The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-21
| Q
lss3|


ent day for all sorts and condi-
IRS4llH.HI tions of gymnastic exercises, the
art of fencing has not yet been
given any great amount of attention-at
least not by the women Of this portion OK
the West Something of an interest in
the delightful sport seems now to be awak-
ening. however, and there are already
number of men and a few women in Indi-
annapolis who are becoming adopts with
the foils 1t is thought by those interested
that the popularity OF the art of fencing
will undoubtedly increase here, and one or
two classes of women are being formed
which will begin their work as soon as the
membership reaches it's desired proportion
1t the East far more enthusiasm is shown
by both men and women in the eXhilaratlng
exercise, and for years there have been
large and enthusiastic classes or FENCING III
most of the larger cities
Most physicians agree that fencing is one
of the best medicines on their prescription
lists for rundown bodies and for that
reason if for no other it should find favot
with those who wish strength and health.
In addition there is an eXhilaraton In the
exercise which one does not get in the more
prosaic pastimes of the dumbbell and club
| swinging. in bar practice or IN the other
usual numbers in the gymnasium curricu-
lum. With the foils in the hand and
fOeman worthy of ones steel for opponent,
one exercises not merely the body but the
mind; for skill in fencing demands not only
| adroitness of hand and sureness OF eye, but
| uuickness of thought, and its inVigOrating
| and exhilarating effect is correspcndingly
greater than that of mere muscular exer-
| ton.
| foil practice than strength-indeed, too
| great strength handicaps the fencer; so
| that the exercise is a delightful one for
women who find themselves unable TO stand
| the violent exercise of the ordinary gym
| nasium class There is nothing OF the
purely mechanical in fencing. The mind
| must be constantly on the Ebert and every
move must be prompted and executed by
| the will of the fencer, not by his muscles
alone. He is necessarily intent upon his op-
I ponents slightest move in an effort 10 read
| his intentions even before their execution,
| so to prevent or meet the attack by the
| application of the proper opposition OF
parry and at the same time he must pre-
pare himself to execute counter attack.
| Thus mind and muscles are working In I'M
| interruted harmony and both are deriving
| the benefits of the exercise.
| There is probably no sport in which the
| interest is as Close and as intense as ii is
| in fencing. The actual touch with ones
| opponent, the delicate rod Of steel in ones
| grasp viii IN seems TO interpret the knowl-
| edge of what his adversary is meditating;
| the alertness of every faculty, every muscle
| and every nerve, makes the sport vivid
and fascinating without any of the rough
| ness which attaches to many of the ath-
| letic sports now in vogue. In several or
| the Eastern colleges fencing has been
| adopted as a regular Dranch bOth Tor girls
and men, and i'm at least one of the Indi-
! annapolis schools for girls there Is a special
| instructor and u large and enthusiastic
| class.
GRACE AND POISE.
Aside from its admitted benefits in the
way of increase of health and vigor the art
of fencing is so sure a means Of develop
ing grace of carriage and poise that it
should be eagerly adopted by those women
/ who desire 10 acquire or retain those quail
ties-and that class includes probably the
| entire feminine population of the globe with
| the exception of the few stray necessary
| exceptions 10 the rule. AS there Is nothing
] I'm the nature OF a violent exercise In the
| whiriing OF the foils. and the aim OF
| fencing is 10 compass the feXibiity rather
| than the increase OF the muscles. the sport
| should have no dread for those women who