The Washington herald., 1907-07-16

Oyster Bay. July h-That President
Roosevelt is still as deeply interested IN
rife practice for boys in the public schools
| as he was last winter when he sent q
message 10 Congress dealing with the sub
Ject, was made evident to-day in a letter
which he sent 10 young Ambrose Solar
fenberge, Of Brooklyn. \. Y.
When Gen. George b. WIngate. T.
retired, Of Brooklyn, organized a sharp
shooting competition for public school
boys, about a year ago. the President an
nounced that he would write a personal
letter Of congratulation 10 the winner
Ambrose Scharfenberge. Of the Manual
Training School. Seventh avenue. Fourth
and Fifth streets, Brooklyn. stands frs as
marksman among the boys of the high
schools Of Greater New York. and today
the following letter from the President 10
Scharfenberge was made public:
Ny dear young friend: heartily con-
graduate you upon being declared b5 ths
Public Schools Athletic League 10 Sand
first in rife shooting among al the bows
Of the high schools Of New York CITY.
which have tried during the last ytar.
am glad 10 see how well you have d5ne
in all the competitions in which you shot
s 'ng the year. alike in the Whitney
Jhy competition. the individual match
shoot az Creedmoor. and the intersebo-
lastic match.
Many q grown man, who regards him
self as crack rife shot. would be prrud
OF such a score Your skill is credit 70
you and also 10 your principal. vour
| teachers. and TO all connected with rte
manual training school which you attend.
and congratulate them all. Practice in
rifle shooting is Of virtue in developing not
only muscles, but nerves. steadi1ess and
! judgment under excitement. It is. there
fore. Of value TO every man throughout
life.
Promotion of Athletics.
The Public Schools Athletic League las
done fine work for the city and for ths
| country in the introducing and promoton
Of athletics ana a love for manly sports
in the public schools OF New York. esoe-
ciaily as The league most wisely allows
no one to compete who IS not up 10 ma
passing mark both in studies and dep0rt-
ment.
I am especially glad OF what il has
done in establishing instruction in rife
shooting
The United States has a very small
standing army. In time Of war if must
depend for defense on hasty levies Of
volunteers, and it is a prime necessity
that the volunteer should already know
how 10 shoot If he is to be Of value as a
soldier. IN nc modern war would If be
possible effectively 20 train men to shoot
during the brief period Of n-eparato on
/ before the army takes the field. In con-
sequence. the training must come in ad-
vance. and the graduates OF our schools
and colleges should be thus trained so as
to be good shots with the military rife.
When so trained. they constitute a great
addition To our national strength and 4
great assurance for the peace Of the
country With all good wishes. believe
me, sincerely, yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Concerning Z. II. Hartman.
A report that the President was not
satisfied that Z. H. Hartman was 10
escape without suit and that a confer
General Bonaparte. and other Cabinet
members. has been arranged TO lay plans
to catch Mr.. Hartman, could not be con-
hrmed at the Executive office to-day.
Secretary Loeb. when his attention was
called to an article 10 this effect in an
evening paper, which claimed TO draw its
information from unnamed official sources,
would only say that the story had 10
official sanction either here or ar Wash
ington. He said that the Presidents
plans, If any, In the Hartman matter,
had not been announced
Spends Night in Camp.
After attending morning service at
Christs Church yesterday, President
Roosevelt returned to Sycamore Hin to
gather up his camping kit and start out
with his sons on the annual overnight ex-
pedition 70 Lloyds Neck, the heavily
wooded point OF land that divides oyster
Bay from Cold Spring Harb0r The
Roosevelt boys, cousins Philip George,
and Jack Roosevelt. sons Of w Emlen
Roosevelt. went along with the campers
Il was late in the evening before the
party had collected its traps and WIS
READY lof lilc start Alir DAlhur tIlD
Presidents yacht, carried the campers to
Lloyds Neck When the yacht had come
to anchor off the neck. the President and
the boys manned the small boats and
pulled to shore. It was a real wilderness
camp WITH the hunters, a small fire 70
warm the feet, and a blanket bed. with
only the blue SKY for a tent The sky Of last
night was a serviceable tent, for # let
nothing down on the sleepers except a
light dew Last year in particular tie
tent Of blue above" was very leaky ard
the campers got thoroughly drenched.
This morning the campers We're ID
bright and early for a dip in the bar.
After the bath, the President. aided by
the older boys. taught the youngsters 0f
the party how 10 cook a camp breakfast
and the art Of clearing coffee with bit
of fish skin Then followed a contest in
sharp-shooting. with no score announced.
It is rumored, however, that the Presi-
dent won.
About ! O'Clock the campers pulled back
to the Sylph and returned to civiliza-
ton at Sycamore HILL
No War Ships In the Lakes.