CONTROL OF TEMPER
Pistol shooting is excellent training for control of the temper. Boiled
down to its essence, pistol shooting is _fighting_ either in earnest or in
competition.
Whilst therefore self-control is essential in all sport, in pistol
shooting it is vital. When a man loses his temper he is at the mercy of
his opponent.
Temperaments differ: a word or act which has not the least effect on one
man’s temper irritates another till he gets beside himself.
How often one hears a man say: “I don’t know what I have done, but X.
seems offended with me.”
Some take offence at very little, while with others nothing can make them
lose their temper.
I know a man who never has even a shade of annoyance pass over his face
whatever happens. He is in constant request for shooting in teams, and he
can be depended on always to shoot up to his form. When his team seems
hopelessly beaten he calmly makes a string of bull’s-eyes.
This is the ideal state of mind, the control of one’s temper all should
have, and nothing trains for this like pistol shooting.
In the prone position with a rifle a man may be agitated but his brain
still enables him to shoot well, but when standing up and having to depend
on the muscles and nerves of his right hand and arm alone, self-control is
all he has to rely on.
Self-control becomes second nature to a pistol-shot. Control of the temper
and nerves is greatly hindered in cases where nicotine, alcohol, or other
drugs are used. These drugs do not give the nerves and brain a fair
chance.
Loss of temper is considered proper and a sign of authority by some, and
loss of temper has even (most profanely) been considered by some as an
attribute of their deities.
Formerly masters of hounds, if the Field did anything wrong, flew into an
ungovernable rage and used disgusting language.
Nothing can be done properly when a man is in this state of mental
unbalance, and many a fox has owed his life to the huntsman having lost
his temper with his Field or his horse.
I am told certain games are very trying to the temper. Golf, for instance,
has even led to the reprimand of a churchwarden by the committee of his
golf club for using profane language.
I have seen very amiable people sit down to play bridge and after they
have played for half an hour they exhibited the most vile tempers.
A pupil and coach after working hard all one morning decided to take a
little relaxation in a game of croquet. The pupil lost his temper and hit
the tutor with his mallet.
A prize fighter was in the habit of--in doubtful taste (to use a mild
euphemism)--taunting his opponent during his fights in order to make him
lose his temper and consequently his judgment.
These unpardonable tactics do not, however, always succeed. A man may feel
angry without losing self-control. In fact “cold anger” braces up a man
and his nerves become as iron and he becomes as implacable as Fate.
Some are extremely nervous and shy. They can shoot very well when by
themselves, but if others are present they cannot do themselves justice,
and they cannot shoot well in a competition. They are too flabby.
Nervous men should always have people present when practising, and vary
their audiences as often as possible, so that they will not get “stage
fright.”
The fault of others is extreme irritability. They shoot well till
something annoying happens, a shot unexpectedly fired near them, a jamb of
the pistol, the wind blowing the target down, or other trivial matters
which do not trouble any one else.
This, however, starts them fuming and swearing (an oath is a sure sign of
want of self-control). Everything that happens, the most trivial thing,
adds to their _énervement_, as the French call it.
Their nerves get all in a jangle and they cannot shoot. Tobacco is often
found to be the cause of the above state of mind. It takes a mere nothing
to get a heavy smoker unbalanced.
The worst form of nerves, and almost impossible to overcome, is that when
a man fancies people are “slighting” or “insulting” him.
He begins by shooting well and is in a good temper. Someone unfortunately
makes a perfectly innocent remark or does something which seems quite
innocuous to others.
But the man at once changes his manner, thinks he has been “purposely
insulted” or “hampered,” but he says nothing. The man who flies out at
others is easier to manage, as you know what he complains of. But this man
nurses his wrong and broods over it without letting any one know his
grievance. He sulks, frowns, does not answer when spoken to, and his
shooting goes to pieces, and he ruins the pleasure of the others. After
all we are shooting for mutual pleasure and sport.
There is the flabby man who can win when he has it all his own way, but
cannot make an effort when tackled. He is what is called a “rogue,” not in
the offensive sense but in racing language.
The man who surprises others is the quiet easy-going good-natured man who
never wishes to hurt or annoy any one, but only wishes to be left in
peace.
This is the Eastern or Russian temperament: “Nichevo” (never mind);
“Sechas” (presently).
Some men get into the bad habit of saying what they imagine are “smart”
things, but which are really impertinent and hurt others’ feelings.
This becomes such a habit with them that they do not notice that they are
getting themselves hated as much as if they went about flicking people
over the shins with a whip.
Some writers of plays which are supposed to be full of wit make their
characters do nothing but say unkind things to each other. This is not wit
but stupid, callous cowardice, which could not occur in countries where
duelling is allowed.
To resume, the good-natured man who is not understood, whose good nature
is mistaken for softness, sometimes surprises people.
His opponent, either because he is one of the sort who say “smart” things,
or because he is losing his temper, says something which _at last_ wakes
up the good-natured man. The latter says nothing, does not change his
expression of good nature. He merely begins to shoot like a machine, his
arm rises like a steel rod, each shot goes into the middle of the
bull’s-eye, there is no hesitation, dwelling on the aim, or doubtful
bull’s-eye.
He has, in becoming angry, pulled himself together, his whole mind is
concentrated on one sole object, making the best score and beating his
insulter, and he shoots the best score of his life. To compete against him
is like competing against Fate.
After such an incident, I saw a beaten competitor go up to the winner, and
congratulate him.
He added, “I thought I had you beaten that time.” The other answered, “So
you had, if you had not insulted me.”
If you make a man “see red” whilst still keeping his temper, that is the
most dangerous man in the world to tackle. Sir Henry Irving portrayed this
when acting in the _Corsican Brothers_. I have never seen another actor
succeed in doing so.
In order not to hamper your adversary in a competition, it is of the
utmost importance to study every one of your words and acts. What does not
worry one man may entirely put another off his shooting. Moving about
whilst he is shooting, leaving the firing point as he is firing, is enough
to put him off his shot, and should be strictly avoided.
It is best to keep well away from him and only go up for your shot and not
address a word to him or speak to any one within his hearing, until he
beats you, then be the first to congratulate him.