The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-11-21

operating Of the winter program OF
gallery file matches reveals that
more people than ever are interest
ed in marksmanship. It is esti-
mated that about l,000, 900 rfnes
are In use In this country. and more
than 100000 persons are enrolled
with the National Rifle association.
Rifle shooting has been promoted
by the association ever since 1871 As
q preparedness measure, and now
the war department Is working
through . board, In cooperation
with the association, to stimulate
interest in target practicesNatfonaf
matches fired on one large range
and gallery and outdoor small bore
matches fired ON competitors hoEle
ranges are held each year. Cups,
medals and other trophies are
awarded.
But, according to the rife board,
the government IL not advocating
| ride shooting entirely in the inter
F! ests Of national defense. Whether a
man ever shoulders q gun in the
army or militia, the exercise and
I, personal development OF target
shooting are worth while, and the
board wants to see rife shooting
even more of . popular sport than
it has grown to be.
Because rife shooting does not
attract large public audiences
| knowledge Of the sport is confhed
| chiefly to marksmen. Unlike foot
ball, it has q few fans who merely
sit on the sidelines and yell. An
audience at match is made up
mainly of marksmen with sprfnk-
ling of casually interested friends.
When one of the onlookers becomes
a fan he gets gun.
This is a healthy condition. 1t
is an ideal of sport to have large
engaging in the activity, leaving a
percentage of the people interested
small percentage of chronic onlook-
ers. Rifle shooting is one Of the few
\ sports that opportunities this ideal
In fact, rife shooting is an un-
usual sport in number OF ways,
! according to the war department.
rife board. In the first place, be-
cause of its relation to national de-
tense it is backed by the govern
ment, a unique distinction for
popular sport. 1t requires more
concentration than the exactine
game of chess, and it calls for gen.
eral physical fitness rather than the
specialized muscular development
demanded by most sports.
Many Girls Interested.
The tools of rifle shooting are
implements Of destruction, yet it is
a sport in which almost no casual
ties occur. AS one marksman puts
it, Compared to football, rife
shooting is a ladies' game And, as
a matter of fact, it is becoming
that. ANY number Of schools have
girls rifles teams, and the girls
are proving to be good shots. Nas'
year a Washington high schoo
girls team won the Aston cup matcf
which carries the high school cham
pionship for the country.
High schools and many college:
have come to regard shooting as Z
standard sport for which the schoo
letter is to be regularly awarded
The Naval Academy, the University
I of Pennsylvania, Yale; and Prince
ton are among the colleges at which
rifle shooting is rate with othel
sports.
, Police departments in some citie'
have formed rife teams, and ex-s6l
diers and sportsmen all over tn
country are organized in more thai
!, 1000 clubs CT the National Rifle as
> ISOLATION. Rife shooting is know
, as a poor mans game-an entir
I afternoons practice would cos
> about IS cents-and because OF thi
, large number of working men ar
enrolled in the clubs. 1t also ap
! peals to scientists and technics
workers WHO are attracted by tn
problems of craftsmanship.
. One big advantage of shooting d
a popular sport is that anyone ca
shoot, according to an official Q
I the rife board. A husky athlet
may not be so good a marksman 4
p a man of slight, wiry build. A per
i son wearing eyeglasses may be