammer
the hardest, though the sport is one OF winch
we disapprOve. We choose to have whatever Is
American the best of its kind. If we cannot
assist in carrying off the laurels, we can at
least cheer Justify when they are fairly earned
by our compatriOts.
When Boswell spoke disrespectfuly OF
rope-dancer to Dr. Johnson, the old man de-
clared The performance worthy of credit, be-
cause il showed what could be done III tnat
way. If we are to have emulation Ill prOlt-
able things, we shall have it in other matters,
the immediate profit of which Is not so dis
cerniblc. Goldsmith once ignobly broke his
Sims in showing to several ladies that 1t was
not difficult to leap over a stick. mat was
inst his luck-he tried to do what he could
not do: but on the other h nd, when rlch
merchant of Boston was sneeTed at for having
in his early life been drummer ne triumph
ontlv answered: Didn't | drum well !"
Apart from their athletic advantages, the Gre
elan games. the ren0wn of which has filled
the world for ages had no immediate purpose
eycept that of doing best what was to be done.
So all our sports of rivalry have the merit OF
showing what muscles and sinews, whether OF
man OF of horse can accomplish and the
qualities which they develop Will prove Their
utility, at least, in one form or another Ihere
is AN intellectual as well as physical culture
i'm shooting mt a target-a training OF the eye,
of the nerves, OF the will, until the man Is
master of all accidents and hindrances. Nor
is the mere recreation OF the match to be dis
regarded. 1t is the misfortune OF most men
that they leave off play with school-going,
though yet working in harder school and
needing the vacation all the more.
TIE world will always respect the highest
accomplishment in everything. The champion.
as he is called, is not called so grudgingly.
OF all the marksmen of England and America,
he is made the most of who Is the most uner-
ring. The f0Olhardy man who, with his wife,
has lust crossed the ocean in little boat, has
shown that it can be done, and VIII be re-
membered as a refuter of the Imposslblllty OF
the impossible OF course, the carper comes
in with his chi bono, but he must wait for his
answer though we may reply oif-hand that
| pat;ence, perseverance, a determination to con-
ouer difficulties in the pursuit Of any excel
ence, are in themselves their own advocates.
If the merit of a man who can row more
swiftly than any other, or walk longer, or
accomplish any feat before unaccomplished, Is
| called in question, he may reply that the ad-
yantaces Of exploits much more digniiied and
of triumph5 IN highly respectable contests, are
not always clear to the inquiring eye. Books
are written, for instance, which are miracles
of ploddng industry, and have only the de
merit of being entirely unreadable. 1t will
not do to look too closely into the practical
advantages of many tasks which we set our
| selves and perform to the best OF our ability
with serious assldulty
There is yet another consideration which
may have its Importance. The gruff Col.
Damas, in the play, remarks that he likes no
man SO well as one he has fought with. In
these international contests, which have become
comparatively common there is a vein of good
feeling and good-felOwship, which may have
an influence upon much more serious matters.
These are battles in which victory brings no
arrogance and defeat leaves no sting. On the
contrary they are promoters of the social
amenities. The better we are acquainted, the
less probable is it that we shall fall out. Ne-
ther of Us is likely to declare war against the
other from motives of ambtion-Our only dam
ger is of hostilties proceeding from misunder-
standing The men of peace have many theo-
reticalplans for turning swords into ploughshares
and spears into pruning-hOoks, but the use OF
rifles III a boodlcss battle, and the dispatch of
| the bullets of both sides toward common
target. presents IA transformation quite Gs
desirable and quite as delightful
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Mr. Hayes is not the only President who is fond of
travel. President MacNahon has just been making