Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-02-28
A CONTEST WITH FoILs

in st. Petersburg, with the inten-
ton of establishing myself as a
fencing master in the capital. In
Productions from distinguished in
dividuals of my own country ena-
bled me to make friend of Count
Alexis W., and that nobleman in
terested himself greatly in my sue
cess. Not content with procur ng
me several pupils, he urged me to
petition the emperor for the valu-
BILE and honorable appointment of
fencing master to regiment and
toward that end gave me letter
Of recommendation to an aide
camp Of the CZarowitsch Constan-
tine, who was then at the Castle of
Strelna, near St. Petersburg
The morning after / hired
droschk and set out for Strelna,
armed with my credentials. /
reached the convent of st. Serguis,
the convent most venerated in
Russia after St. Alexander Nieu-
ski A few minutes afterward /
arrived at the castle, and was soon
ushered into the apartments OF the
emperor's brother. In one of these
/ discovered him standing with his
back to large fire, and distin-
guished by the most forbidding
countenance | ever beheld. He
was tapping his boot with his rid
ing whip, and the undried splashes
of mud on his pantaloons indicated
that he had but recently returned
from q ride or review. At table
near him was seated General Rod
ma, pen in hand, aud apparently
writing under the princes dicta-
ton.
The door was scarcely closed
when the Czarowitsch, fixing on
me his piercing eyes, abruptly
said
"What is your age?'
"Six and twenty"
Name ?'
&C.,"
"You want to be fencing mas
ter to a regiment ?'
MAY it please your highness,
such is the object of my ambition"
"Are you a first-rate swords
man 2"
~ have fenced in public places
several times since my arrival in
ST. Petersburgh, and your high
ness can easily ascertain the Opin-
ions of those who were present."
81 have heard of you, but you
had only second-rate fencers TO
contend with"
(Which gave them just claims
upon my forbearance, your high
ness"
"Forbearancen' he repeated
with flashing eyes, and a scornful
curl on his lips, "but if less consid-
crate, what then ?"
81 have buttoned them ten
times for every twice that they
touched me, your highness.'
"Ha, and could you do that
with me ?"
"That would depend on how
your imperial highness might wish
to be treated. If as a prince, it is
probable your highness would
touch me ten times and be touched
twice. But if your highness de
sired to be treated like any other
person, the ten hits would be
achieved by me and the two by
your highness 3"
"Lubenski ~ roared the Czaro-
witsch, rubbing his hands Lub-
enski. bring the foils !! We shall see
Sir Braggadocio."
"Is it possible your highness
would condescend-"
"My highneSs orders you to
touch me ten times If you can. DO
you want to back out already ::
Now take this foil and mask.
Guardu
at is your highness's absolute
command ?"
Eyes, yes J!
81 am ready"
'"Hen times" repeated the
prince, as he attacked me-"ten
times, mind you, less won't do.
Ha! Ha :"
Notwithstanding this encOur-
agement, kept merely on the de
fensive, contenting myself with
parrying his thrusts. without re-
turnisg them.
Nov, them" cried he, angrily,
'what are you about? You are
playing with me. Why don't you
thrust ~
Your highness the respect"
"Confound your respect, sir.
Thrust, thrust!o
Observing through his mask
that his cheeks were flushed and
his eyes bloodshot, / took advan-
tage o. the permission granted,
and touched him three Times run
ming
BRA eo!" cried he. My turn
now. Ha! A hit. Il hit -