The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-08-16
METHODS OF THE DUELLO.
Distinct Differences in the Styles
of Preach and Italian Fencing.

| Distinct Differences in the Styles
of Fresch and Italian Fencing.
While the object of all duelists is tothrust
with all possible force and to parry the OPP
| moments reosrn, there is d distinct DIFF fer
ence IN the methods of French and Italian
fencing. Experts of both schools use their
| brains as ell as their arms ia guiding
| the sword, but the Frenchman invariably
| holds his sword ambient, with the weapon
| at such an angle that line drawn from
| hit t. point would clear the top OF his all
versary's head. He makes a thrust by
! Strengthening the arm and letting the body
| follow.
The italian, on the contrary, holds the
sword in a straig htline, alarms length and
makes thrust 0ylunging the body quickly
forward. The pose of the Italian school Is
not so easy ami graceful as the French, and
OF the stage. as a theatrical display, one
would say that the French was much more
picturesque.
But ttsre is something thrillingly bust
LESS like in the Italian way OF holding the
sword. with the point aimed directly at
bis opponents heart and with the body
oouched as III ready for spring. In an
assault, tie italian always keeps She point
OF the foil in that general position that's,
as near the breast OF his adversary a pos
sihle, except, of course, when making a
feint.
The aGvant age OF this is that a fencer
can play in a very small circle and, simply
by turning his hand, direct a blow above
or below. Italian fencers declare that by
keeping the sword extended they are
alw ays ready to defend themselves quickly.
The nearer in line with an opponents body
the fcucer keeps his weapon, they say, the
smaller the arc which the swords point
must traverse To make parry or a thrust.
This enables one TO thrust quickly with
less exertion tn an if the sword were further
away.
Freich experts, In disagreeing with the
Italians, say that to hit well one must ex-
tend the weapon by st raightening the arm
at the moment of attack, the same as n
boxing. As a rule, a French master OF the
art uses the recoupe only In riposte or
CAMEL riposte, IT ans wer or double answer.
That is 10 say. when hts antagonist has
made q tn rust which has been successfully
parted, and he desires to answer quickly
with return thrust, he may, under certain
circumstances, disengage his foil from con
tact with his antagonists weapon by rails
ing tie point OF the foil instead OF lower
ing r.. and coming over his enemy's blade
snd down On the other side, following up
the opening with a thrust at the heart.
The strs,ke must be made with wonderful
quickness to succeed il one is facing
good fencer; otherwise 1T leaves the heart
and low er part OF the body exposed for a
fatal thrust. Its success depends upon the
celebrity Of the motion entirely, and the
chances are it cannot be repeated twice
in tue same assault If ones adversary is
alert and skiIlful, OF he will take advantage
OF the exposure Of the body, and make q
successful thrust on the instant.
IL ones antagonist know anything about
fencing, the Consequence of his taking
advantage OF this exposure will be worse
than double thrust, for before the fencer
can touch him he will run In IN him with
what is known in the NeapOiitau school
as the cayation, which is a simple but
very effective half turn Of the wrist.