The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1902-08-23
FAIR FENCERS.

berS among its members many fair
women. These latter are SO expert
that they need not resort to the wom-
ans natural weapon-a hatpin--to r.
pei attack, but might readily use d
parasol or any little stick, to ward at
tack from any man SO unnatural as to
attack their apparent weakness.
Among the ladies who have beer
prominent in this club is the Countess
Cassini. She is small and slender. and
although a mere girl in years, pos
sesseS the accomplishments of belle.
She was among the first to wear the
clubs colors and cross blades not only
with her own companions among the
girls, but has occasionally worked new
buttonholcs into the jackets of men
who have faced her rapier. In her
delicate physique she demonstrates
the truth that skill and not brute
strength wins honor at this noble
game. She has never appeared out
side of the club rooms as fenccr, but
rumor has it that she is no mean ad-
verSary.
The pretty wife of the Brazilian
Minister, Sonora de Assis- Brazil, is
another expert with the foils. She
has triumphed in many private en-
gagcments. Besides being one Of the
prettiest women in the diplomatic
corps and in society at Washington,
she is one of the most graceful in car
| riage.
Miss Mabel Merriam, daughter of
the Director of the Census, joined the
club at it's inception. She is a grace.
full American girl of the new type
tall. 1.-the and lovely. She rides,
fences, plays golf and enjoys every
athletic exercise. In coloring she is a
perfect blonde, and her outdoor life
gives her a radiance of health and a
graceful carriage. Miss Merriam is
a type of the new American maiden.
Miss Edith Root, daughter of the
Secretary of War, as is proper, is a
patron of the Fencers' Club. She
Joined it shortly after the advent OF
her father in Washington. Among
the manly sons of Mars she is a god
dess-New York World.
TRAINING THE SLEEPING CHILD.
My little sleeping child was a great
comfort; l loved to feel the warm lit,
tie body so sound asleep, and l would
murmur over the dear curls my grief.
so quieting myself for the rest of the
night.
Soon | noticed peculiar sympathy
existing between us. To my surprise
he seemed to reflect my own nervous
state. 1t grew more marked, and ap:
parently the gayety of babyhood was
| leaving him. For some time | had
been anxious over a fault which had
arisen and developed under the tyran,
nical sway of his nurse during our
separation. From remarkably truth
full child he had become just the op,
posite l cannot tell how the inspira-
tion came to me; l think solely from
my own inner consciOusness-but this
| flashed over me: "Why cannot | con
troll him in one way as in another:
My nervousness has been given him
with my cares at night while he was
asleep; now why cannot l influence
him in this other matter?" l worked
it all out in my own way and said
nothing of the experiment to any
body else. At night, upon coming to
| the bed which we shared, would put
my arms around him and say, not loud
enough to awaken him even in the
slightest: Mother loves her little
boy She loves him the most in the
world, even though sometimes she has
to punish him. And he loves his
mother dearly. He must not tell
naughty stories. He does not tell
naughty stories He tells the truth.
My little boy must grow up to be an
honest gentleman. He is now an hon
est little boy"
l kept this up night after night,
and in less than three weeks there
was a wonderful change. The child
is now nearly ten years old. While OF
a remarkably imaginative disposition,
he is noticeably truthful and positive
ly sure of his mothers love, even
though she feels it neces ;ary to min
gle with it the restraint and authority
that a father would exercise. | have
since influenced him in the same man
ner in regard to other matters; his
lessons, his aversion to sap anG wat.
er, a certain pertness he had adopted.
and always with unfailins success.
His love and trust in me are greater
than in the average child.-Katharine
Scott Umstead, in Good Housekeeping
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