New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-12-05
THE SCIENCE OF ARMS.
The Tournament On Ffnh.ave'-swere
and Bayonet Practice-The Mock
DaeIs-Lance versus Baysnet-Bresd'
swords, Rapiers and Fancy Poils.

A very interesting exhibition was gwen Dy
the tutors and pupils Of Mr. II. Gebhards gymnasium,
ON the corner of Twenty secondst. and fth ave. last
SATURDAY. evening. The exercises were altogether Oh
martial character, consisting OF SWORD, oayohe, anu
lance combats. and were witnessed Dy an auuienee
numbering about two hundred NUMBER OF Wnom wo4o
ladies from the fashionable neighbOrhood surrounding
the place OF exhibition. large proportion Oh tuc
gentlemen composing the audience were ioteignels l
indeed were all the performers, with perhaps an e1
cepton or two) who take more tran ordinary interest
In exercises Of arms but there was also fair number
of New Workers. with small sprnkling o. SOutnefnefs
The exhibition was exceently managed. and tho TACT
that the performers were evidently gentlemen, con-
tributed not a little to the general success.
There were twenty.three different exercises, com
nri.Inp fencing with fois and bayonets and friendly
duels with broadswords. raper the lance against tue
bayonst, the napier against the lance OF oayohel &C.
the combatants being protected from ,he oows am
angry force by stout helmets, visors gaunuets shd
bodyarmor the latter consisting OF thickly PADDED
leather erkin iron breast plate according 10 Tue
nature Of the weapons used Almost all Of these exer
oises were very creditable 10 the performers.
The fencing with fos under the direction and Lead
ership OF Prof Heinse was especially attractive anu
afforded brilliant display o. fancy sword-pay Inc
bavonet exercise was. however, the most exciting,
one OF the dnels between two scholars formerly oc.rs
in tho Russian and saxonian armies rs.peeuyely.
listed for about fifteen minutes. and exhibited great
skill on the part Of the 6uelsts welded d. tue stout
arms OF these men. whose movements were almost a.
agile those Of cat, the heavy muskeis appeared no
more than small.svoYds in weight. tremendous blows
were ged and the contest finally brought 10
a close by the Russian being unhemeted. aud 50 de.
feated In the midst Of great applause ior Dosh partes
and those Of the audience who had never seen real war;
had an excellent opportunity OF becoming acquainted
with the terrible nature Of tho bayonet rs an offensive
aud defensive weapon when urged and welded ~
XIII and strength combined; for certainly II the dnel
lss of Saturday night had not been well shielded, and
the tips OF the odashioned progs well butoned with
tow.bas Russia and SG1ony would frequently nave
mourned tie loss OF two very nimbe,footed gentlemen
Tie rainier practice also developed some hard hight
ing This weapon Is not the reel ygrleT. which Is
thin French blade. but goes by that name among .nc
students Of Germany. where IL Is q fayorlte
heavy basket hilted sword made for striking alone;
and during the course Of the entertainment severai
yery striking examples afforded OF Its enciencv
for A rnusketo or blue bottle fly would have eVldehuy
suffered headache II lie had stood beneath some OF he
sounding thwsoka which made dozen helmets FinB
again a nd again at Gebhards gymnasium
The lancer Of the evening was NJ Depouser, Wno
frequently brought down tse house by ms as,ouhains
ats of agility especially In that part OF the programme
where he opposed defeated two infantry men WIN
bayones and the defeated gentlemen were ny no means
carpet knights. .
also very credtable lie stood there in the middle OF
the smooth floor. cutting of Imaginary heads IN tne
minutes and wound up by wild slash from right to
left which sung through the air like an angry wasp,
and would assuredly have tested the invuneFaDty O
Achilles in a manner not merely heotoring.
The same gentlemen fought two swordsmen with his
single lance and danced about so nimDly that, nc
had Mt been Frenchmen, comparison with the Irish
mans flea would have been nearly appropriate
Broadswords afforded some more hard fighting and
broken heads the light and shining foil twinklcd be
tween the heavy acts with pleasing diversity and
the entertainment brought to close in fine style
Most of the spectators were well pleased with what
tley had witnessed and evidently considered that II
any unsophistcaed Sandwich Islander Dor instanee)
should undertake TO meet one Of the Gebhard pupils
with equal swords. the said pupil, Ike "henoWned
Fnuconlridge" in the play, would
$50 maui him and his toastiny .ron
That he should think the devil was come freu hell"