We have shown elsewhere how superficial is the view that
the art of rifle-shooting is hot useful as a means of physical training. As a matter of fact, though not hard athletic exercise, it affords the most excellent training to the hand and eye, and encourages alertness and quickness of observa- tion. We would also lay stress on Mr. Birrell's extreme illiberality in refusing to give leave to local education authorities to include instruction in ripe-shooting in the teaching given in their schools. He is Very fond of telling us thht he dislikes compelling the lad althiiiities to do this or that, yet we find him compelling all schools in the kingdom, except four, to refrain from teaching the use of the rifle. We can assure Mr. Eiffel' that the country will watch the exneii'meht new being 'bade at Bushey ind in Wise Kentish schools with the greatest interest, and that they will expect frOin him that the reports Shall not he prejudiced by a. previous determination to put an end to the experiment. Any one . Who has seen bOye from elementary schools; even under twelve years of age, practising with miniature rifles under proper conditions, will realise how absurd it is to igaY that they are too young, or that there is anything unsafe in teaching them to Shoot. We know of four or five villagee in Surrey where instruction in rifle-shooting is given to boys out of school hours, with the greatest possible satisfaction to the boys and their parents. To pretend that such practice encourages the boys in bloodthirsty opinions or makes for militarism is the most ridiculous piece of Pecksniffian twaddle.
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