Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-02


He was not as accurate possibly as the
Arabian, who claimed that he could hit
the foot of an ant upon the darkest night
If his bow and arrow were in proper con-
dition. The Englishman of the middle age
also claimed that he could intercept an arrow
of his enemy in midair and in that way
protect himself. We may assume that in
some instances re9larkabie accuracy was
acquired by the early bowmen. but hardly
reaching the claims as set forth by some
ambitious marksmen English target shoot
ing became famed throughout the world
about 1850 and it was at that time when
the great English champion, Horace Ford
took the honors of the Kingdom and the
world by his marvellous accuracy with the
bow and arrow. Archery is assigned place
of honor by the English court and the
Royal Company of Archers OF Edinburgh
served as the bodyguard of King George
" when he visited Scotland in 1922 No
finer company of physical men were ever
seen than this Scottish company assigned
to the place of honor during the visit OF
the king to their portion of the country.
/, There is a painting in the Archers' Hall
in Edinburgh Scotland, showing the Scotch
company of archers leaving Hollywood on
The occasion of the visit of Queen Victoria
in 1856. The queen took deep interest
in archery. and before she assembled the
throne of England she attended the meet
ngs of the royal British bowmen, in which
she manifested a lively interest. In 1SsE'
she presented gold cup to the archers of
Bruges it being the date of the anniversary
of her fiftieth year member of the or
ganiZation.
Practiced Many Years.
Archery has been practiced in the United
States for the last seventy years, but the
people generally have never taken the deep
interest in it as the earlier peoples have
shown. In 1879 interest in archery began
to revive, and in 1879 the National Associa-
tion of Archers was formed as stated, and
it was then that the practice was taken up
by a great many persons but ii has never
for some reason or other attained the pop
ularity with the American people which
other sports which are of more recent date
have In the city of Washington live some
of the most devoted archers in the world,
and they untiring in their practice. Col
Richard Williams, jr., deputy commissioner
of internal revenue; Mr.. Amos B. Casselman
of the pension office and Mr.. L. w. Maxson
the principal examiner of the patent office,
are all devoted to the sport. Some years
ago the Potomac Archery Club of Wash
ington was formed by these gentlemen, and
they have been untiring in their efforts to
bring archery to the front as one of the
foremost American games. DR.. Edward b.
Weston of Chicago, Ill.,, the president of
the National Association of Archers, a short
time ago issued a circular of invitation to
the archers of the country calling them to
take up their practice as soon as possible,
so that some large scores can be made at
the annual meeting to be held in Chicago
on August 10, 16 and IL of this year. He
says: THE time will soon be here when
we will take our bows and arrows and be-
gin practice on the range. Our physical
condition will then begin to improve and
our pleasure from the pastime increase
week by week" Miss Leigh in article
on Ladies' Archery in the archery volume
of the Badminton Library says: 1T is a
L. a,ol oil art1trC ant
ladies' and the most suitable to the matron
who feels 1t undignified to take part in some
outdoor game, and yet is quite young enough
to enjoy them. Even elderly ladies can
shoot, as has been shown in numerous in
stances.
Potomac Archery Club.
The Potomac Archery Club, in which the
Washington men shoot, was one of the
first organized and has always kept up
it's membership among the best people of
this city. The target practice of this club
has always been held in the grounds of the
Smithsonian Institute. and several large
scores have been made at different times
by local people. Among those who helped
in the organization of this club were Gen.
Meigs, quartermaster general of the United
States army, and Col. Pickett, brother of
Gen. Pickett of the confederate army. He
was an enthusiastic archer, and always
took a great interest in the club while he
lived in this city. He represented the con-
federate states special diplomatic
agent during the war between the states,
and after the war took deep interest in
archery. The sport has been of slow growth
with the people of this city as well with
the other states The target used on the
Smithsonian grounds is four feet in dame
ter, and made of tightly coiled wheat straw,
the facing being of cloth paper painted with
five concentric rings gold, red, blue. black
and white In counting the points, the
rows which have struck nearest the center
are counted highest. The practiced marks
man can always be told when he attempts
the double York round. 1t consists in
shooting 2SS arrows in all. The local arch
making arrangements to begin prac-
tice at the Smithsonian grounds shortly, so
they will be able to represent their club
we'll in Chicago during the coming August
1t is also stated that number of ladies
will join the local club during the coming
season and compete with the men for the
honors of Workmanship with the bow and
arrow.