Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-04-12

Have you spring fever? This is
accustomed by the shooting microbe
Sailing under many brands and
equipped with assorted sizes of
stingers for insertion, injecting into
dhe Sportsmen'S system virus, in
oculating the victim with shoot
ing desire and outdoor spirit from
which there is positively no recov-
cry. When under the microbes in
ftuence you may throw your gun into
the discard, master your inclinations
to go afield or shoot over the traps.
You are experiencing temporary re-
|Iief only. There remains that long
ing for the smell of gun powder and
life afield. The mention of gun
creates an itching of the trigger
hnger, with an insane desire to re-
cite to listening friend your Prov
ess at trap or in pursuit of game.
An ever-to-be remembered long
shot" made or remarkable score put
up by self or father. A wonderful
gun, once an heirloom in the fam
lily, whose killing radius was only
limited by the scope of vision of
the operator, (father) who also
drove q flock of bees across the
plains, in the middle of the winter,
sand never lost bee"
No species of mankind is immune
from the sting of the sporting mi
|pCrobe except the dude VINO mas no
Sphere in sport life.
Our pioneer ancestors were de-
Notees of the shooting art. Fire
tarms were then a necessity, means
Eof family protection and Sustenance.
The Kentucky hammered barrel
/ rife, with barrel so long it was
Unnecessary to stand on a stump or log
/ to load; with accessories, like the
cow horn, as a powder receptacle,
/ the bullet pouch of bucllskin, cup
board in the side of the stock for
caps and patching. Shooting sue
cesses were scheduled on game,
where it was a case of cunning for
meat" The bringing home of the
bacon or venison, was the slogan to
eat. Modern field or shooting ethics
were not closely observed. Pot
shooting" which means the bagging
of game, in uncertain NUMBERS
without first showing birds the cour-
tesy of putting them to flight. This
a game-getting policy, which elimi-
mated the taking of long chances
or escape of the quarry.
In the pioneer days there were
"skill-tests' at the holiday turkey
shoots. Ten cents per shot was the
usual entrance fee. A board was
painted or burned black, to soften
the wavering rays of light arising
from the rifle barrel, a small cross
was out on the board, which was
covered by a small piece of white
paper. this the objective target. Or
a turkeys head was allowed to en-
tend through a few inches above a
barrel head. the first contestant
drawing blood with a well-directed
bullet. was winner of the turkey.
Pioneers stung by the same mi
crobe eXtenant to-day, were SettltaS
the question of shooting accuracy
in friendly rivalry and demonslrat,
ing the muzzle loading gun and
black powder.
Mechanical genius has to-day
given us the modern guns and am
munition. Rifles and sCatterguns IN
the hands of American experts turn
ed the tide of battle in the recent
worlds war. Experience in shoot
ing the 7O,OOO,00O targets furnished
the camps and environments py
Uncle Sam and consequent accuracy
of the doughboys, gobS ana plru-
men in action, was in great meas
ure responsible for the early shout-
ing of "Kamerad" by the Teutons.
Shooting is no longer a home
nroyiding necessity, the game OF TINS
country has materially decreased,
the killing of bag limit is un-
nsual. under protective laws and ap-
sence of game. Millions of men,
women and boys have been edu-
Gated to shoot (Uncle sam has been
. instructor to over 4,000,OOO) they
must measure swords and annex
victories in friendly competition at
the traps. Inanimate targets (made
Of composition) must be substituted
for wild game. Thrown through the
air. they very much resemble the
flight of a quail, snipe or prairie
chicken, the same leads and COM
putations of distance are necessary
for success, thrills are present when
the verdict is dead" which spells
the same results, either on game or
targets, when proclaimed by referee