The Washington times., 1895-03-31
Fencing is Popular
In the Capital City
Many Fashionable Women Are Found Among
Its DeVoteeS.
Glasses Julian
the Loca leader Amor Fencers-Some
Women no Ar

modelled after that worn by a pIofes-
sional fencing-master and in this rig Mr..
Lefevre appears tc great advantage. He is
a good and graceful fighter.
Mario Mendonca. eon of the Brazilian
minister, takes his lessoDs three times
week athis father'shouse. Heisa handsome
young man of the dark foreign type, and
makes q fine figure as lie stands in the
picturesque POSITIONS thai the art requires
1t is likely that his sisters, the Misses
Mendonca, viii follow his example and
become as expert With the foils as they are
now on horseback.
Senor Zeballos, minister from Argen-
tina, does not use the foils, but takes
lessons in fighting with the sword or saber.
This is an unusual accomplishment, but
one that is full of danger in comparison with
the more gentle art OF fencing.
In fencing the costume worn by the men
is a jacket, generally or leather, which
is butloned under the left arm, down the
side. As the foil is held in the right hand,
this prevents any danger Of the point slip
ping down into the clothing. The men often
wear some kind OF thick, short panta-
looms, but very frequently they do not
change from the trousers worn in the streets.
The shoes most frequently worn are the
low ones of tan leather, and the sole of the
right shoe projects about two inches beyond
the toe in order to protect the feet, as the
right foot is the one most often used
and the fencer is called upon to rise on has
toes quickly when in combat.
The head is protected by a mask fash
ioned OF leather, which fits around the
face snugiy, and 10 it are fastened the
strong wires through which the fighter can
see plainly, but which prevents the foil
from harming the face. The hands have
leather gloves, the one on the right being
heavy and strong.
Most fencers wear over the chest what
is known as q plastron, which is a kind of
pad made of leather, and about square
foot in size. In the center is q little
figure of 81 red heart, ana this is regarded
as the point OF attack. When a fencer
can touch" the heart OF another 1t Is
counted as point" and ten of these
points are considered as a game and the
winner as the victor. or course, when the
fencing is in earnest, as in the case OF
many foreign duels, this is not worn, and
when a man touches the heart in his an
tagonist, il is pretty certain that the
enemy is done for as far as this world is
concerned.
AS TO COSTUMES.
The dress Of the ladies is much the same
as that of the men, in that they wear
similar masks, gloves and plastron, but
their costumes are much more attractive.
A jacket o soIne pretty material is worn,
generally Of a brighter eo!ored velvet, and
a short skirt reaches just below the knees.
The black stockings and nattv yellow
shoes complete the Jaunty outnt. or
course corsets are discarded and there IS
nothing to impede a woman's free and
graceful motions.
Most OF the ladies who are fencers
| have several different costumes. Mrs.
Barney hes a green velvet jacket, a
black skirt trimmed with blue, and often
varies her gowns. The other ladies'
select just what they think is pretty, and
the line when the class comes up is one
Of bright colsTs aEtS picturesque cos
Tunes. Amy numhen Of changes can be
ring in the differem Jackets ard the gay
skirts, ard it is the boyish air and the
unusual freedom that have a great charm
for the feminine heart.
While this sport has been in town such a
short while. it is nOw quite developed, +,
and though its deyctees are not so many
i'll number, 1T is steadily growing in pop
ularity especially with what is known
as the Smart set that is, tie set who
have time aud money in abundance, and
are ready TO adopt all fashionable anluse-
ments that have the sanction OF those who
are authorities on such polite matters.
Next winter there will not be fash
idnabe gil in town who is not an adept
with the foiis, and it will be as common
to b. a good fencer as it is now to be
q good rider. Prof. Darriolat is going
to Newport as soon as the season opens
his old Washington pupils who will spend
lie summer at that fashionable resort,
while no doubt many of the fair New
Workers viii also adopt the fad. In
fact, there is a pretty large fencing set
in Gotham already, and Miss Pomeroy,
of that city, recently defeated man
whom she met in contest in one Of the
clubs in that town.
In regard TO the point Of health, there is
no doubt tnat this is the most beneficial
of exercises. To the modern girl who has
discarded the antiQuated notion that deli
cacy is fascinating and that pale, droop-
ing face is irresisubIy attractive to the
masculine heart, this new sport offers
a splendid opportunity to acquire grace