The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-28
SWORDS In ALL AGES
IN EARLY TIMES THEY WE'RE
MADE OF VERY HARD
WOOD
sAvAGEs STILL USE THEM

Blades Often Shattered In Combat
by "a Very Heavy BIow-Weapons
Carried Were DOubIe-Edged-
some Stories of SwOrdsmanshfp
Are of Doubtful Authenticate
Fencing Is Out of Date.
OF all the weapons used by man the
sword is the most universal. It's begin
nfngs are older than history, and it has
appeared In every part of the world
some of its forms, however, are very diff
terent from those with which we are fa-
m1liar-so much so that we should scarce
Iy recognize the character Of the weapon
at hrst glance, says the Philadelphia
Times.
indeed the earliest swords were not
made OF any kind of metal. but of hard
heaVy Wood-a style which has persisted
among saVages in remote regions until
very recent times. Such swords are evil
IDENTIFY the result of an ATTEMPT to i'm
prove upon the war club. Thev are mora
or less paddle-shaped, and ara brougb+
TO a keen edge, which is f1re-hardened.
Ihelr cleaving power in the hands of a
sta4Wart and skillful savage is far be-
yond what might be expected and is in
creased by the frequent use OF a draw
ing cut" Still, wood is easily blunted
ana all sorts of experiments have been
- ieu Win view to getting a more re-
IL factory edge. One device was to insert
io"S oI SHARKS teeth. firmly embedded
Out THIS ugly fighting tool was more like
a rtp-saw than a true sword bA++ar
weapon was made by armfne tho odero
Win razor-hke flakes of flint set in the
"0oU' 1hese gave an edge like broken
si"oS' ana every boy knows how keen
mat may be. The best example of this
slyle IS the "masquahuilt," formerly used
ny certain Mexican tribes, and with If wa
are told, they could sometimes sever o
man arm at one stroke. It was the most
eiiectiVe sword ever constructed out of
any material inferior to tempered metal
METAL SWORDS NOT LIKED
Inc nrst swords of metal were not at
ali satisfactory. AS iron was scarce and
copper was altogether too soft bronze
vas uo7o' OUT lhls, II made hard enough
~ cut became brittle. Such were the
ST
RES or the combats in which thew 1,ay,
USED showed that they often shattaroS
Wnen heavy blow was struck against
shield or helmet. Yet we are told +bot
"hen AJAX was defending his ships AL
most single-handed, by thrustine bacl,
the IfoJans with long lance. one blow
OF the sword of Hector cleft the brazen
heao from the tough shaft-no easy task
even Tor sword of steel 1t is not likely
with blade of bronze, except in the he
role dreamland of the poets. The sword
was never Of much account among the
Greeks, anyhow, their weapon OF war was
the spear
The Romans, however, were real
swordsmen. They wanted no fifteen-foct
pole between themselves and the enemy;
their chief desire was to come to close
quarters, with a weapon bearing consider
able resemblance to the modern bowie
knife They were accustomed to strike
with the point, which was broad and
Keen, rather than to slash with the edge.
This, in general is the most effective way
for men on foot. Experts have remarked
that a thrust kills, while a slash merely
wounds; but there are notable exceptions,
as we shall see. These Roman weapons
had well tempered blades which gave
them a decided advantage over some of
their enenies-as, for instance, the Gauls,
who often used iron so soft that the
blade bent in striking and had to be
Strengthened with the foot" This I sup
pose, means that the soldier had to draw
back, lay his sword on the ground and
step on it. After this operation had been
many times repeated the weapon must
have presented as wavy an outline as a
Malay creese.
TALES OF CHIVALRY.
It is in the medieval period that we
find the most wonderful stories about the
sword, which was in great favor with the
knights, and plays all sorts Of incredible
pranks in the tales of chivalry. These IA
nous weapons had names and pedigrees,
and frequently were scarcely less re-
nowned than the warriors who welded
them.
The swords of these crusaders were for
the most part two-edged, straight and
massive, while the scmiter of the Sara
Gems were light much curved and Of
more than a razor'S keenneSs and temper
The European sword was mostly used
for a straight chop downward, but for
the scimiter what is called "slicing CUT
was preferred. The characteristic differ
ence In the style and handling of the two
weapons is well shown in the familiar
story of the friendly contest between
Saladin and King Richard. The latter
ldlu a nedNy mace OH a DlOCh ana severed
the thick steel with one stroke of his
huge blade. The deft Saracen then drew
the upturned edge Of his scimiter through
a gossamer veil floating through the air,
and with a quick turn of his wrist divided
one of the pillows lying on the divan Mel
ther tool could possibly have done the
work Of the other.
In naval warfare today, as the thickness
of the steel plates which guard the vitals
of our battle-ships is increased, it be-
comes necessary to use stronger cannon
and heavier projectiles. Just so. as the
weight of the armor worn by men was
gradually increased, it was found neces-
sary to increase the weight of the
weapon used to cleave it. Hence, along
with the battle-ax and mace, huge two
handed swords came into vogue-and
these ponderous instruments, some of
which have been preserved, make us al
most ready to credit the fantastic tales
cited above. Only a trained athlete could
possibly brandish them, and the blows
they dealt must have fallen like the
stroke of a triphammer.
AT last, however, the Introduction Of
gun-powder made an end of the wearine,
of armor and the bearing of shields. Then