Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-16
ARCHERY.



do not propose to preface this chapter with any
special remarks on the origin OF archery, or to
refer to what history relates OF 'ye anciente
sporte." Sufnce 1t to say, archery, as now prac-
tsed is one OF the most fashionable neld pastimes
OF the English aristocracy. The memory OF boy
hoods days brings 70 ones mind the familiar
nursery rhyme Of "a was an archer who shot at
frog" while later on in life memory's record re-
calls the valiant deeds OF that hero OF archery,
Robin HOOD so romanticaliy described in Sir
walter Scotts novel "Ivanhoe." In the ancient
days archery was q warriors occupation; now It
Is simply healthy outdoor recreation for the
leisure class OF the community. AS American
society Increases In all the attributes OF wealth.
we naturally begin to adopt those sports which
seem 70 belong TO people OF wealth and leisure.
Hence the rapid growth Of late years Of such
fashionable outdoor sports as archery, cricket.
lawn tennis and kindred recreative field exercises
Archery is an expensive pastime, not only In the
outlay OF time required for practice, but also in
regard to the cost OF the materials of the sport.
The parapherualia OF an archers complete outnt
Is financially costly that is II he desires 70 excel
In the art and to become an expert, he must
possess himself OF thevery best materials. For
instance, perfectly finished yew or snakewood
with its complement OF culver of model lance
wood arrows, Will use up $50 bill In very de-
structive manner; and when the demand for three
BOWS ana three sets OF arr0wS-One OF each Tor
long range shooting, one for short range, and one
for everyday practice-is satisfied, and the neces-
Of
there Is ones archery club expenses and these are
no small item. In fact, archery is field sport for
people or means and leisure only, and 1t can there
fore never attain to more than certain and rather
limited degree OF popularity, and then only in the
Archery is an exercise ADVANTAGEOUS to men OF
sedentary habits, and to the fair sex. 1t Is Ger.
tainy an excellent field sport for ladies' It pro-
vides them with the very kind OF exercise they
most In need Of and that Is in giving active play 10
the arms and chest muscles. IL is true that GER
tain class exercises In calesthenic academies Will
develop the same muscles; but there Is quite q Diff
ference between the mechanical work OF the calls
thenic movements and the pleasurable excitement
all its picturesque surroundings. In FACT in COM
parlSOn the one Is work and the other Is play,
and any form Of exercise which is not recreative
In It's character does not amount to much in san
ltary point OF view.
Standing in front Of the archery target 80 yards
ticed archer as he grasps his bow places an arrow
In position, and then, with comparative ease sends
nying into the center OF the gOld" OF the target
SO simple, so easy OF attainment that casual OBJ
server would be apt to think the sport rather too
much OF the nature OF boys play for men to engage
In 1t. But when the novice tries his hand at this
apparently simple act and realizes by practical
experiment, what difficulties beset him and what
number or things he has TO learn to do before he
himself shoot his arrow in any part Of the tar
get at ALL still less the g0ld" center his respect
for the sport very apt to increase in the ratio Of
at looks 50 easy, you know But it Is
not easy at all. on the contrary, 1t gives
Thing 10 study up and TO analyze as to cause and
effect; ana with this naturally comes a hearty
respect for the art and also love the sport for
the pleasurable excitement IL yields. Any novice
In archery will tell you what a thrill OF pleasure
ne experiences when, after weeks OF disappOint-
Ing practlce; OF plumbers In handling the bow and
In shocking" his arrows; or errors from getting
INTO pad form" IN taking up his position to shoot,
and IN fact IN practically realizing all the little
SHOCKS 10 ones amour propre which q novice is
heir to-when, say, after all this he strikes .good
form and sees his arrow enter the magic circle Of
skill which his persevering mastery or the art
yields, his exclamation is, "By Jove you Know
DID not think there was SO much enjoyment In IT,"
Ana TINS Is the Idea which every learner expresses
when he has once passed tile outer works of the
citadel OF archery. Well has the best American
writer on archery expressed 1t in the title he gave
MS admirable treatise on the sport, 1.-THE Witch
cry OF Archery"
To take aim with bow is very different thing
from aiming with rife. In the latter case you
shoulder your rifle, run your line or sight along
the barrel, and take deliberate aim at your target
In doing this, the steadier your nerve the truer
your aim; but the mind intent has little COM
paratlvely 10 do with II, inasmuch as your effort
Is the result or combination OF Keen sight steady
nerve ana Straight aim But with the bow 1t is
done is everything. In archery the word '.alm" In
the familiar sense applied to rifle is inappncable
with his mind, as 1t were. Like Hamlet's philos-
ophy, at Is In my minds eye, Horatio.5 The
archer intuitvely feels that he has his bow In the
right position to send the arrow ry1ng to the cen.
