The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-22
BY Alfred P. Lane.
(World's Champion Pistol Shot,
In an Interview.

TX U%MEN shoot Certainly they
shoot' And il wha, they shoot
at ism, more than ten fec,
away they sometimes hi; it, Anyone
who can hold NJ a gun and pull the
trigger can shoot; bu; a. for hitting any
thing nc aims a., that is something else
again
Pistol shoo,ng-and for tina, matter
all kinds Of shoo1inss tae subject or
more misconccptiou on the part OF the
public or tho layman than any other
sport J know of. Aud perhaps before |
'ell YOU how 10 shoot 1t will be well to
dispcl some 81 these misconceptions.
For common everyday misconcep.
ton, take the supposi,ion that man who
has revolver In his pocket i protected,
or that policeman Is - protection mere
~ because ne carries 4 gun. II the man
with the gln-bc he policeman or citizen
doesn't know how TO shoot he would
re Just about rs effective. as far "a hit
ting anything Is concerned, ii he had
good brick III Ids pocket. As the average
man uses 4 gan III IL not effective more
than about ten feet from what h. is
shooting al.
Suppose You are shooting At a man
ten feet away from you: and suppose
the man is fourteen inches wide. which
is very wide 50 far as the effective area
OF the man body is concerned. If you
hold the gun pointed directly nj mis- chest
and shoot without wayering, the shot viii
be effective. But ii the gun waivers a halt
inch. as is quito likely. because of the
sudden yank OH The trigger-a trick char
acterlstic OF the novlce-that the buile;
won't touch the man At all. And that
Is why Il gun isn't OF much use beyond
frightening a man. unless sou can use
it right
Most or The best shooters know are
.trlr,,
now and then ON the other hand there
are just as good shooters who are to,a!
abstainers. OF course. smoking To excess
Just a. eating To eScess-wil inter
fere with mans digestion and react
on his nervous system
Anybody can become Il good shooter
Everybody ought to shoot. If had my
way should have every nan--and some
of the women. too-takc up shooting and
get 80 he could fire a gun. if necessary.
and not endanger tho lives OF the resi-
Of the community.
If everyone would shoot they would
be better for il: they would have better
nerves. they would have greater self
control: they would acquire a presence
ana more nanlincss; ii would give them
confidence, and they would be possessed
of an accomplishment which is likely to
come in mighty handy any minute
Skill in shooting does not REQUIRE
born they are made. Any man can be.
come pretty fair mari;sman. All that is
required is that he apply himself and
practice. No training is necessary Poo.
pie think We shooters tIain--we don't
hats the one thing we don't do The
best shooting can he done b. a man in
his ordinary, everyday condition. If he
trains he's likely 10 make mess Of it,
That's one reason why don't leave off
smoking and don't advise any other man
who contcmplates shooting TO give up his
favorite habits or hobbies When
bunch Of lis shooters go to a meet We act
just as il we were q LOT OF travelling men
going ont TO sell a bill Of goods; we
don't worry, we take things easy smoke
if we want to, take drink if we want
to, eat Well, sleep Wei and Just be or
binary. If we trained il would spoil us.
That's the big difference between
shooting and many other sports. When
ranners, Jumpers or any other athletes
have contest coming on they so through
course of training that is terrible. When
they get up to the mark they arc in the
pink OF physical condition. The shooter,
when he steps up to the mark. is no
different than he has been for years. He
is just his natural self
Here's another one of those little de-
IuSions that run around loose You
probably think that an expert pistol shot