The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-06-13
Evening Chat

In bulletin of the War depart
ments board for the promotion of rife
practice this state is credited with
three civilian rifle clubs affiliated with
the National Rifle association Of Amer
ca and although the report includes
rife organizations under the heads of
college clubs, preparatory and military
school clubs, high schools clubs and
boys clubs that is the only entry cred
tied to West Virginia. Obviously the
rifle shooting activities at West yir-
ginia university where some very
good marksman have been turned out
from time to time are not included in
this compilation but even when this is
remembered the showing made by a
mountain state which was originally
settled by squirrel hunters Of the Dan.
lei Boon and Davy Crockett type It is
little enough. The growth of the Ma
tional Rife Association Of America
during five months Of the year 1916
has been phenomenal. Four hundred
and forty.three Civilian Rifle Clubs,
seven College Rifle Clubs. two Prepar.
atory and Military School Rifle Clubs,
thirty-one High School Rife Clubs
have been organized during that time
and have been supplied with Arms and
Ammunition Of the Krag pattern in
sufficient quantity to participate In
rifle practice. Ten hundred and eighty.
two Civilian Clubs, seventy-one Col.
lege Clubs, forty.four Preparatory and
Military School Clubs. one hundred
and eighteen High School Clubs are
now enrolled. These clubs have be.
tween 10000 and 10000 members all
interested and learning how to handle
military rifles.
Persons who are interested In this
great movement should communicate
with Major Fred. H. Phillips, Jr., AS.
sistant Recorder, National Board Sec.
Rotary, National Rifle Association,
Washington, D. G.
Swimming Is now attracting the
attention of all girls who would be
beautiful and who desire to attain the
straight and muscled athletic figure
which is rapidly becoming the popular
and fashionable one. The young men
also are taking to swimming as an OK.
ercise to straighten and put the kinks
and hollows. caused by constant ap.
plication to sedentary occupation.
From every source one hears Sc.
ductive press agent stories extolling
the delights Of the "old swimming
hole" and thousands Of words are con.
sumed in joyful expeditions by the
nature takers Of the benefits and
pleasures to be derived in taking the
back to nature path to the shaded
pool in the creek that winds its leis.
urely way between the lush meadows
bordered. with stately birch trees and
gracefully dropping willows"
Sounds fine doesn't It?
But the path" in reality is bordered
with thorns for the unwary and the
clutching tendrils Of the blackberry
brier vines reach out and plead with
the traveller to tarry and pause a mo.
ment. Arrived at the shaded pool"
one finds a convention of Shiny dirty
brown snakes holding mass meeting
and summing themselves on the stones
along the bank. II the seeker is OF a
brave and bold disposition these rep.
tiles can be induced to crawl In their
holes and leave the bank by the per.
suading influence Of long pole with
which he can poke them gently. AZ
ter these rightful owners Of the pool
have been driven away by the super
Tor intelligence of the dominant white
man he can peel the rags Of civiliza-
ton and In the primitive pristine fash.
lon Of the cave man drive into the
depths Of the pool.
II he Is fortunate and misses bump
ing his head on the big rock that
awaits the unfamiliar in the depths OF
the pool the back to nature nut" will
come up from the icy waters like
"Proteus rising from the deep" With
many splitter and splash he will
hurry to leave that place and gain the
bank by the graceful willow tree"
The water is too cold for weak stom-
ached and pale faced cigaret smokers
at this time Of. year and the first
plunge Is usually the last for the un.
sophisticated dupe Of the nature IA
kers. The ask Of getting back into
the habiliments Of civilization Is US.
ually thu last push that sends the IL
lusions OF the victim tottering over
the brink OF realization. Nettles that