Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-14
A sKILLFUL SECRETARY.
Mr.. Lamar's Prowess as "a Swordsman
Demonstrated to the Satisfaction of at
Least Two People.
From the National Republican.


From the National PeDubLican.
Secretary Lamar sometimes carries a
cane or an umbrella. When he goes to
the department thus formidably armed
the colored man who stands at his door
gets out OF his way, FOR the Secretary has
a playful way of practicing his skill as a
swdrdsman on him,
Once the Secretary made a thrust at
him, and then gave him SOC. to buy medi-
cine to heal the cut in his cheek. Tle
next time the Secretary carried an um-
brella the messenger had a weeks sick
1 leave TO enable an oculist to patch UP his
ewes. When the messenger returned it
was with a solemn vow, 50 emphatic in
tone that 1t approached offensive parti-
sauship,V that ne and the digniied Secre-
tary of the Interior couldn't be In the
same hall together.
Since then the Secretary has had a sand
bag put ND IN his house, and whenever in
a com batye mood he used his tolls on that,
and. according to the best authority, he
has the finest pair Of French f0ils in the
city.
A gentleman VINO knows him well SAYS
that the secretary is the best swOrdsman
IN Washington, and tells rather an anus
ing story Of how he discovered the
fact.
II am swordsman Of no mean ability
myself be said, Il few days ago, when
told OF the Secretary's adventure with the
colOred messenger, land when | was en-
ployed at the capitol several years ago |
had pair Of foils that | brought across
with me- | had lots of fun up there with
the other employees, and occasionally the
senators would take a hand. C0ukling
and Ingalls, both used them. One day |
was in the room of the Committee on Pub
lie Lands, just shaking the foils for my
own amusement, when Secretary (than
senatOr) Lamar came in. He bad just
recovered from severe Illness and WAS
very weak. He eyed me for moment;
then coming forward, said:
- used to use the folls myself once,
but have almost forgotten
81 then began to twist them with the
fancy twists and all that just TO show off,
as it were, and he said again:
LET me feel that
81 did so and got the other one, noticing
in the meantime that he handled his blade
as though he knew something about II.
struck an attitude, hut he said;
"'Not now; | Will come in some other
time'
II told him that l wouldn't hurt him,
but he wouldn't try.
at was about month after that when
he came In again, and he had by this time
fully recovered his strength. He said that
ne would like TO try, and got the foils
down and adjusted the buttons, chucklng
over the prospect. ! changed my mind,
however, when ! saw him take off his coat
and pick up the Toll to test 1t. He has got
"A very flexible wrist, and ne made that
blade cut lightning.
"Well, when we were ready he put up
his guard, and ] knew then that / had bit
off large mouthful. made some thrusts,
but he was always there, and couldn't
get through to save my life. Then | re-
sorted to all the tricks l knew, but every
| thrust was parried as neatly, and a grim
smile was on the Senator's face. He had
| been acting on the defensive, but when |
got through amusing him that room was
| fun of sword cuts, He hit me ten times a
second, and | might just as we'll have had
straw to defend myself with. He came
under and over, and | have an indistinct
recollection of seeing the finest constella-
tons that man ever looked on.
when had my breath, which did
while he was putting on his coat, with the
grim smile still on his face, there were SO
chalk marks on me, five of which were
right over my heart. | was blue for @
week afterward. While | was putting up
the foils he went out, stopping at the door
TO say:
81 thought that had forgotten how "a
use them, and sadly needed practice .