The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1874-03-27
"A CONTEST WITH FOILS.
A sroRY OF RUSSIAN DUKE-PRAoTIcAL
TEST OF A TEACHERS PROFICIENCY.

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own country, enabled me to make {
friend of Count Alexis W.; and thai
noblemah interested himself greatly
in my success. Not content with
procuring me several pupils, he urged
me to petition the Emperor for the
valuable and honorable appointment
Of fencing master to a regiment; and
toward that end gave me letter oi
recommendation to an aid-de-camr
Of the Czarwitsch Constantine, who
was then at the Castle of Strelna,
near st. Petersburg.
The morning after, I hired O
droshki and set out for Strelna,
armed with my credentials. Ireach-
ed the Convent of st. Serguis, the
saint most venerated in Russia after
ST. Alexander Nieuski. A few min
utes afterwards I arrived at the cas-
tie, and was soon ushered into the
apartments of the Emperor's brother.
In one of these I discovered him
standing with his back to a large fire,
and distinguished by the most for
bidding countenance I ever beheld.
He was tapping his boot with his
riding whip, and the undried splash
Of mud on his pantaloons indicated
that he had but recently returned
from o ride or q review. At a table
near him was seated General Rodna,
pen in hand, and apparently writing
under the Princes dictation.
The door was scarcely closed when
the. Czarwitsch, fixing on me his
piercing eyes, abruptly said;
"What is your aget"
"Six and twenty"
"Name? ?"
"G-."
"You want to be fencing-master
to regimentP"
"NIay it please your highness, such
is the object of my ambition"
"Are you frst-rate swordsman ?"
"I have fenced in public several
times since my arrival in st. Peters
burg, and your highness can easily
ascertain the opinion of those who
were present.
"I have heard of you, but you had
only second-rate fencers to contend
with"
(Which gave them just claims up
on my forbearanoe, your highness.
"Forbearance!' he repeated with
flashing eyes, and q scornful curl on
his lips; "but if less considerate,
what then ?"
'"I should have buttoned them ten
hines for every twice that they
touched me, your highness."
"Ha, and could you do that with
me ?"
"That would depend on how your
highness might wish to be
If as prince, it is proba-
BILE your highness would touch me
ten times and be touched twice.
But if your highness desired to be
treated like any other person, the
ten hits would be achieved by me,
and the two by your highness. "
"Lubenskip roard the Czarowitsch,
rubbing his hands; "Lubenski,
bring the foils. We shall see Sir
"It is 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. Guard r
els it your highness's absolute
command p
''Yes, yesP
"I am ready"
"Ten times" repeated the prince,
rs he attacked me-"ten times, mind
you, less won't do. Hal Hal"
Notwithstanding this encourage
nent, I kept merely on the defensive,
,ontenting myself with parrying his
thrusts, without returning them.
"Now, then!" cried he angrily,
what are you about? You are play
ng the fool with me. Why don't
you thrust?"
"Your highnessl the respect"
"Confound your respect, sir
Thrust! thrustp
Observing through his mask that
MS cheeks were flushed and his eyes
Dloodshot, I took advantage Of the
permission granted, and touched him
-hree times running.
"BravoP cried he. "My turn
now. Hal A hitl hitr
He had touched me. 1 then
iouched him four times in rapid sue
,ession, and was then touched once.
"Hurrah!" he cried, exultingly.-I
''Rodna, did you see that? Twice to
MS sevenp
"Twice to ten, your highness," re-
olied l, pressing him very hard
Eight, nine, tenl Now we are'
luits..".
"Good, goodp cried Czarowitsch,
lpprovingly. every good, but that's
lot all. The small sword, not
no use to the cavalry; want
he saber. Now, could you defend
Yourself, on foot, against mounted
ancer? Parry a lance thrust, eh2"
"I think ! could, your highness!"
"Think sol Not sure, eh?"
"Pardon me, your highpess, l have
10 doubt of it,"
"LubenskiI" again shouted the
prince.
The officer appeared.
ga lance and horse. QuickP
"But your highness'-I interpos-
d.
''Ha! You are afraid 2"
"I am not afraid; but with your
lighness / should experience equal
eluctance to be the victor or the van
pushed" !"
CAN nonsense and fatteryl The