It develops their chests and muscles, quickens their blood, steadies their nerves, and helps them in many ways. Fencing is particularly advantageous to persons of sedentary habit and delicate constitution, which includes the majority of American women residing in cities. They need exercise sorely, and to their lack of it must be ascribed many of their ailments, much of their invalidism. While fencing is active, excellent exercise, it is not violent, requires no special amount of muscle and no straining, and is, therefore, admirably adapted to women. Flexibility of limb, which the other sex commonly have in a conspicuous degree, as well as quickness of eye and delicacy of touch, are always important in sword play, and are, consequently, inducements to women to learn it.
Foils are light enough, ordinarily, for any woman to handle, and can be made lighter if necessary.
It is odd that women have not taken up fencing before this, so well are they qualified for it. They would probably have done so, had they not considered it a purely masculine accomplishment. A good many fashions and customs originate in New York that are unworthy of countenance or imitation. Fencing is not one of them, and we hope that the country in general will be eager and energetic to emulate the Metropolis in this particular. A number of Professors of Arms, as they style themselves, advertise to give women public or private lessons, and some of them say that they have found their feminine pupils very apt and skillful.