In rifle contests all artificial nonsense, such as coloured gla.s.ses, eye-shades, kneeling upon eider-down quilts, firing from shaded tents, blackening sights, &c., should be discouraged. Let a man leave all such effeminacy and tomfoolery at home, and shoot like a man, taking circ.u.mstances as he would find them in the open field _with an enemy_ before him, using such cover only as nature and circ.u.mstances provide.

There is infinite satisfaction attached to the winning of an honour, when that honour has to be obtained under difficulties which must be surmounted. The more difficult the task is, the more merit in overcoming it.

Lastly. All firearms require constant attention, and should be kept clean. After use they should be immediately attended to, and never put away dirty; should be kept in some dry corner where rust cannot destroy, and they should be occasionally overhauled and oiled when necessary.

Really valuable weapons are sometimes ruined by neglect. The man who takes no pride in his gun is no sportsman.