ter OF the target He looks solely at the a.pOd,
center OF the target and never at his bow or the
rea shs or the lies n With bow
It flying through the air to the target.
II Is this feeling of your aim, rather
art. This feeling is attained only BY tine
familiarity OF constant practice. And, by the way,
In no field sport does the old saying Of "practice
yyyif N form
Skill In handling the bow especially In ong-range
shooting, is only attainabie by continuous and
preserving practice. There are so many little but
alone can train one into that any regular rate is
almost inapplcable 1t Is all very we'll 10 read In
must do this, that and the other thing. but nc is
practical experience in the field that VIII alone
enable him to overcome the obstacles in his path
on his way TO the goal or success as an EXPERT
The details which the novice must become familiar
with before he can send his first arrow into the
ton outside OF the attainment Of that men
tai schooling which comes from the practical
effort TO snOOt straight.
To hold your bow firmly with your left hand. as
II 1t were In the grip or vise Is the first letter of
the archer's alphabet. The second Is to bend your
bow TO the arrows head properly, and the third is
to "lO0Se" the cord from the finger or your right
hand at the OppOrtune moment when your mind
Is bent on the target. This Is the OF archery
Then comes the placing OF the arrow In position
seeing that 1t is Knocked" in the right place on the
string; that the "cock-reather" Is uppermost. and
that the tips OF your fingers rightly placed on
the cord. When the Fright form" for oil these de.
tails has been attained Dy the familiarity OF con.
slant practice, and they have become q regular
habit with you In handling your bow, then you
Will be fully prepared for The mental study OF the
situation. anu then begins the 'headwork of
archery" SO TO speak, anu just as you able to
excel In this will you become skillrul archer.
How TO 'stand at ease' while using your bow Is
quite an important manner; that Is, to stand In a
position that feels natural and unconstrained.
You 90 not face the target as you are required TO
DO when shooting with q rifle, but with the pft
side or your body toward The target and with
your face turned as to look over your lert
shoulder. To stand firm Is the main object. SO as
to avoid any varying of the steady position or the
left arm as IL is extended, with your hand Qrasn
ing the bow. At first tine novice will NATURALLY
nnd this fixed position somewhat irksOme: but |
practice and habit will make 1t familiar. The LEFT
arm, when extended and resisting the pull of the
right arm in bending the bow, will be apt to shake
ness practice holding out at armS-length weight
that OF your bow, but no heavier Sny
exercise, too, which Will strengthen the muscles
or your left arm SO as TO give your hand iIrmer
arm. In fact, is the lever On which your main de-
pendence lies for correct delivery OF the arrow
AS II Is raised or lowered so will your arrow Nv
high or low TO the target. II the arm Is bent at
Is leSSened and the aim made inaccurate. All
these details must be borne in mind In practice
Not one of them must be forgotten. By this means
only can a regular habit-the correct fOrm-be At
tained: Then comes the next important matter, |
OF proper use OF the right arm. Here too un.
used muscles come into play, especially thosa |
which are brought into action in pulling
the bOw-string back as far as the length |
OF the arrow will admit OF. At FIRST it
will feel like very constrained position, and
be one somewhat painful, but as your arm becomes
trained to the position all that disappears no
ladies, who are SO generally unaccustomed to ex-