The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-16
OF FENCING FOR WOMEN.
Margaret Bisland Says 1t Is as Easy
as Playing on the
Piano.
It Is Quite Unlike Any Other
Sort of Exercise Women
Learn,
1t Possesses the Expressed Essence, Re,
fined Spirit and Concentrated Excel
1ence of Many Others.

JAZZ Va ~~sA oshSt
Zone, two, three, en- garder' then
stamp Of feet, a quick spring forward o
bodies, an outreaching of right arms. will
the foil held in a position of defense. ant
the fencing-class members have only
reached the initial letter in a long course
of instruction necessary before they cal
learn to assume a correct attitude at the
word of their master, says The Weeks
Sport.
as fencing easy?' then promptly and
breathleesly asks an entirely ignorant as
pirant to honors on the field of mimic en-
counter with blades.
1t is as easy as piano playing, as easy as
learning French, the delicate idiomatio
language of the people who have been the
best and most intelligent %exponents of fenc-
ing, since Italians long ago allowed their
grasp ON the foil handls to grow lax. Just
about one out of 100 women who manipu-
late a foil know how to employ it dexter
ously, daintily and beautifully as it
should be used. The other ninety-nine
can learn to handle it nicely
proAtably, prettily; and to them these
hints are directed. Because 1 infer that
the attainment of great skill with the foils
is as rare and difficult a conquest as that of
speaking French with the assurance, ease,
and brilliancy of the cultured Partisan, the
imid half of womankind hould in no wise
feel discouraged to begin, or ashamed of
either modest proficiency with tho light
blade.
Fencing is quite unlike any other bodily
exercise we learn. Brute force and pugna-
city weigh not 80 much as a feather when
facing the foil's blunt point. Agility, in
telligence, a hawk eye and a cool head are
the Prerequisites for success in their use.
Three of these qualifications many women
possess by nature, which. developed by
fencing, teach them calmness and that dis
erection without which a fencsr had best
never face an enemy. The o~ne-hundrsdth
woman, and occasionally she appears, has d
gift, a talent, for the beautiful game, and
with ~consummate c~leverness and auda city,
catching quickly all instruction a teacher
can give, and gathering all lore and tradi
ton left by masters OF another day, be-
comes her own creator of intricate action
and plays at foils as the i%nfrequent and
marvellous linguist reads, writes and speaks
in a foreign tongue.
She is the woman who knows by instinct,
before whom every one stands dumb, Won
dering how she Goes it; and of a truth she
scarcely knows herself. But the other
ninety-nine begin at the beginning, and
though they may never overcome their
master, or beat a masculine opponent, will
derive from the study and practice of it
more genuine benefit and pleasure than any
other muscular training to which they may
turn their heads.
They will find, after a period of applica-
ton to the exercise, that it possesses the ex-
rraScaH nSSapcn the pptiOpG SnirIt and fha
concentrated excellence of tennis, horse
back riding, rowing, driving, skating and
swimming, boiled down into exquisite con-
formity with feminine needs. lake twenty
lessons ON the sanded floor with foil in
hand: the result is delightful. The head
goes up, the shoulders back, the body poises
lightly, strai2htly, on close held heels. The
eyes glance alertly, and every nerve ard
muscle. every drop of blood and every
spark of energy leap responsibility to the
to the airy gestures OF the foil.
Take twenty more lessons and the wrists
have grown almost as pliable and firm as
tempered steel, and the early effort to re-
member correctly the position for each
command is superseded by a mental exhil-
aration and ambition to outwit and con-
quer the friendly foe. The faithful, trained
sinews leap at the bidding of brain and eye,
buslly noting, calculating and discrimina-
ting, and with 1t all comes the enchanting
element of daring mock danger. What
could be more admirable in its effects than
this? particularly for a woman who can
ind fencing wholly within the range OF
realities. She can, ii she will, learn enough
Of the practice to exercise, not only at her
lessons, but early in the morning in her bed
room by an ouen window, or in summer on
the green turf with q brother as opponent,
as was the custom many centuries ago
among men whose swords were the dearest
friends in life.
To pretend to give hints on fencing, one
must elaborate through a fat volume, fully
illustrated, and at the end sigh to think
how great a portion of valuable informa-
ton was of necessity left out. In a brief
sketch l can but give those suggestions by
which one may prepare to learn fencing.
First and foremost, do not for one instant
deceive yourself into the fancy that any
practical working aid can be found in any
of the books written on the subject, seek at
once a capable. clever master of the foils,
and as he teaches, drills and explains, YOU
will find it of tremendous help to read care
fully II number of good works on the sub
ject.
At any sporting goods shop a man can be
rugged out for his first bouts, but a woman
will do we'll to hin a bit before putting
herself in the hands of a dressmaker
and ordering a OWL She will, if she be
wise in her day and generation, plan
an outfit like this: A pair of loose knicker-
n Va ~ IA lailhcl, tHub |
will be caught full just over the
top of the knee, to which are drawn up stout
ribbed blue hose. On the feet, gymnasium
shoes. Over the trousers, to perhaps two
inches below the knee, should fall a full
killed blue flannel skirt. with which can be-
worn n 1annel blouse waist, or a seamless
Jersey.
Thu latter is somehow more natty than
the first. showing off well the gracious
curves of the figure, and has not tie full
folds in waist or sleeves that so often catch
the foil's point. Any sensible woman
Knows that at this exercise she can wear no
corset. but a loosely buttoned, corded
waist, and if she be kin to herself no
wandering strands of hair will tickle her
nose dursng the exercise, nor will showers
OF pins be occasioned by every shake of her
head.
There is health in fencing; and a graceful
carriage, a pair of brilliant eyes and two
flushed cheeks are the rewards given to her
who practices wisely.
Take 1t Before Breakfast.
The great appetizer, tonic and liver regu.
I~ator-posit!ve specific for liver complaint.