New-York tribune., 1885-02-22
LITTLE CIRCLES WITH TIE FOfLS.
FENCING SCHOOLS AND THEIR TiIRUSrS AM
TARRIFs.

FENCING SCHOOLS AND lHiIN iHh'''' "+'N
TABRIFs.
Fencing" said an old frequenter OF the Paris ienc
ing schools is the true for gentleman. 1t
isn't brutal and though il is handto-hand struggle,
it never arouses bad blood. II calls fo- Judgment
pronptness of decision aud qnickness aDd dtlcacy
of execution 1t is exercise that e1Liarates rather
than fagues 1t gives supDleness tn the muscles and
subordnates their movement TO the action of the
will"
The tribute paid by the old sword his fayorite
exercise will ind II any eull u,astc Hpportcrs in New
York There are two schools of fencing in the city
each having its own methods and instructor. Regis
Scnac teac the classic and orthodox style OF fencing
at Broadway and Forty -irst-st. while Captain
Nicholas the instructor of the Newiok Fencing Club
N Twenty fourth ST., teaches method partly borrowed
from the Italian school but principally original.
Mr. senacs theory of endins is that there is but one
school, and that this school has but two fundamental
principlcs to tonch ones adversary and not 10 bc
touched ones self Whatever helps 10 accomplish these
objects is admissible, but be believes that the best
results obtained by the orthodox met ods. Enter
ing NJ Senacs academy when contest between two
good swordsmen is i'll progress, the spectator finds the
two fencers placed about six feet apart-a distance
which is carefully preseryed-thc knees well bowed 80
thai by sudden Strengthening OF the eit leg the "oic
h,dv may be launched forward. and the left
The pouts OF the two tolls describe series OF tiny
circles and -pras around each other small that they
could almost be surrounded by young guns rlhS.
The blades seem 10 be playing tag. one runs fouhd
and round after the other nt they meet with sharp
metallic click. and then the pursuer becomes The
pursued ana away III his turn Al last something
Ike flash OF lightning passes across tue space h't
separates the two swordsnen and one oi tho ioiis
bend. almost double the bottom fairly planted over
tue heart OF one OF the men.
To the unnitiated the whole performance has been
| llt- i. hat hee
OF Ia. the result of AZ attempt on c part oi one m
the iencers the pOln ol hls ION uhueIhcah MS
opponent Toll to bring IT opposite 10 an expo ed
point Iui the other, anticipating tho danger when
threatened him. quickly performs the same movement
! called IN technical language taking " contra and
the swords 90 oclng around each Other the one ever
irving To reach the point before TIE other cuts
| him oil. At last opening occurs. One OF the men
ha. not been quick enough III taxing the CONTRA, or
bas been thrown of his guard by skIllful icnt The
other sees his opportunity His right arm which has
hitherto been slightly bent to give greater ,nplene,s
TO the wrist suddenly straghtens aud the whole body
follows in desperate unge. Ihe stroke !, executed
with rapidity which indicates rare physical develop
ment I his OF cOntras and " doubles, ias
The motion by " hch ne contra Is eluded Ii cled
is the pride of the classical feDcers, for II nrni,h"s
system of attack and parry which never removes the
pont of the foil from before the OF the advcrsnry
| CAPTAIN Nicholas however. at the ork Fcnc-
Ing Club, considers the contra All Invention oi tho
Evil one. lie paFies In two perfect circles one on
the pht side Of the body and the other on the lett
Hi. pnpils stand near to each other III fencing aud
seldom lunge. lie teaches them to hold tho arm
| a
ia tierce that is with the palm downward Tor In tins
way he saws that greater leverage Is obtained upon
the sword of ones adversary. The classical method
delights straight hrGstS, upon the principle that
straight the shOi test distance between Two points
Captain Nicholas, however, makes many eEoctN o
thrusts in a roundabout way, by suddenly changing his
hand from carte 10 tiorce from tercc 10 carrie
movement of this sort often gives an opening Tor
sideways thrust, against adversary who Ii com
| pIetely protected against straight blow.
The interest which il felt in fencing Is shown by the
RAPID growth the Fencing Club There are no" over
three hundred members, aud the club house Il furnished
with every convenience for exercise and for rrpo-e and
retTe.lmcnt after exercise. 10 fencing of truly
artistic character however must 90 to Mr. Seuao
room on Saturday evening his il the Time when tho
ma ter or to try their skill against one another. NJ
Lefevre the French Minister frequently 10 be seen
there and he il -till, in spite OF his age, swor-inan
with whom it il safe to trife In hts day he was
of the best amateurs OF Paris and he still retains
the suppcness Of his wrist and the judgment o his
although lie is no longer nimble as some OF his
Younger rivals. Perry Belmont il one Of his rivals.
Perry Belmon. is one of Mr.. Senacs most proficient
pupils and The master often refers with pride 10 Mr.
Belmonts skill IN handling the foil.
Many women take fencing lessons. This Is not new
idea IN iais and Vienna. l he Empress oi Austria IA
said to be wonderfully skillfnl in handling the foil.
But rocenty NJ Senac has had not few iemae pupils
Some of them are actresses who fancy that knowledge
OF fencDg will be useful % thea Some come IN
obedience 10 the orders of physicians and derive much
beLIefit the exercise,