The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-08

The POET CIlIDEh Al THE glider CLUB.
Manly exercises are by no means discon-
tinued when the close of the summer season
puts its veto on base ball, rowing and out
door tennis. The foils, the gloves, tenpins,
the multitude of apparatus in tie gymnaSi-
ums and the breezy excitement of the un-
tanned toboggan contribute to the robust
appearance of the young New Yorker. And
that muscle is not developed at the expense
of brains, witness the close and friendly
relations between the authors and the
tencers-the pen and the sword. They &C.
cupy the same building 81 West Twenty
fourth street, the authors being above and
fencers below It is an ordinary high stoop
city house. The long parlor has an inlaid
floor, upon which the swordsmen take their
stand and scowl at each other through their
masks. After punching each others ribs
for a while they adjourn to the smaller
room behind the parlor and eat crackers
and cheese with every outward indication
Of brotherly love. Capt. Nicolas, swarthy,
black-bearded Frenchman, quick as a cat,
lnstructs the fencers. He is an expert with
rapier, single stick and broadsword. Among
the men who have profited by his teachings
are Coleman Drayton who, by his marriage
with Miss Augusta AStor, became the SON
in-law Of William Aston; Louis NJ. Rowland
of the old family whose name is associated
with the firm of Rowland & Aspinwall;
kaTrick Riggs, of the Washington Riggs;
j. Murray Mitchell, quite society swell,
and brother of Edward Mitchell, the poll
tIcian; Charles De Kay; c. c. Buel and
Richard W. Glider, of the Century; Prof
0Connor, of Columbia College; Samuel
Roosevelt, P. 7. Barlow. son of S. l.. NJ
Barlow and noted in single stick. All these
men are first rate fencers, and are, of course,
enthusiasts in the exercise There are many
more who swell the ranks, and exhibit their
skill at the annual tournament. This is a
very swell affair, attended by all the high
society damsels who are fortunate enough
TO be invited. It bears the progressing
French title, IL Assault d'Ar1ns," slight
upon the English language, which may he
pardoned because fencing is so indissolubly
associated III the American mind with duels
u u the snow under the walls of romantic old
french chateauS somewhere about the fourth
actS OF fearful melodramaS But 81 Assault
Arms" is New York institution likely to
nold Its place for many years On such
occasions Messrs De Kay and Riggs, and
MeSSrs. Mitchell and O'Connor are always
rivals, and punch each other with surprising
grace and skill. The members visit the club
MUSE Two or three times a week through
.ne winter, practising not only for the great
event, nut with the much more important
purpose OF gaining strength and agility.
roscoe Conkling takes pleasure in manly
exercises and used to be particularly fond
u u boxing. The story OF his conquest over
"a dach Chandler, and that willy mans revenge
SSGtalned through the services of Mr.. Jem
vac aace IN disguise, is well known. Mr..
Ss o handsome figure and distinguished
Sce may frequently be seen at the New
~. iorK Athletic Club, but he has given over
.pe more violent exercises and finds his
EHLnclpal muscular stimulant in driving. He
a s,nes u better than horseback riding, and
Iays mat he finds the excitement of a spin
oeulnQ good horses an excellant tonic