The New York herald., 1878-10-05
THE CENTENNIAL RIFLE MATCH.

THE CENTENNIAL RIFLE MATCH.
Tho following letter been received BY tho editor
OF The Turf Field and Farm from Mr.. John Rlgby,
who sho in The Irish international match
at Creedm0or In 1S74:-
The iuiuro oil The Centennial rife match is natu-
rally matter OF mucn Importance 10 American rife
men, well as to those nationaiities which took part
in II IN 1876 aud 1877.
That an international contest so happily inaueu.
rated should fail survive rs second year would be
disaster rclcctng on the judgment OF all who were
concerned inception II Is worth while, then,
examine those causes which are likely toiufucnce IT'S
iuture prospects, and to ASK whether the obstacles
wnicu have rendered 1878 blank likely 10 reappear
in future years.
In the first place II seems to me unreasonable TO
expect that same nationaIties would continue to
send representatives. TO America year after year with
a constantly decreasing chance OF success, and yet
this must be SO II The contest be annual. me Same
cannot be induced 10 spend the time requisite,
even II there were no expense, year alter year.
New men mus be sought 10 whom the trip has the
attraction OF novelty, even with new men those
who leisure aud freedom to engage in 50 serious
expedition are but suall proportion OF the whole
These hindrances do exist for the home team
The elite oil their new men are always backed up by
the veterans, ready 10 step INTO any places mpsr'
Il iollows therefore, that II the home team has
ceeJed IN dolestng all comors twice IN consecutive
years. an interval must elapse, and that probably. ot
more than year, before the assaiants receive
such infusion OF new blood as will encourage them
to another attompL
Auolner obstacle which mnst be faced Is the
pense
The home team in 1877 received, / believe, sum
sufficient th0ir practising expenses, AMI, AS
the match attracted considerable gate money pre-
the executive were aUle TO do this without ex
ternal aid.
the BRUSH team, the other hand, had no such
assistance, on their travelling expenses anu ammu-
milton used in America having been met by subscrip-
tIou, which, although public, really IeII heavily
the c.ptaln ana narrow circle con uec ed with the
Natiouai Rifle Association OF Great Britain.
am saying that an attempt to levy similar
suDscrpto3 annually wou utterly fail, even IN Eng
land the wealthy.
| do not think efficient remedy for these defects
OF construction II be iounu by tue annual perform
Of the farce OF lhs walk over" until the year
when the foreigner rcCovers his aggressive sp
IT'S ana again challenges tue possession Of the PALM.
year that fails produces contest W IL be rcck
oued something taken IRON The III sire o the tropay
To remedy these detects, 10 insure an annual contest
ana IN Ike the Pama truly Internaioaal, ana not
merely Cres dmoor trophy, " l. only necessary to
revise the rules WIN view TO locating the match
in Europe alternate years II tue proposal 80 hold
Paris this year had been cordially adopted IN
America the necessary arrangements could have been
away, aud soon the question Of next years. contest
will De imminent l must confess that SEQ no STIR
rings among riaemen to Indicate an intention to
face the burning sun and puzzDg nshtaiis OF Creed.
moor IN 1879. One remark-a pregnant one-is ire
quently maoe:-"We have crossed Inc Atlantic three
times 10 snoot with the Americans. They have only
visited US once Lot them come hcre next year, and
then the Palma will flourish again IN 1880"
JOHN RIGBY
DUBLIN Ireland. Sent. 81. 1873