Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-02-22
FENCING THE NEXT CRAZE.
n. 7. Nail and Eaprr,s.


The love of fencing said Prof. Regis
Icnac 10 n Mail and Express writer, has
decreased wonderfully in New York within
he psst twelve years. When ] came here
from Paris a dozen years ago | found few
people who cared anything for fencing. |
vent 10 work and got up Il class. Mr..
Perry Belmont was among my first
oupiis, and today few ANA
;euIs cen match him with the
rapier. | soon discovered that the Ameri.
cans could be taught how to handle a sword
as easily as they manipulated a revolver
Mr cls6s was augmented from the rich
Young men, and l put my heart into the
work Of teaching them. The result 10
every way has more than repaid me for my
trouble. Several years ago | began to give
lessons to ladies who live in GONE OF the
handsome residences on Fifth avenue and
other uptown streets. The surprise was
great TO find that American women were
soon taught to be better fenccTs than French
women. They have more confidence, and
that is al in all in fencing
Teaching Nomen 10 Fcmce.
What are the pcculiarif;cs Of the society
belle who handles the rapicrY'
They arc many. Her confidence is often
weakened too quickly finer adCcC,aty scores
90 uaHT points III 4 given round. In such
a case she generally gets rash and lunges
wildly without being on her guard. This
though, is more the characteristic Of the be
ginner than Of tho woman who has had
some months practice aud experience. ]
ike 20 teach women. They are apt and
quick ard generally throw more spirit into
their practice than men. | have on my list
Of pupils more than q hundred society lad.
les whom the outside world would not sus-
ncct Ct being expert Cenccrs Some Of them
are tic wives of millionaircs, and often in
fencing place their husbands horsde combat
with the cunning Of their. parry and thrust
NJ experience thus far in New GOrk is that
he American woman. by plUck aud conf
iencc, is far ahesd in the art OF fencing Of
he French ard English women.
"YCu often teach actors and actresses,
~'opPo'eI
= INT ! have & class of ladies from the LY'
atum School Of Acting. The most expert
monc them are Miss Anna Warren Story.
Miss Marguerite Hedley and Miss Mary
5ears. They are capable Of putting any
frst-ciass male smatucr 10 his best TO score
more points in a given number of bouts
Whether they intend to play the parts Of
men in dramas, / don't know, yet the prac.
ice is healthy, the experience instructive
md the accomplishment of grace
md beauty. Miss Story is almost
phenominal in the expert use O.
be napier, and would challenge admiration
rom professional fencers. Among the pro
'%essional actresses at present acquiring tn
yt are Miss Clara Belden, Miss Georgians
Flsgg. Miss Bancroft, Miss Eva u. Palmer
md Miss Ellen yochey. Many others are
pupils. but / mention these because they
ave become par excellent. have laugh
nsny Of the greatest actors and actresses
10Th On the American and Partisan stage
Fencing Likely to lie Popular.
Did you ever have SnT pupils in New
N'csk Hho havo risen to proninenceT
Yes. Vim. =. EDo. II. c, Emo, Gen
Shaler, George Lord Day and George
Gould. Indeed, hosts Of others that can
not remember now. All al the above gen.
tlemea proved themselves apt and in one or
TWO lessons showed how they could master
The noble srs OF selfdefence, / predict that
in ten years fencing will be very popular
here, and second only 10 roller skating on
he list of healthy exercises Fencing
schools will in time be established over the
dty and more general interest will be man
tested
Prof. Sensc will take Charge Of The fen
chg department Of the Ses York Athletic
Club. witch has recsn,ly moved into their
nsE hniIding. |.