The times., 1897-03-21
y New York Beauties
V Fence at Home

| OF all shape and form. She Wore over
what is a very pretty face a fine mesh
| wire mask, while in her gauntlet covered
right hand she carried a slender fencing
foil. A short skirt, reaching to the knee,
] and a pair Of rubber soled shoes completed d
the young lady's costume. She did not
stop TO explain her odd dress, but gave me
a laughing invitation TO come in, and in
went, although in all honesty, i must con
fess that had no idea as To where was
going.
j went up the familiar way toward the
billiard room, but did not stop there.
was ushered through the green tabled
apartment and paused at door opening
into an adjoining room. Queer sounds
came from the other side of the door
There was a sound of stamping feet, ac-
companied by such expressions as, ION
guard, good parry, ""how was that for
counter of quarte,' and SO on, while all
tie time there was the unmistakable ring
OF steel against steel, with even once in a
While a peal of-merry laughter, as clear as
the click of metal
In answer to my inquiring look, nay fai
hostess said, Its only two of the girl
fencing; we have our own fencing-room
you KNOW, ana we are just having a lllllN
practice for cur own amusement"
The room was a large square apartment
bare OF all furniture except three or fuuI
large easy chairs, pushed out of the wa.
against the wall leaving the center oi
the apartment clear and unoccupied. Upon
the walls were hung fencing-foils, light
slender rapierS, masks, padded fencing Jack
cts, and n few pieces of armour and anti
quated weapons of various description, SuCi
as befitted a room where sword play was
INDUCED in, The uncarpcted floor wa
polished, but not waXed; and the light
instead of being overhead, were arranged
around the sides of the room and shaded
in such a manner as to give an equal dis
tribution of light and at the same time not
not shine directly in the eyes of the fail
fencers. What was to me the most interest
ing feature of the unique whole tws
Young ladies clad in costumes similar Il
that worn by my hostess. Our entranc,
did not interrupt the work of these two
who were apparently intent only on prod
ding each other in the mostrecklcss manner
with the slender foilS
We have become tired OF going to the
gymnasium, said my hostess, "and TAX
ing fencing lessons there, SO we now have
our own armory fitted up at home where
we can take our lessons and felce without
the annoyance of a lot of mntereSted spec
tators We are all havingthese rooms fitted
up this way, and really many of the girls
are becoming experts with the folds. These
fencing rooms are ideal places for eXer-
CSinE the muscles, and the constant use
of the fOilS gives us correct carriage
and ease of movement which can be ac-
Quired iii no other way"
What are the requisite qualities to be
come an expert with the foiIs?'' l asked.
"Ah," was the reply, that is a difficult
question to answer. Everything is required.
That is, as near as | can tell you, every
thing. clear brain, ease of posture and
a quick, sure eye, a swift,
supple wrist, all these are absolutely neces-
sary if one is to become good feucer.
These and many ether Things which come
only with experience"
One has To see the society women handle
the foils to appreciate the truly remark
able change which few months or even
a few weeks work in fencing can accom-.
plish. The costume worn by ladies " hen
fencing are much more attractive than
the ordinary bicycle suits now SO common
upon the streets, and there is practically
no limit to the fanciful decorations which
can be indulged in in the fitting UP of
these private fencing rooms. Many of
them are fitted up in the style of the
fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. The
walls are hung with thick tapestries and
old pieces of armor, while ancient swords