, 1881-02-13
WOMEN WHO USE THE FO1Ls.

the nineteenth century that she apes the
young man Of the same period. She wears
mems hats, collars, eravats, coats, and some
times canes. It is hot surprising, then, that
the young women of New York are taking
to fencing. Men fence, then why notwomen?
And SO they have gone into the sport with
vim. Physicians agree that there Is no bet
ter exercise for, persons Of sedentary habits.
Those who have practiced it say that they
have been benefited much, and they recon-
mend it with enthusiasm.
"Ah, it Is a great thing for woman to
learn to fence" said Col. T.. II. Monastery
yesterday. The veteran stood in his school
OF arms atSu Sixth avenue surrounded by
the implements Of his profession. Specimens
of old armor hung on the walls, flanked by
curious and rare weapons, daggers. pixies,
llalberds, muskets, folis, rapiers, broad
Gloves, Indian Clubs, and 'tlnmbbeills. Tie
Colonel, tall, erect martial, his coat buttoned
closely around his slim form, I silk skull-cap
set jauntily upon his brown locks, which
the back of his head and brought forward
over his ears, and his iron-gray nustache
and goatee carefully waxed, seemed fittingly
framed by the weapons around him. "Ah,
yeS,o he said, women should fence, and
why? It develops their chests and muscles,
makes them graceful. supple, and healthy:
Half the ills that won,anl,l,tl is heir to would
disappear if our young ladies' would but ex-
ercise more. Fencing seems to be just the
thing, and good many ladies in this city are
finding it out. have pupils from such fam
lilies as these" Then he gave several we'll
known names.
'"Tllese young ladies come to me- and. say
that they wish to learn to fence. Sometimes
times they desire private lessons. In each
case 1teacE them just as would men. First
the positions 80, so, so: You Sec" Ihe
veteran suited the action to the word, and i'll
quick succession assumed the different pos
lures Of the fencer. They were not those
usually assumed by young women, and were
such as might startle all ordinary young lady
at first You see." said he, 'they bring
Of the e Waist, stomach, aid legs. Still the ex-
ercse is not violent. It makes 4 woman
active,-qtliek to see; gives her command Of
her limbs. enables her to protect herself in
tainty., She sees a runaway horse, and CAN
get out Of the way. Her muscles become
firm, her chest bro adens, her lungs expand.
1t brings the color to her cheek. elasticity to
her %b limb @ and aids ysars S her Ell ff Aonsrx msS it
became eloquent
'Tlen when the pupil becomes further
advanced she is given the foil, light one,
Of course, e. weighing M from half pound + to a
usual, nothing strange about it. Some of
my pupils become excellent swordswolnen.
They are those that continue and persevere.
Others get tired after u time. aud seek new
Not always pleased will: the same thing.
Not exactly. II a thing is the fashion, then
they 60 into it most heartily. MANY Of the
fashions are unworthy Of countenance or
iy: It has this advantage: that it usually in
terests the pupil. No exercise is good that
is irks0me. You set out for a two-lnile walk
just because you think you ought to take it,
and q1 you l. wish youEset home al the time.
not benefited. You go to a school OF arms
and fence with 4 rival, and the contest is
spirited. You work hard, strive you best,
are excited, exhi1arated. and the result is
n have taught many actresses in my time,
from Lola Montez down. Lola Montez be-
came an expert swordswoman. Helen Tenl-
pie was another of my pupils. She never
in order to strengthen her voice, I taught
Ada 1saacs Mcnken: You remember her-at |
one time John G. Heenan's wife, and the !
greatest French spy we ever had. It was
III San Francisco that taught her, and she |
became excellent. All, you ought to have
seen her and JuniuS Brutus Booth fence in
the duel scene in the "French Spy" lie !
was the best amateur swordsnlan III Amer
the the Arab. The two, Menken and Booth, |
made perfect picture Of beauty and grace |
as they fenced. It was no ordinary Stage
fencing, I can tell you.
awe are talking about women, but let me |
tell you one incident about Dootll-Junius |
Brutus, lie came to me to learn to fence !
Just because he had been badly injured in !
fencing on the stage. Once he got 4 bad cut !
on the forehead. You see his opponent forgot |
his cuts, the one two, three business, and
SO when Booth Cit down, as lie should have
done, the man cut him over the head. At
another time he was badly cut in the knee,
much in the same way. So he came to me to
learn the art of fencing in self-defense. And |
what a superb swordslnan he became None !
better iii America, / have taught many |
actors.
But YOU want to know abont the ladies.
Then there was little Adele Belgrade, that
pretty young woman who plays Hamlet
She learned her fencing from lie, and very
pretty work she made Of it, too, in the last
scene. I can't tell you how many French
Snics and Wazcppns I have taught, but last
aid not least was that terrific woman who
piayed Mnzcp11u in the Bowery last spring,
Malde Forester. She was immense So
wide, at least, and like child in strength.
IVhy. little Adele Belgrade could handle Iler
She worked hard, However, aud learned
enough to do welt on the stage'
How do your pupils dress for fencing?"