Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-11-04
ARCHERY AS A SPORT
THE IMPLEMENTS THAT ARE USeC
IN THIS ANCIENT PASTiME.

Culver. Pouch. HcIt, TnsseI aad
Grease Pot, Arm, Guard, Glove, Tar.
get and Score Card-The Rules.
pastime are bow, arrows, n CULVER. a
pouch, a belt. tassel and grease pot
an arm guard, q shooting glove. tar
get and scoring card.
The bow is usually from five to six
feet IN length, The strength being reck-
oned by pounds, varying from twenty
five 10 eighty. those used by gentlemen
being in strength from fifty to eighty
pounds. those for ladies from twenty
five 10 forty. The former are. made Of
a single piece of yew or ash, the latter
OF Lakewood or hickory, glued back 10
back.
In forming the bow the wood Is grad
ually tapered, and at each end is tip
Of horn. the one at the upper end be-
Ing longer than the lower end, and one
side of the bow is fat. called the
"back," the other being rounded and
called the belly" Near the center,
where the bow is held. Il is bound with
velvet. which part is called the 'han-
de- and in each tip OF horn is a notch
for the string TO rest in. called the
mock"
The string of the bow Is manufac-
tured OF hemp or flax. The hemp
strings wear the longest. though they
stretch more at first, but, being more
elastic. bear n harder pull When It is
necessary 10 fix fresh string to the
bow care must be taken not 10 break
the composition The tie should he cut,
the eye worked at one end, held, the
other part allowed to hang down and
the eye passed over the upper end OF
the bow.
If for n lady 1t may he held from
two 10 two and half inches below
the mock; IL for gentleman. half an
inch lower, varying il according to the
length and strength OF the bow. The
hand Is then passed along the side Of
the bow and string to the bottom
mock. round which the string is
turned and fixed by the moose. When
strung lady's bow will have the
string about five and half inches
from the belly OF the bow. a gentle
mans about half an inch more The
part OF the string opposite the handle
Is bound round with waxed silk in
order TO prevent its being fraycd by
The arrow, which Is sent from that
point
As soon as II string becomes too soft
AMI the fbers too straight it must be
rubbed with bceswax and few turns
given To it 10 shorten ii and twist its
strapds little tighter. A spare string
should always be provided.
Arrows are varioisly formed. some
being OF uniform thickness through
out, others thicker i'll the center or
larger at the point than at the feather
end, The last shape being considered
the best form for shooting: Arrows
nre made OF white pine, having at one
end points OF iron or brass firmly fixed
| and usually n piece OF heavy wood
spliced on TO the pine between it and
the point, by which their flight Is i'm
| proved. AT the other end piece of
horn is inserted IN which is notch for
The string, and they are armed with
three feathers, one Of which Is Of n diff
ferent color from the others and is iii.
tended 10 mark the proper position OF
the arrow when placed on the string,
this one always pointing from the bow.
To string the bow fake it by the
handle in the right hand and place tho
bottom end upon the ground. resting
against The hollow of the inside of the
right foot. keeping the fiat side of the
bow Called the back) toward YOU
The left foot should be advanced IL lii
tie to the right so placed that III bow
cannot slip sideways. Place the heel
of the left hand upon the upper limb
Of the bow. below the eye of the string.
Now. while the fingers and thumb OF
the left hand slide this eye toward The
notch In the horn and the heel pushes
the limb away from the body. the
right hand pulls the handle toward
you, thus resisting the action Of the
left, by which the bow ia bent. and ut
the same time the string is slipped nto
the mock, as the notch is termed.
care must be taken. to keep the three
outer 0ngers free FROM the string. for
II the bow should slip from tie hand
and the string catch them they will be
severely pinched.
IL tue bow has been lying by for
! some time 1t should he well rubbr.
! with linseed oil before using II. ~
unstring the how hold It rs in string
Ing; then press down the upper limb
exactly as before and as IL you wished
10 place the eye OF the string in :,
higher notch. This will loosen the
string and liberate the eye, when it
must be lifted out of the mock by The
forefnger and suffered TO slip dow,
the limb. Before using the bow hold
it In perpendicular direction with the