The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-14
WOMEN WHO FENCE.
How French Girls Are Taught
to Handle the Sword.
THE EXERCISE GAINING GROUND.
Famous Actresses who Were Clever
with the Foils-Femalc Dueis in Paris
-Bernhardt wieIds the Blade.

PARIS. June f.-[special Correspond
ence. Mime. Adrienne Gabriel, nee III
pault To whom we are indebted for the fol-
lowing letter on fencing, occupies a lore
most Mace in the front rank OF French
awordswomen. The Paris papers all speak
highly of her public performances. Nine.
Adrienne Gabriel, is the youngest daugh-
ter of M. Trigault, of LYONS. who has been
all his life engaged in teaching the noble
art of fence: and the wife of NJ. Gabriel,
the noted maltre d'armes at the military
school of Saint Cyr, the French west
Point. When a girl Nine. Gabriel mad
weak health; her father determined 10 put
her through regular course OF training,
and so taught her the use of the fol, which
she has never since relInquished.
That such profession as fencing should
be adopted by person of the weaker sex
is unusual. There have been, of course,
many females who have taken to the foil
long before this for a living, but such
calling has hitherto been emincntly sug-
gestive of the angular and muscular
Amazon, or black bearded cantinierc that
followed the armies of Napoleon. In this
case. however, we are confronted by an ex-
ception which doubtless only goes to con-
firm the rule. Far from being the stall
wart sample of ugly feminine virility
such an avocation generally recalls, Mime.
Gabriel is very graceful little body of
about Is, with well-rounded limbs, blonde
hair, pretty oval face and lovely white
teeth She is every inch lady. having re-
ceived a finished education, and shows
with evident pride the fine, large crown of
gold and silver bay leaves that was given
her in one of her fencing bouts at Lyons,
and which hangs in its frame and glass
case on the wall of the large hall where
she now trains the young lady pupils COM
mitted to her charge.
HENRY La LUBARSE.
Among the many accomplishments that
the thoroughly equipped society woman
of today should possess, that of fencing is
daily gaining ground in France As an
exercise for development of the chest and
acquiring grace and flexibility of carriage,
the advantages of fencing cannot be over
rated. When a girl / was affected with
anamia and weak lungs, and my father
a professor of considerable practice at
Lyons--put me through a regular course
OF training with the small sword, which,
after few years, effectually restored me
to strength and vigor. If I am now as
sound as roach, owe it to my fathers
judicious treatment. There is no exercise
more conducive to health; in its practice,
the positions of the body have for their
object erectness, firmness and balance; and
the chest, neck and shoulders are so placed
as to be most beneficial to breathing, SO
that the lungs take in as full complement
of oxygen as their capacity will allow and
the blood is enriched more rapidly than it
would otherwise be by food alone.
Fencing first became fashionable here
among ladies when Herr Martl and his
nine pretty Austrian pupils came to Paris
and took the capital by storm. That was
about eleven years ago. Page after page
of the Figaro and the Gauiois were filled
with their doings. His object was to show
the advantages of fencing as an exercise
for girls, because it is not so exhausting
as gymnastics or the saddle, while it is
not ungraceful nor is it expensive.
The little ladies who performed in public
on that occasion were all of moral char
acter above reproach. Herr Martl was a
handsome man, and a brilliant fencer. A
feature of the girls fencing, / remember,
was assaults with sword and dagger as
duels were fought in the middle ages.
Ever since then French ladies have Guilt
waited this graceful and invigorating art
with great zest.
The fencer's dress, whether for man or
woman, should always be very easy, so as
not to obstruct the movements. That
worn by my girl pupils is of like pattern
for all, though the stuff and color is left to
the option of the wearer. Some select
black, some red, some gray, some green.
prefer blue. The costume, then, what
ever Its hue, consists of bodice, short
skirt, knee-breeches, stockings To match
and sandals. A padded protector is worn
across the chest; but il is placed inside the
bodice, between the outer stuff and inner
lining. a neat little leather belt with
silver buckle for the waist, and gauntlet
gloves to protect the hand and forearm,
complete the suit.
No fencing is allowed without a mask
1t is of the usual form; the iron wire that
screens the face and head is of very close
and solid trellis work, with low ear-holes
TO preserve the throat.
Girls seldom begin 10 take lessons in
fencing before they are 10 years old. Al
that age the limbs lengthen out and the
muscles gain consistency. 1t is the right
time to teach them how 10 hold foil and
poise the body in advancing and retreat.
ing. The foils used vary in length and
weight to suit the age and strength of the
pupil. They are the regular light quad
rangular blades of steel used in all fencing
rooms; but only two or three feet long,
fastened into plain handles with a small
guard, and tipped at the point with steel
button.
Foil fencing in line, when my pupils are
arrayed against another according 10 age
and strength, takes up good part of the
time devoted to the lessons, my main OBJ
ject being thoroughly to inculcate the
lunge. which is one of the principal move
ments. l steady drill them in it until
they can perform it with celebrity and ex-
actness. Lunging and recovering should
be often practiced, in order 10 acquire
them thoroughly. The attitudes assumed
by most girls in this part OF the perform
ance, however awkward Sley may be at
first, soon get 10 be graceful in the ex-
IRENE. The weight IF the body mostly
rests on the right foot, which allows the
utmost freedom OF action. The exercise
lasts Tor ten minutes or quarter of an
hour at time, after which fye minutes
rest is allowed
When thew have noaStered tho yuard