The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1914-08-13
II made visible 6y Tie breaking OF the
targets.
prizea and "Pot Hunters."

PcjZeo ana ''PoI 0uUsOV'
COMPETITIONS imply prizes and prizes
cost money. A very few club funds
will admit of devoting more than q
very nominal sum to this purpose.
Fortunately large sums are unneces-
sary, and an entry fee OF or ~
cents will generally provide funo
out Of which few inexpensive prlzes'
more as mementoes of the event than
as rewards. can be awarded. and these
should be sufficient. II money ana
valuable prizes are shot for the crack
marksmen are apt to degenerate into
what they call pot hunters IN Eng
land-that is, experts who seldom shoot
unless there is a. rich stake to be won.
These are Objectionable, not only as
opposed to the principles of amateur
sport. but because such people deter
others from competing. But that dam
ger can be easily obviated. Skill and
democracy are the keynotes as rlhe
shooting is organized today. Prizes
are kept down to inexpensive trinkets.
In England the standard prize seems
to be a silver spoon, worth perhaps
dollar. In cases where wealthy men
have offered valuable prizes to encour-
age competition among clubs the rifle
men have said that they would much .
rather have improved ranges and IA
cilities for practice.
Special matches, particularly shoul-
der to shoulder matches with neigh
boring clubs, are interesting and fur
nish an indirect motive for practice.
inasmuch as the honor of shooting for
ones club Is generally coveted. Tele-
graphic and mail matches are some
what less interesting substitute for
shoulder to shoulder matches.
Match teams are usually selected and
controlled by the club captain. who
should be elected annually. Unseltish
enthusiasm and a suave temperament
are more essential qualifications III
captain than great skill in shooting.
Indeed, it is on many grounds prefer,
able that the captain himself should
not shoot in matches. In selecting a
team he should give preference to con-
sistent shots rather than to those who
are il. the habit Of alternating more
brilliant performances with bad
breaks. and when meeting weak op-
ponents should take the opportunity Of
encouraging the more promising OF his
Improving members by including them
in his team. !
Hats OF to the Ladies. !
Your club should be conducted for
all classes and give everybody ample
scope. according to his skill. The wom-
en- and girls can give tone to the club
by their presence. even though they
are on the range but one night a week.
They are splendid organizers. too, and
the club that has their cooperation and
interest is fortunate.
Women and girls now participate
in bowling everywhere. and rife shoot
ing calls for far less physical eXer-
ton and undoubtedly gives great
er scope for skill based on good
nerves and good thinking. Women's
work in sewing and similar feminine
occupations makes theireyes truer than
those Of most men. With little prac-
tice they learn, to shoot very we'll. H.
the New York high schools many or
the girls qualify as "marksmen." Make
your appeal remembering that woni-
en- are proud Of their achievements
as women. Man is individualistic.
What men as sex are doing in the
world doesn't interest him very Keen
~ because he has prize chiefly in
what one man is doing. and rl:,t Is
himself. or what group of fellows
do who make up his crowd. But wO-
men will join the organization us wO-
men and work for it on thar basis.
Community Life.
A good rifle club should be some
| thing more than an organization for
| the benefit Of it's members alone.
| 1t can be made very fine influence
IN it's community. an encouragement
to clean living and the abandonment
| Of bad habits. the best possible train
ing for both the body and mind. Il CEN
ter for men and women. boys and girls.
an outlet for energies that might not
be expended so healthily if T. were not
In existence and something upon which
the community can often be united on
a basis Of community spirit.
foresee the rapid continued spread
of the rife club idea In America.
Miss Coda B. Nelson who leaves for
Los Angeles this week, to take up the
study of piano and voice, was the