The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-07-13
TIE WITCHERY OF ARCHERY.
A General Revival of This Charming
Outdoor Sport.
Reorganization of Clubs in Oakland
Archery Talent Lying Dormant
in Sacramento.


All over the country the revival of the
| beautiful and healthful exercise of arch
cry is in progress. 1t was all the rage
ten or eleven years ago, and never should
have been allowed to die out. 1t then re-
ceived its impulse from the writings of
Maurice Thompson of Charlottesville,
Ind, whose articles in the magazines of
the day attracted general attention to the
sport. These were supplemented by
little book which he wrote on the subject,
and which was read from one end OF the
continent to the other,
The Witchery of Archery was in
deed most attractive volume, and it
awoke an enthusiasm over the use of tho
modern bow and arrow that did not con-
tine itself to young people alone, but
took possession of gray-haired men
those who never tired of telling what
they had seen the Indians do with bow
and arrow in their boyhood days. Arch
cry clubs sprang into existence every
where, and there were State Associations
of clubs that affiliated with a National
Association. Championship contests
were INDUCED in, and both sexes became
as proud OF their archery records as ever
were skilled riilemen of theirs.
Sacramento was not behind other COM
munities in this respect. There were five
or six we'll organized clubs here, whose
mem berS praCtlced almost daily in Cap
ltol Park. Some of the Sacramentans-
both ladies and gentlemen-took places
in the front rank Of skilled archers, and
in the State tournaments frequently de-
feated the best shots in the San Francisco
and Oakland clubs. There was one ex-
ception, however-that of Frank C. Ha-
vens OF Oakland, who held the coast
championship against all corners and who
had few If any superiors in the United
States, not even excepting Maurice
Thompson himself, who had been skilled
in the use Of the bow from boyhood.
Alter f1ourishing for three or four
years, the sport was allowed to die out
for some reason, although no person that
ever drew the long bow on an archery
range could be found to admit that he or
she did not continue to love the sport.
REVIVAL OF ARCHERY.
Last summer, however, successful
attempt was made in the East to revive
the sport, and on the lawns of Newport.
and in fact at nearly all Of the popular
watering places, archery tlourished with
its old-time vigOr.
PROFESSIONALLY there is something
fascinating about the use of the long bow,
and the archer is always an interesting
character. Archery is sport that is spec
ally adapted for both ladies and gentle
men, ana therefore, it would seem, should
always be popular. It is not mere child's
play, as some persons imagine, but an
exercise that is capable of a high degree
OF skill. and is therefore calculated to
awaken enthusiasm among its deyotees
and an earnest desire to excel.
No person can hope to become an
archer of fnOrn than InnHinara cl- h
has not fair supply of brains. The best
OF judgment is required, well-devel-
oped muscle, steady nerves, and all the
other qualifications that experts in all
kinds OF competitive games possess.
THE ORIGIN OF THE BOW
AS an implement Of warfare is involved
in ObScurity, but it is certain that in the
earliest times the bow and arrow was
known and used. The earliest savage
races knew something of archery, but it
was reserved to the people of England to
make the long bow potent weapon in
offensive warfare and to make the prac-
tice of archery fine art. The English
archers, with their yew long bows and
their cIoth yard shaft, maintained the
supremacy of England upon many a
hard-tought field, and Stern Willedin, the
Norman, is said to have been so excellent
an archer that few of the stalwart men-at-
arms could bend the mighty bow which
he used i'll his campaigns.
The importance OF the long bow TO the
maintenance of the English prowess was
recognized by many Acts of Parliament.
and Henry VIII. spent much of his time
in encouraging the practice of archery.
Among other laws, he caused it to be en-
acted that every able-bodied man not an
ecclesiastic or a judge should be trained
in the practice of archery"
English archery is not without its touch
UItnnGG hn ctr - I. ]
Robin Hood, the brave outlaw and in
comparable archer, who used to lead his
merrle men in the cool haunts of Sher-
wood Forest 10 the great discontinue of
the good sheriff of Nottinghamshire.
When the long bow ceased to be an i'm
PIGMENT OF warfare, the English archery
clubs maintained the sport, and to-day il
is noble pastime. In England there are
many famous archery organizations,
Chief among these is the Woodmen of the
Forest of Arden. This club was the first
to admit ladies to its shoots. and
sigularly enough, on the occasion of the
first appearance Of the gentler sex upon
the field, the first prize was won by a
lady. and won by hard shooting at a dis
lance of 100 yards, and in competition
with some OF the veteran archers Of the
association.
REVIVAL ON THIS COAST.
The revival of archery on the Pacific
Coast promises to be complete, and the
new-old sport bids fair to become
formidable rival to the popular lawn ten
mis-. As lawn sport for both ladies and
gentlemen archery has many points of
superiority over tennis, and it would be
in no way surprising if 1t were to super
sede that game in a large measure.
AT different points on the coast there are
quite a number of noted archers who won
fame with the bow and culver some wears
ago. Seattle has Will c. Thompson, a
brother of Maurice Thompson, and for
many years a champion shot in the East.
Portland has DIR. Henry +. Jones. one
enterprislng club has grounds and a
shooting range on the shores of Santa
Barbara Channel. One of the best-known
archers on the coast is the veteran 0. NJ,
Button of Santa Cruz, who, although he
is 10 years OF age, draws strong bow and
can send an arrow into the gold as well as