Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-07
New York Children Learn
ing How to Shoot.
High School Boys Prove Apt
Pupils With Rifle.
provl ding Marksmen Ready 10 Nee
Possible Calls From Uncle Sam.

New York, April 6.-"Tcaching the
young idea how to shoot" is being car
ried out, not in its poetic meaning,
in ne New York public schools
through instruction in craftsmanship.
Fine shots have been developed among
the youngsters of the high schools,
many of whom give promise of FIRST
rate work on international ranges
within a few years.
The final contest OF the winter be-
tween Brooklyn Manual Training
School and De Witt Clinton High
School, Of Manhattan, was won by tho
latter school with score 81 go to
263. and the championship of city
schools now rests with the boys OF De
Witt Clinton. 1t was an exciting con-
test, so close that the last shot de-
termined the championship. Fracht-
man, for Clinton did the trick with
seven straight bull's-eyes. This IS the
first year of competition for the prize
banner. and it was presented 10 Clin-
ton school by the winning team with
great pride.
Gen. George W. ate. president
OF the Public Schools athletic League.
uttered this praise of shooting:
to the boys who become expert shots
as to the state and the nation. The
regular army is small in size and is
diminishing in strength. Though not
a military nation. we are essentially
a patriotic one, and when the country
cabs the best blood of our youth re-
spends without hesitation.
1--WE can, as we did in the Civil and
Spanish Wars. rapidly assemble all the
men we want and in few months
teach them considerable drill and
little discipline. But we cannot teach
them to shoot.
There is, however, way in which
We can create a force of skilled rifle
men from whom to obtain capable vol
unteeTs in time of war. and that Is
to teach our high school boys to shoot
with the military rife. This is what
is being done extensively abroad. and
now is being done with great success
in II If the high schools of New York.
''Thc sub target gun machine enables
this to be done in an ordinary room,
permitting practical instruction and
practice without the expenditure of
ammunition. This machine consists OF
an upright standard having ut the top
a horizontal rod, in front of which is
placed a target like a visiting card.
To this is attached a Krag military
rife, capable Of being moved freely
and so adjusted that when aim is TAX
en- and the trigger pulled. the rod
punches a hole in the miniature target
in the exact relative place where the
big. target would have been hit If
bullet had been fired.
practice with this machine is rapid
costs nothing and involves no danger,
The instructor stands beside the boy
who is shooting. Being able to follow
the movement of the rod on tn" minia-
ture target. he can correct defects and
give instruction that would be impos-
sible were loaded gun used.
High school boys are deeply inter-
ested in learning to shoot. Most of
them are stalwart young fellows with
sound nerves, and being at an age
when they learn easily. they are dis
playing wonderful proficiency. In fact
they show more skill than that usually
displayed By members of the National
Guard. who have similar machines
To impress upon the boys that skill
attained with the gun machine VIII
enable them to shoot we'll with bull
let in the open. the league has ehcour-
aged matches between teams from DIFF
ferent schools in armory rifle galleries
There is also an annual contest at
Creedmcor."
Justice Henry A. Gildersleeve. of the
supreme court. who was captain of the
American team that won the first in
ternat ional match from Great britain
in 1875 at Dollymount, Ireland. IS
watching closely the progress Of tn"
school boys.
rifle practice is great thing for
our boys" said the justice. "hecaus"
it Is a healthful exercise. furthermore,
to become good marksman. man,
and more so boy, must be sober. iive
plainly and be patient and self-reliant.
All good riflemen must be good fel-
lows. A bad-tempered person never
can succeed.
cit is not easy for 4 SChOOlboy to be-