Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-04-11
THE FOIL IN JAPAN.
Interchange Between Professional
FeneeTs at Yokohama.


FeneerS at Yokohama.
Fortnigbtly RevieW.l
A famous company of profess
sional fencers were performing at
Yokohama while | was there, and
we went to see them along with
several English residents, who had
been many years in the country,
but had never witnessed a similar
exhibition. The gladiators were
encased in armor, and were distin-
guished from each other by the
color of their cuirasses. Their ap-
pearance was heralded by the blast
of II conch she'll, and all their pro.
ceedings were superinteded by a
handsome young man, attired and
shaven in the most orthodox style.
WELDING his fan like a marshaps
truncheon, he set the combatants
upon each other, and separated
them, with loud CALCULATIONS. 1t
was clear that he believed thor
oughly in his own Office, and dis
charged it with as great punctilio as
if the bamboos had been sharp
swords and the combat a outrance.
At each corner of the arena sat a
judge, with all the dignity of a Ro-
man senator, motionlesS and silent,
until referred to upon o doubtful
point of order. Cuts are inter.
changed SO rapidly that it is often
hard to say who had dealt the sue
cessful stroke. The weapons are
long bAmbpoS held in both hands
like quarter-stahs, and any sort of
blow above the waist is permissible,
but the fayorite is a good crack on
the top OF the helmet, Occasion
ally the combatants get too near
together for striking, and the strug-
gle bcames literally hand to hand
until they are separated notwith-
standing their savage yells and fierce
blows, they preserve the perfect
good hHm0r characteristic Of their
race. BY way Of variety there was
a fight between the sword and the
"morning stars" a sphere fastened
by q cord TO q spiked handle, AL,
though the latter appeared to be
the inferior weapon, its bearer did
NOT come badly off, as he played the
part Of o retiarias with the ball
and string, and when at close quar-
tBrs brought his sharp hook into
active operation, Then two glrlp,
olaboratgly attired in the wide
slpeves and trOwsers of Japanese
knights, attended by female squlres
to arm and equip them, took their
places on opposite sides of the lists,
and went through the motions Of a
fight, one having a halberd and the
other a couple Of swords. Finally
another amason had a duel with a
male antagonist, and completely
overthrow him; but this was a mere
as he evidently tumbled
over on purpose, and behaved like
the clown in o pantomime, whereas
an Dir Of stern reality pervaded the
other mimic battles, 1t is remark
able that the Japanese are able to
derive keen enjoyment from per.
formaupes which involve no peril to
life or limb aud if their public
spectacles differ in this respect from
those of the Roman amphitheater,
they may also compare favorably
with many which find favor in the
eyes Of the British public. Various
games Of skill, including SEQ
bang" are popular, but the passion
for gambling and cock lighting, so
strongly developed in most parts of
Eastern Asia, is not conspicuous in
Japan, whore animals in general
may be said to have o good time,
Among other civilized arrangements
a close time is enforced for game
during the breeding season.