Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-05-27
Fencing I'm France.

The sword plays so great part in reg
ulating social courtesies among French
men, and in keeping literary fervor with
IN bounds, that it is no wonder that these
who teach the use of tt should he much
respected. The half-dozen foremost
fencing-masters of Paris rank on foot
ing OF equality with eminent artists and
writer's, but probably class themselves
much higher as being able to worst them
all. 1t may not be generally known that
there are three distinct styles in fenc-
ing and that the adopts of each think
very poorly of those who follow the
other two. The Oldest style, which hss
NJ. Gatechair spoil flesh, an appropriate
name) for its leading professor, is that
which prevailed before the great Revo-
luton. 1t is punctilious, decorous and
ine-cultivates grace at the expense of
rapidity, and lays down as It's principal
canon that it is preferable to be wounded
with elegance than to skewer ones op-
ponent clumsily. The changes in the
manner Of fencing have been attended
by reforms on the points which render
dueling inevitable. Formerly careless
tread on the foot or rub with the elbow
was considered case for blood if an in
slant and lavish apology were not Of
fered; nowadays an insult, such as
"mtserable," is often explained away as
having been uttered in parliamentary
sense, and means have been found to
soothe away even slap on the face with
out recourse to arms Not long ago we
witnessed, in Paris, rather singular
scene. A gentleman, with lady on his
arm, was passing down the boulevards,
when there suddenly sprang out of cafe
another gentleman, who dealt him vio-
lent kick. The victim bounded round
and the assaulter recoiled with conster.
nation, for the kick had been dealt under
mistake of identity. Explanation, how
ever, though most contritely offered, did
not appease the victim, who furiously
yelled: Some of my acquaintance may
have seen me kicked, and will 90 about
saying that / did not wipe off the insult.
[ must slap your face" And he did be-
stow box on the ears which the other
received in a spirit of Christian humility
very commendable. There is no reason
to suppose that this gentleman was less
brave than his grandfather. who having
once administered kick would proba-
bly, have accepted no other retribution
for it than that of the swords point
but the nineteenth century had evidently
sown its civilizing germs in his soul.
Formerly duels terminated in most cases
fatally; but the fencing masters have
done much to mitigate the dangers of
modern encounters by teaching their
pupils to pink lightly on the upper part
of the chest or arms; indeed there have
been but six fatal duels in France these
twenty-five years. In old times, also, the
formalities to be observed at the place of
meeting were numerous and solemn. Now
adays the principals and seconds exchange
but one bow on meeting, and the sword
salute which used to precede the clink-
ing of the foils has been suppressed alto
gether. 1t was once considered a gross
breach of manners and humanity for the
duelist who had wounded his enemy to
leave the field until the latter had been
carried off; in these times it has become
accepted that the victor had better leave
the field as quickly as possible and not
seek to speak to his victim unless he
feels in the wrong and means to apollo
gize. He, however, owes his victim an
early visit, and is expected to leave
cards on him every morning so long as
he is in danger, and at least once week
during the convalescence. Almost the
only binding law of old duels which has
fingered to this day is that which abso-
lutely forbids principals to say a single
word to each other on the field. A duel
was nearly stopped six months ago be-
cause one of the parties shouted to the
other, in lunging, "Gard q 0ousF The
seconds threatened to retire and insisted
on an apology and promise of silence
the which, by the way, was scrupulously
kept, for at the next bout the man who
had said "GGfd g0us" measured his
length on the grass.-PaU Mall Gazette.