The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-12

the inventor OF an almost entirely new
scnOol OF fencing with the foil, which
has superseded the old French style In
most parts OF Europe. The leading
Of position on guard, the left hand rest
ing on the hip instead of going up in
the old-fashioDed balance" and the
adoption OF what are called defective
parries," which are apt to disarm a
fencer Of the French school. The fame
OF the Central Institute of Stockholm
melted Copenhagen to emulation, and
to-day the best school of arms in
Europe. the best athletic tournaments.
and the best circus performers are to
| be found in the seldom visited capital
OF Denmark.
In England fencing with the foil has
not taken the same hold as broadsword
exercise, but Angelo, Capt. Chiosso,
Griffith and McLaren have brought the
art down to the present day, while the
English Life Guardsmen are found all
over Europe as heavy swordsmen and
single stick players.
Spain and Italy have their peculiar
schools OF fencing, where the combat
ants indulge In all sorts OF tricks not
recognized In strict school fencing, but
very. effective against novices. "Brigand
fencing" as 1t Is called In France, comes
from Spain, and Is universally practiced
in Mexico and Spanish America, where
the people are still enthusiasts in sword
manship. The Espadachins or profess
sional swordsmen OF Central America
travels from fair to fair, and the peas
ants and gentry alike bet their money
on them to the last dollar. They hard
ly ever cross blades, having q saying
that the sword should be treated ''as II
made OF glass;" they trust to feints,
false attacks, bounds, and supple eva
sions to puzzle an adversary, selling his
sword wrist with the left hand when
ever possible.
In the United States workmanship
has never taken firm hold on the
affections Of the people, save in Cali
fornia and Nevada, where the taste was
caught from the Spanish population.
There are some excellent swordsmen In
the Olympic Club Of San Francisco.
Gen. McComb, editor OF the Alta Cali
fOrnia1a, used to be known in the fenc-
ing school as Iron Wrist" from his
power OF disarming his opponents, and
nearly all the old California actors were
members at one time or an other of the
school: Their instructor, now in New
York, is Baltimorean, remarkable as
and having, besides, a very strange
and checkered history. His name is
Thomas FL. Moustery. He graduated in
Stockholm and Copenhagen as a master
OF arms, and has won many laurels in
contests with the masters of Europe and
Spanish America. Asa fencer he is prob
ably unequalled by any now living, and
his acting pupils-thet two Booths, Mayo,
Thorne and Pope-are living proofs
OF his skill as teacher. Since 1870 Col.
Meustery has had a fencing school In
this city. His only formidable rival is
Monsieur Regis Senac, the fencing mas
younger man, having been born in 1888, |
while Moustery first saw the light in |
1921. The French master graduated as |
naditre d'aTmes Of the First Lancers |
under the celebrated M. Bernard In |
1855; entered the Chasseurs d'Afriuue |
IN 1862, and was transferred to the |
Traine Militaire Of the Imperial Guard |
IN 1854 as mditre d'drmes--a position be |
held until the disbanding Of the Guard |
after the Prussian war. Then he came |
20 America. As fencer his character
sites are grace, activity and finish, and |
,killful.
Besides Moustery and Senac there are
low only four properly accredited
1adstres d'armaes In America-Antonio
LoreDz, the swordmaster at West Point.
md NM. Courbesier, Retz and Hentz
It Annapolis. or skillful ameteurs In
New York city teaching the art, but not
egularly breveted from any school,
here are Friedrich, swordmaster Of the
1erman Turnverien, and De Truck and
Nicholas, both French. Friedrich's
orte Is the broadsword, with which he
AN beat any one in the city except
1oustery and Senac. Miller, the
1rRco- Roman wrestler, is an excellent
ingle: stick play@, but as foil fencer
My third-rate.