The times., 1897-03-21

PREPARED salutei On guard! De-
fendi CIashl Clasht'' are the sounds that
may he heard in the homes of the swell
New York society girls nowadays. Fencing
at home has become fad, and rooms es-
pecially devoted TO exercise with the foil
are found in the residences of all the
young women who have vowed fealty to
Dame Fashion.
There is no exercise which more thor
oughly develops the muscles of the body
than fencing. In Germany, where the
women fence as much as they ride bicycles
over here, feminine strength and health
and grace are generally enjoyed. This is
an era of the practical in society, ana 1t
lis likely in this fact viii be found the rea-
son for the general adoption OF this new
fad. If young woman is not too far adj
vancea upon the list of soCiety's Geyotees,
she may enjoy the privilege of exercising
with the foils in the public fencing acad-
emy If she lie little more eX elusive,
she can HE herself to the private academy.
To be a real up-to-date society girl,
however. she must forSwear the academy
and take her lessons at home.
If the information seeker cares about
knowing Just what swell girls fence and
who do not, he can find on the rolls OF the
list OF Gencers these names: First and
foremost comes that Of Mrs jeanette NJ
Thurber, who is fencer OF high degree.
Then there is Miss Ives, Bra yuon Ives
daughter; Emily h. Hoffman, Anna NJ.
IapSley, Miss La Fargo, Miss NJ arie lleye,
Miss Ethel Davies, Mrs. Raymond Ward
Miss DorOthea Hammond, Miss Henrietta
MacauIey, Miss Edith Herbert MatheT, Miss
A. S Stone, Miss Grace Scott, Miss +. A.
Westervelt, Miss l.. ii Barnard, Miss Lucy
Draper, Miss A S Barney, issIIilda Drake,
Miss M. Roe, Miss Isabella Cammann, Miss
j.. Wotherspoon, Miss Nita Carritte, Miss
Julia Leigh, Miss Helen NJ. Graham, Miss
Gertrude OConnoT, Miss G. Pomeroy, Miss
BeatriX Jones' daughter ofMrs. Rhinelander
Jones; Miss Blanche and Miss Dora Have
meyer, daughters of Theodore Hayemeyer;
Miss Mona Patuee, Miss Emma rattee, Miss
Helen Kelley, Mrs. c. l.. Wiltshire, Miss
Rosalie Bloodgood, and Miss Mary Tur-
nure. Every dainty fenceT must perforce
have a master who viii instruct her in
the fad that wooS a graceful carriage and
muscles like the highest tempered steel
UnqueStionably it is true that the in
PRODUCTION into the homes of aristocracy
of these private fencing rooms has served
TO awaken a renewed interest 4 the art. SO
It is that where few months ago the
fencing clubs throughout the country roIlI
be counted on ones fingers, such clubs
now, especially those whose membership
is entirely feminine, have more than tie
bled in number. Instead of arraying her
self in fine linen and often mcomf ortable
purple, and undergoing for two h0urs a soIt
of social martyrlom under the -s'liSe of an
afternoon tea, the girl of the period re-
ceives half dozen of her friends in her
fencing room, and there many n pleasant
half hour is spent in discussing and dem
onstrating the latest forms of fence, rt.ard,
parry and attack
To hear these fair wielders of the foil
discuss the merits Of sCme particular form
Of attack, Of the parry Of siHte, parry of
octave, or counter Of septime, one would
lbnk they were all veteran dueliSts, but
In reality this knowledge of the phrase
Dlogy of fencing is uch part Of the art
as is the handling of the foil itself, and no |
woman who has ever undertaken TO learn |
how to fence considers herself competent |
until the venacular OF the fencing room is
familiar to her.
Ny knowledge concerning these private |
rooms Of society's favorites came about |
in this wise. / happened one recent after |
noon to call at the home of young lady |
well known in New York society, and was |
amazed when the maid told me that her |
mistress was in the "armory''
The armory; and pray what is Miss -
Of al persons, doing il the arnlory at this |