Load the pistol, put it at full-cock, and take it in your right hand pointing in the direction of the target.
Put it into the beginner’s hand with both yours, the pistol pointed horizontally at the target. Make him grip it with three fingers, his thumb horizontal and slightly crooked downwards along the stock, his forefinger fully stretched along the outside of the trigger guard, and clear of the trigger.
Tell him he must not put his finger inside the trigger guard till he has the pistol pointed enough towards the target to prevent the bullet going in a dangerous direction in case he fires it accidentally.
Then show him how to see his front sight, in the middle of the U of the back sight, and to press the trigger.
This preliminary stage ought for safety to be learned with an empty pistol.
A person who is used to firearms (not necessarily one who is a pistol shot) should stand beside the pupil till the pupil learns the rudiment of safety against accidental discharge, and in aiming.
If there is no such person available then the pupil should be quite alone, two people ignorant of firearms trying to learn at the same time are very apt to shoot each other.
After the beginner can safely load, aim, and press the trigger, then he can begin to learn to shoot.
Load the pistol, stand with the arm fully extended, the pistol resting against the further edge of the table or ledge.
Fix the eyes on the bull’s-eye, slowly raise the pistol, the arm fully extended (keeping the head quite upright). Raise the pistol till the right eye looks through the U of the back sight and sees the front sight in the U at the middle of the bull’s-eye and press the trigger.