New-York tribune., 1901-05-11
SW0RDSMANSHIP.
,vrRTING MANUAL BY A FRENCH
ENTHUSIAST.

I--pr-s OF THE SWORD. Translated from the
L o-irnal French OF Baron de Bazancourt by c
II y clay. With Illustrations by T. II. Townsend
5rtavo. pp VIII. 24s- The Macmillan Company
.-,r 6e Paramount raises the standard Of
~ against the conventional methods OF
i .,,g the art Of fence He IS a sworn enemy
,~.bs professors" who have pointed the finger
.-ning az him. The complicated iarRop OF
s,ical terms. the combinations and classiaca.
II Of feints. parties and ripostes are not for
neither is the slow and painful mastery Of
- elaborations in practice. He is far from
s,g with the received doctrine OF the ueces-
l,y or the importance Of a great variety OF
pay
believe that the effectiveness Of skifuI
- depends on the correctness Of his infer
Is on the alertness and nicely Of his 1udg-
- on qUickness Of hand and precision OF
-,vement whether in attack parry OF riposte
.ber than on very varied play. which neces-
-s-ss a much more elaborate training and so
is'- from being II any real use serves only 10
rsrpeZ the mlha.
Hence he would teach only the elementary
l..tors Of the art. and would then cultivate the
,outes on which he lays so much stress by
ack and vigorous practice. All these ideas
o.,op de Bazancourt elaborates in the form Of
series Il talks purporting 10 be held with the
,,ests al a French country house. in which HIS
conversational style is a fitting and agreeable
,nbodiulent Of his unconventional ideas as 70
,sDcing L is an euinently readable book. that
now first put before English readers. though
ne French original appeared as long ago as
,Sfo and in a second edition in 1879. MI Claws
,-anslaton is made with a light and skilful
.,ueh that reproduces the authors vivacfty OF
sxpression and the pungency OF his thrusts
.ranst the cut and dried methods Of the schools.
Judgment. control speed. are the Barou's
vatchwords for fencing. Fencing Judgment i'm
niles distrusr, cunning, q wise caution. the power
IN interpreting the dumb language Of the sword
,be faculty Of drawing correct differences. This.
and control. are gained by knitting
M the various operations into one continuous
movement" Speed is one Of the greatest re-
souroes-the main point 10 be insisted on from
The very first: hence no slow practice as the
masters advise. You cannot say: Now DO
quickly what you have been practising slowly"
Your new command introduces a new idea and
creates new difficulties. The elementary prin-
aples OF fencing are simple because they are
natural, and the style most natural 10 the fencer
4 TO be cultivated whether il is according 20 the
rules or not. Lean your body forward, If you
md il easier so: keep out Of distance. II you
your adversary's blade If you think it desirable;
attack low. Il Il comes in your way 70 do SO,
nsp back. II you wish TO. as you form the parry.
All these things give the lie 10 the accepted
sanons; but the assault. in Baron de Bazau-
courts view. ought TO be sham fight an6 its
methods adapted 10 win. not 10 exemplify rules.
We ask for a fair field and no favor. for every
sort Of style and theory that Is based or q study
5s the weapon"
Il is not 10 be supposed that the Baron neglects
'ound and careful training in the fundamentals
Els evenings in these imaginary discussions.
Ire devoted. one after another. 10 explaining
nd Illustrating them, and showing the reasons
r them: from the first positions, the advance.
he simple attacks and parries. the composite
stacks and parries, always avoiding sluggish
hess as the deadliest foe Of the fencer. True 70
lis idea that fencing should be fighting. the au-
nor aevotes much time 10 a consideration OF
be circumstances OF actual dueIling; the prac-
teal considerations that must be faced. the
thics. the etiquette. the duties OF seconds.
he wretched spectacle OF duel with pistols
isgusts the chivalrous Baron:
Energy is of no use. courage OF no value; YOU
ran6 up Ike q target 70 be shot al without any
VISIBILITY Of defence Courage and cOwarGtce
meet or equal terms; the feeblest and most
pir.tless sneak may succeed in defeating the
most determined courage Duelling with
pistols has always seemed 70 ne rnOnstrous
practice. I am delighted 10 see II disappearing
rom our manners and going more and more
lut OF fashion every day.
The idea that fencing must needs be made life
-tney in order 70 acquire proficiency in 1t is COM
lated BY Baron de Bazancourt on almost every
page. He contends that IL is perfectly possible
10 learn the practical management Of the sword
without a superhuman effort, and that sword
play is worth cultivating as a delightful exer-
else and one of the finest kinds OF sport. Skilful
Instruction and intelligent practice are what
he insists upon, and even the dullest outsider.
while under the spell Of his insinuating conver-
sation, is tempted 70 the belief that he, TOO.