New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-06
TIE ART or THE FOIL.

THREE SCHOOLS OF FENCING-SEvENTEEN HUN
DRIED COMBINATIONS.
"Honncur aux Armes ~ is the inspiriting in
scripton over the entrance 10 fencing academy IN
Broadway near Forty the Sale fArmes OF Regis
senac formerly Maitre dAr1nes IN the Grand lmpe1ae
If France Covering the four walls OF the Sale is gilt
terug array Of rapcr broadswOrds, duelng ana
fos In the middle OF the stood yesterday the mas
ter teaching two of the ieunesse dorGe how 10 open mp
vlstas in the body OF imaginary opponent, when
TRIBUNE reporter entered just in time 70 wave back the
shadow of the death 10 come To the reporters inquiries
Stnac attired in the aunest OF encingsults ana cap
cOureousy said;
Thcre are three schools oftencing-the Italian French
and German. The first is the eldest, Agrippa Camille
having begun the art 1853 Before his time II Is true,
there had sportve encounters of the kind but they
were with doube-edged sword fat and about fory-two
inches long The foil came into use with Camille.
THE Italian school of fencing to-day differs from the
French in two respects first, the Italian fencer leaps
about and shouts endeavoring to confuse and so dScom
fort his opponent The French fencer remains COMPARE
lively fixed in position utters no sound and
aims TO conquer more by the tneSSe OF
his pay what we call his address
second difference is that the italian asps the handle
of his foil by cncng crOsspiece between the first and
second fingers 1t gives him very firm hold The
Frenchman however gains cXbility well as nnness
by pressing point of his first finger against the cross
piece and grasping the handle by the other fingers IN
nearly all between fencers OF the two Schools
the French have been the yicors and may add that the
French system preferred in England and IN America
and abroad generally Understand though that the code
of etiquette alike in both French and italian schools
The third school that of Germany This differs from the
two others I'm allowing cuts only on the head and In the
face Again. the arm is held ont at length all the time
and not allowed back TO the hprest OF theFrench
and italian guard For third difference, the Germans do
not use fols but doubcedged sword same that is
used In dues."
What Is the value OF learning the ant ~ asked the re,
porter.
at equazcs circulation by forcing the whole body to
he in action IT quickens mentally, trains the
eye to be alert, and-parlon me Monsieur
It teaches 10 keep his temper under control.
Ladies' sometimes take lessons with the idea Of reducing
their flesh by the necessary activity OF me play and ON
the other hand il tends by it, bOOdstimuatng effect TO
replace fahbness with hard fesb. Can near-s1ghed
person take lessons At certain disadvantage or
course but there always the Aample of noted French
journalist who has fought many ducs though he has TO
spectaces He has by practice gained what Is called
the sentiment du ter-that IS the ability TO tel by the
feeling of his opponents foil against his own foil just
what the other is going to do" -. a.,
And how soon can become EXPERT in the art Y
All Mseur he that to get the military diploma in
France like that on the wall there that takes years Knit
ally teach wentyfour motions-eght thrnsts clgn par
Tes to these and eight motions counter 10 the parties
M n aS ''"'"s ,,,, ' 49,, ,y ,,,.,,s
To that / can only say that average 100 pupils
year tho most part among the people Of leisure.
Actors and actresses occasionally take lessons for stage
purposes merely to discipline the body into fexihily
We sometimes add little instruction in the use OF cane
for defence" added the speaker proceeding TO execute
with q sllach series Of whacRs at the air that would
have levcllcd an entire Denny brook Fair nstanter.
Isn't there certain amount OF danger IN the use OF
the foils 2"
as Tho foil poiHt-
cred the protected by heavy pad, and the head
is guarded by mask"
But the expense of an outft ~
We'll one needs pad to protect tho Ghost mask 10
protect the face and head gloves and fos. Altogether
they cost from S25 upward according to the quality OF
the steel goods The su you see, l. cheap cotton,
loose trousers and a ClOsc-htting roundabout