Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 June 1902 — Queen Helen an Expert shot. [ARTICLE]

Queen Helen an Expert shot.

Queen Helen of Italy is an expert with rifle and revolver, and beat her husband’s best target score, although he has the reputation of being a mighty hunter. Her record Is by no means confined to target practice either. When she was Princess of Montenegro hunting was her favorite sport, and she has had many exciting adventures with big game. When she went to Italy as Princess of Naples she missed her hunting more than any other feature of her girl life. The prince had targets put up in the gardens at Capo di Monte villa, and shooting matches were held there. The princess invariably carried off the honors, even when pitted against her husband’s men friends or the prince himself. Still target practice did not quite take the place of real hunting, so her husband guessed again. This time he gave his wife the Island of Monte Cristo, to have and to hold, as a happy hunting ground, and there she had glorious sport with her guns and her dogs, every season, until the assassination of King Humbert called her to a throne. Now she has left off killing game and has gone back to target shooting, but she does not neglect her practice or lose her enthusiasm.