, 1880-07-04
THE VICTORY At DOLLYMOUNT.

| 114AG44A0AA A4lNu4CA tl1 AtA
event Of deeper significance than is ut first
sight apparent, and Its full purport can only
be comprehended by reference to long-past
periods Of history.
The skill of the old English archers is one
| of many historical facts which everybody
recognizes as a general proposition, but very
few people at this day have any realizing
sense Of the power they welded.
| We know. generally, that many Of the
hardest-fought battles Of those days were
won by the power and skill with which they
piled the bow, but comparatively few people
are aware how important q part that weapon
has played in England's history, or to what
All extent its use was encouraged and en-
| forced upon the people.
For period of 500 years after the battle of
| Hastings, which was fought on the 18th Of
| October, 10G6, the archerS of England con-
! stituted 4 national guard, whose skill and
efficiency was acknowledged and feared
| care was exercised by the Government to
/ maintain the supremacy they had acquired.
Every able-bodied man between the ages Of
II and 10 was Obliged to have boy OF his
and to practice habitually in shooting at the
butts which were established in every parish
! at distances. prescribed by law. On holi.
days and festive occasions, prlze-shoot-
+ IuE Wa3 sllHl4S ullt I'll kllC olt1lutltu aQC4loY
and every effort was used to dignity and ex-
cite an interest In the attainment OF an art OIL
which the power and even the very existence
| of the nation was felt to be largely depend
| ent.
! With the invention Of gunpowder, the pro-
| iectile force of which Is entirely independent
! of the shooter, while the weapons in which it
was first used afforded little scope for the eX-
ereise Of naividual sill M the are afchSS:y meet
cept @ as a mere sport, and the common soldier
| became a mere hireling armed with
| a weapon possessed of no responsive
power to the so,a exertiGn Of 4aa,,sa ski
reliance amounting almost to affection on
| the part Of its owner, but whose execution
could only be estimated in the aggregate,
and, of course, afforded no evidence of pow
er or skill OIL the part OF the Individual.
in our own day. however, in the construc-
ton of the rifle, have wrought a revolution in
the use OF arms, and awakened 2 popular
spirit hardly inferior to that Of the days Of
whose amazing power and efficiency consti-
tute such an arm as has never before been
welded In the contests between might and
right which comprise so large portion Of
the worlds history:
rolled themselves in rifle clubs in England,
and shooting matches were inaugurated
throughout the Kingdom, sustained and ami
mated by the presence and participation Of
Royalty and nobility, and the distribution of
pie seemed to have lost none Of the vigor it
possessed in the days Of cloth yard shafts.
Nearly twenty years elapsed before tile in
fection reached this country, Notwithstanding
were made by individuals who appreciated
the Importance of encouraging taste for
the skillful use of arms. At length club
was organized and began practice at Creed
lime Of is formation accepted the challenge
OF the National Association Of Great Britain
to send 4 delegation to England to shoot a
match at Wimbledon. No one who was
fsar fan with the 1stoy Of # e9asS Ennt III
the Americans would win; yet every one at-
luired the pluck they showed il. accepting
the challenge. and when Col: Dodinc's final
shot, on that great. field was sig-
a}s wof that Dasfs pstssny hnd ad wen assna Se dhS S
with American breec(l-loadlng rifles, it
seemed so incredible that most people were
INCLINED To look upon. it as lucky accident
OF course. the Englishmen were too ptncky
next year they sent a select body, Of marks
men to New York to compete with our men
at Creedmoor, hoping to retrieve their repu-
tation. But again they were defeated and
obliged to return without the prizes they had
hoped to secure. The Americans have since
held their ground III several matches OF less
Importance, and finally were again chal-
lelged to grand trial at Dollymount, near
Dublin.
The Kingdom was raked for the best marks
men, and they were subjected to the most
rigid training. American arms. were pro,
cured for English gunsmiths to inspect and
improve upon. II any effort were wanting
to insure success it was simply because moth
ing more could be thought OF. And tile
result is another triumph for the Americans.
a close contest it is true, but for that very
reason all the more conclusive as an EVIL
dence that the utmost efforts Of all England
can no more close up that little gap than the
utmost efforts of nil the rest Of Europe could
defeat the English .urchers eight hundred
Years ago, ami he must have read history
in vain who fails to perceive that this fact
has much deeper Significance than the re-
suits Of ordinary competitions i'll athletic
sports. It is III most important sense all |
exponent Of relative national strength. and It
Is not to be expected that the English will !
yet allow that we have achieved permanent |
conquest in the field on which they have
never before been beaten. |
We may expect that she will continue her
efforts to retrieve the laures we have won, |
and 1t benO0ves us to see to 1t that we are not
lnllcdhy success into all inactivity Which may |
be fatal to its continuance. II. w. s. T..
John Kelly,s Story. |
Cincinnati D.spateh In Er4.1xriie J0uT71uL
speaking 70 John Kelly this afternoon, re- |
ferred TO the T1tdenke handshakes, when the |
sturdy Sacheln said he hoped the reconciliation |