Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-08-09
The Modern Sport of Archery
BY Frederic J. Haskin

THE thirty seventh annual meet of
of the United States in Chicago
! this month brings to the fore again this
sport, one OF the Oldest activities of
man thus surviving as popular amuse-
ment.
heaven a bent beautiful bow. so long
hold of the hearts of men,, writes one
of its modern devotees who has had
much, to do with the revival, of the sport
in this country. There is held to be a
deep seated fascination about winging
an arrow to its mark. For one thing,
archery had its beginnings in the long
the pull and twang of a good bow is
but barking back to the days when the
race was young.
advantages. Men and women may prac-
ness and grace of body and skill OF
ated with the open and the sunshine.
1t requires a knowledge of wind, an
appreciation of distance. to attain the
Despite all its advantages, archery re-
mains sport almost unknown to the
great majority, though zealously pur-
say, that. few persons outside Of the
circle of its membership know anything
about the Archery Association of the
United States while the information
'
with. the long bow, like Robinhood of
old. is not widely known.
Archery by Auto
A unique combination of the Oldest
sport in the world and one of the
youngest, is that followed by the mem
eers of the Sunfiower Archery Club. of
Atchison. Kan, members OF which go
modern, high-powered touring cars.
They spin along the country roads until
some squirrel in the top OF tall tree,
some rabbit pausing in the middle of
the road, or a dove on a dead limb,
offers a tempting mark. Then one of
the archers dismounts and tries shot.
veteran archers is by no means large.
There are a number of cases on record
OF rabbits killed on the run. and even
of birds on the wing, brought down by
these, expert bowmen.
The modern yew bow is not a weapon
to. be despised in the hands of man
suit of steady Improvement through
the ages. is vastly better than any In
dian weapon, and is even superior to the
famous English long-bow of the tif-
forty-three to fifty-five pounds. and il
takes strong man to do good work
ed, terminating in a knob or a steel
point according to the use 1t is intend
ed for. The pointed arrow drawn well
to the head will penetrate an inch Of
length of its twenty ight-inch shaft
through the body of an animal. In hunt
ing the arrows are carried in leather
culver at the belt, and the tips of them
are painted red so that they may be
more easily found, for the huntsman
must recover his shaft. Marking them
down after shot requires almost as
much skill as the shooting. Compared
to hunting with a shotgun, where even
a beginner may make a fair percent
age of hits. shooting game with a long
bow is craftsmanship of the highest
order. for it gives the quarry rather
moro than fair chance.
Good Form Hard to Attain
That archery is not more generally
practiced in this country is probably
due to the fact that an Instructor and
One cannot shoot alone with any great
pleasure, and 1t is hard to learn to shoot
without guidance. For good form in
archery is as hard to attain as in other
athletic sports. The archer must stand
with his heels about six inches apart.
bow extended perpendicularly in the
left hand. The arrow must be drawn
to a, certain point just below the ear,
the arrow steadied in the crook of the
left forefnger. All these details of
holding and pulling the bow must be
gin to attain much Skill
Then, too. the expense of modern
archery is considerable. A good yew
bow costs about S25. and arrows are
$40 dozen; The target is a, straw af-
representing a respectable additional
Investment.
There was something of a revival of
interest In archery in this country a
| few years ago. At that time the snort