The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-10-31
THREE INCHES
COLD STEEL

learn these l went to an old French
emigrant who made his living by
giving lessons in these M de Bon
heur, a white-halred, tall military
looking man, declared himself ready
to give me lessons in dancing and
fencing, and asked me when wanted
to begin.
Immediately IL 1t suits you," re-
piled.
Certainly, | am at your service"
"But you have not yet told me what
| am to pay you"
my usual charge is four lessons for
one louisdor. Does that suit your"
"Exeellently. and wish to take
two lessons in each art"
"You don't need to take two les
sons to become good fencer and l
can see in your eyes that you have
courage. Let me test your eyes and
your wrist. Follow me-"
He took me into large, very light
room which contained no furniture
which in those days was far from be-
ing as common as it is today. On
the walls and between the windows
were hanging foils and masks, while
a number of batons were standing in
one corner.
When the old gentleman showed me
how to stand when about to begin
fencing and took his position oppo-
site me. noticed that he was a lit
tie lame, very little, to be sure, but
1t seemed rather strange to me that
lame man should be able to give
lessons In fencing, which calls for
the utmost agility, but l soon saw
that he was master hand. The first
fencing lesson was followed immedi-
ately by the first dancing lesson,
during which he played the violin
himself. After we had practiced for
little while he suddenly cried:
"Sacrebleu. This is one of my bad
days. My leg is troubling me so
that / can't dance any more"
"oh, let us wait till some other day
then" | began, but he interrupted me
and said: mo, no, please stay here
and | shall find somebody to take my
place."
He Iimped across the floor and
called into the next room:
Juliet, put on your dancing slip
pers and come in here quickly"
A moment later Juliet appeared.
She was tall, willowy girl, with
wealth of dark hair and big black
| eyes, an unusual pretty mouth with
very full lips, little honey, but as
quick and as graceful as a deer. She
| looked one moment like a girl OF 10,
while during the next one might
| easily take her to be IS. The old
| man introduced me: "Mr Arthur
Foerster-Mme. du Bonheur."
She made courtesy according to
the custom of the time, and ! bowed
| deeply.
Juliet, am too weak today to
dance, so you will please give this
| gentleman his lesson"
with the greatest of pleasure, faith
| eT dear"
well, begin then! Don't look at
madamoiselle's eyes, monsieur Look
at her feet; 1t Is her feet that are
dancing. One, two, three"
Thus it went on until the lesson was
/ over.
This is enough for today, monsieur
you will make an excellent dancer
The time will come when | shall feel
proud to have given you your first
lessons. Juliet, you may 60"
The young girl made another cour-
tesy and left the room, while the old
gentleman said to me:
IL hope that / shall be able to in
struct you myself the next time"
But two days later he was feeling
worse and Juliet had to take his
place during both lessons. Wearing a
mask, a heavily padded plastron, she
stood opposite me, foil in hand, while
the old gentleman gave his COM
mand:
Salute! Don't look into mademoi
selle's eyes, monsieur, but at her
hand. Ready! Good! Good"
l made a thrust at my adversary,
while Juliet took her foil into her
left hand and directed mine with her
right.
This will never do" the old man
cried. Monsieur must not be so
careful. Once more! You must at
tack with your full force. Don't be
afraid of Juliet; she's able to look
out for herself. Turn your fingers q
little more outward. That was better,
Once more!"
1t was terrible to me to have to
thrust against this child, with full
force, but 1t had to be and thus we
went through all the movements,
Juliet parrying my thrusts with the
greatest ease, showing herself as
much of a master as her father.
Then came the dancing lesson, and
rs the old man was unable to dance
Juliet was my teacher for weeks. As
III grew more skillful in fencing | Of
ten had a chance to look at the girl
through the wire netting of the mask