The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-03-19
WOMAN AND HOME.
BENEFITS WOMEN MAY. DERIVE FROM
THE ART OF FENCING,

S'AIen's Women" Defined-Afrs. Kendall on
American women-Some Beautiful wo-
men Not Young-The Mission of Edu.
Gated Women.
Sufficient evidence that woman may be-
come mistress of fence with the foils as
she Is always with the tongue is given in a
spirited article by Margaret Bisland, pub
lished in Outing. She tells US that it is in
Paris, where the practical use of small swords
among men has never been restricted, that
the art of fencing has lourished apace since
the days of lie Grand Monarch" Many
women regularly attend the sales d'armes,
Of which there are a score, or practice in
their homes, always under the eye Of some
skillful maitre. For this part Of her educa-
tion the French woman has a natural apt
ness; the tradition, agility and wit of her
race aid her in a rapid mastery of detail and
graceful finish Of execution. 1t was she, no
doubt, who 50 successfully proved to Ameri-
can women that fencing is after all the exer-
else best adapted to feminine needs. Much
of that French temperament is common in
our ladies, who, after noting the fact that
even their German and Italian sisters entered
the lists 10 gain crowns of laurel, took up their
foils with such characteristic energy and en-
thusiasm. Among them we may look for and
indeed have already found several fencers of
no common skill. The French woman took
up this practice more as a polite accomplish
ment than for any serious reason, while on
this side of the water it is studied not only
for pleasure, but for higher physical develop
ment, to which American women have of late
turned their attention.
Now, fencing develops the muscular sys-
tenn by the simple process of learning its
practice, while it does not bring on physical
exhaustion, often the result of other exer-
ciseS. Many women have overtaxed their
powers at lawn tennis by becoming over
heated or straining weak muscles, only to
pay dearly in the future for such imprudence.
Or, perhapS-and It's not uncommon after
one season Of vigorous racquet swinging
big knotty biceps are found to have become
too prominent IN q white, rounded arm and
gloves Of size fit for the left hand refuse to
fit over the broadened palm of TIE right. And
this is the prime advantage of fencing-that
every muscle Is brought into play, not in the
arms alone that WELD the foil, but the wrists
lower limbs, waist and back, and even ankles,
must be trained TO fall from one position into
another without effort, yet with wonderful
rapidity and grace.
The average sport or exercise is mastered |
by plunging wildly into its mysteries, hitting
out blindly to right and left, trusting with
confidence to change and practice to getting |
licked into shape, ana in most cases a guide |
or master is rather hindrance than a help. |
But it is hardly SO with fencing, for this is
altogether too intricate and delicate a game |
10 admit of even one blunder which would !
unhinge all the carefully planned theory by |
which it is taught. The pupils are requested |
to exercise not only a deal of muscular energy |
and dexterity, but an intelligent Judgment |
that will keep the mind on the alert eager,
yet pleasantly excited and well under con-
troll
When once the delicacies of the foil prao-
tice are successfully conquered, the slender
cleaning napier might be intrusted even in
the hands of a women, for what she may
lack in positive size of bone and muscle is
made up in exceeding dexterity. Yet, 50
far, they are content with the blunted foil
are somewhat too heavy to lift
and swing, while feminine nerves shrink from
the clash of steel, cut and slash, before which
her more strongly constituted brother never /
quails.
Nervous prostration, the evil genius that is
supposed sooner or later to overtake the ex-
cited nervous society girl in her mad career
after pleasure, may be vanquished at the
blades point This is a common ailment of
American women, who are apt to carry out
any work which their hands find 10 do with
such vigOr that exhaustion is often the result.