Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-29
The Art Of Fence.
nondoD G,o(,a .


At almost the same time when the French
champion at billiards was engaged with his
rival from the United States, celebrated rep
reSentat1ve OF the French School or Fencing
met In friendly contest with the foiIs challer-
ger nom lta!y The victory OF the Partisan was
Tar more decisive in the latter than In the for
mer trial; and whatever may be thought OF the
title Of NJ. Vigneaux to be called the best bill
llard player In the world there can be little
hesitation in saying that France has estah-
iiSned her supremacy In the Chief exercise OF
the safe d'df'DtPS.
The art thus again brought prominently into
puenc notice In more pleasing way than by
Thought duels, Is one to which our pugnacious
neighb0rs have long appropriated the epii het
OF noble Yet 1t would be a great mistake to
suppose that fencing in anything like its pres.
ent form was an accomplishment or practice OF
very early date In that country. II has been
suggested, With much appearance OF truth,
that the small sword, or at any rate a thrust
Ing sword or some kind, began to come
into use only at the time when defensive
armour ceased to be worn. The disuse OF breast
piaies ana coats Of mail would, indeed. for the
nrat Time AFFORD chance for pointed weapons
lis, formidable than the lance TO inflict mortal
Wourd; and II would be almost absurd TO sup.
pcs mat me sword worn previously, either In
ancient or modern times, could have been In
tended Tor thfusyfhg alone Ii must, therefore
De regarded as one Of the many inst inceS OF
anachronism In Shakespeare that he makes
P,.hce Hamlet. six centuries ago. a proficient
with the napier, and introduces a scenei 10 which
ne fofs are used according TO the approved
principles OF the fencing masters art The reign
oi Queen Elizabeth may. according to the most
tfastw0fthy authorities, be accepted as the date
OF the f1fSt Introduction OF small sword lighting
In England 1t is, indeed supposed to have pre-.
vailed In Spain at a rather earlier period, ana
from thence to have made it's way Ia the first
place TO Italy. But as regards England and
France at least the weapons then useu were
OF very different size and shape from the
with the name OF rapier. They were OF varl.
Gus and often extraordinary length and
capaoIe OF being used with effect for cutting as
Wen az thrusting. A proclamation OF the Eag-
more IMAM yard long, and at one Time during
ner reign men were appointed at the town
ga1es 70 x oreas the wespons Of all persons
amount OF opposition was also shown by the
military men and gallants Of the Old school
10 that wicked pernicious fashion OF fighting
WIN napier, called trucse, nc only for
thrusting.' In the reign OF Louis XIII. OF
france. there was still no regulation In that
country as to the size or shape OF the blade,
which was often OF tremendous length so tn at
the tall and strong man had a great advantage
over smaller antagonist. The thrusts were
paired with the left hand, armed With dag
ger. ana there were no set rules as to what was
or was not fair method OF attack. Through
out the lsth and part OF the 18th centuries
Italy still held the palm; and 1t was not till the
stter part OF the last-named century that the
skill OF La Boessiere and his famous pupil, the
Chevaller de st. George, triumpned over tue &C.
centrlcltles OF the transalplne school, aud re.
duced the art TO more regular and scientific
form.
The English were always backward 10 prof.
ciehcy WiFb the small swold, although a
Frenchman who was an instructor at the WOOL
wien Academy IN the beginning OF the present
century declares that Ia his opinion they are
peculiarly adapted by their temperament to
excel, possessing as they do "a cool. calculat-
ing mind and presevering disposition, com
blned with great activity and strength and an
innate love OF competition" Whether these
qualities are as valuable asqaickness of eye and
nerve. and the elan OF the French character
may, perhaps, be a douotful question; but It Is
certain that our countrymen have never be-
slowed all the attention upon this branch OF
physical education which might have been ex-
FIT James as trained abroad his arms TO
w1eld;" and SO able TO use his blade 'as sword
ana shield The exotic orisin Of the art in
tested by the foreign terms which 1t
.'parades" Of quartz" fierce" aud sec
pei" the "fanconnade" and even that eie-
mentary term the 'longe." In France the art
was long deemed OF so great national Import
ance that no one was allowed to teach it with
out having served sort OF apprenticeship In
some proper sale a. d,-haes aud having after
wards proved his efficiency In two public exhl-
eitions. In which be was opposed by the masters
most lately licensed. II is thus that even In the
present day there may be seen In the rooms OF
some London professional fencer5 a framed
certlhcate tesrifying that they have been passed
Those who had thus graduated In France were
also by the old laws entitled for Whole year
after their admission 10 the right or free entry
Into all places OF public amusement In the CAPT.
tai The privileges they then enjoyed may
recall to mind the custom once prevailing In
India. where only princes and MOBILES are per-
mtted TO teach and to wear the honorable
be- dye entitled eSSd,H.
Yet until the times of the younger Pitt. whose
father was "gad that he had taken fencing
master. the art was stiii deemed even 10 Eng
land characteristic part OF every gentlemaus
education. It's praises have been sung by all
sorts OF writer's on almost all SORTS OF subjects.
The rbetorician is recommended to engage In 1t
SO as TO acquire ease Of gesture, the sedentary
man to improve his circulation, and the con-
sumptive patient so as to recover the use Of his
lungs; while Wright, the author Of the "School
Orator" declares that 1t dinuses elegance and
ease all over the body. and even ''characterize5
the look and gesture with an appearance OF In
tellectual vigor." These praises will perhaps
seem to some modern critics little exaggera.
ted: but consensus OF opinion on the part OF
very impartial critics has maintained that eyen
In this age OF multitudinous athletic exercises
there Is none which Is 80 free from danger, and
At the same time 80 oenetcta. to Tho body ss
this once noble ait.