Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-05

rests more than all on love for
the keen struggle for supremacy
between two persons implanted in hui
man nature. But the chances of ply
sical hurts, which are large in box
ing, are reduced in fencing to min
imum. All that can be done by strong
masks, padded gloves and double
thicknesses of leather in the plastron
and cuissard Cthe jacket and small
clothes) is done to render the possi-
bilities of so much as a scratch almost
nil No master or pupil worth his
salt will permit the tyro to flourish
about without a mask, lest an eye
should be injured-and though there
are tales of current broken foils and
of wounds innocently inflicted on the
fencing floor, these must be taken with
the greatest allowance; seldom does
even the fencer who neglects to have
his Jacket we'll reinforced with leather
sustain a scratch.
The pleasurable feeling that ensues
on a bout with the foils is unlike that
after any other kind of exercise. The
energy is more equally distributed
among the muscles and the faculties
are more evenly called out. Every
fiber is in motion, every muscle con-
tracts and expands; yet the WEAKNESS
that comes with all eXertion is so per-
fectlv distributed that the perspiration
starts and the arm or leg becomes
slightly numb before there is a dis
tinct realization of fatigue. At any
moment one can stop for breath or 10
rest. There is no strain on body or
mind like that of boat racing, running,
roller skating, automobiling or b1cyc-
ling. because at any moment one can
desist. =,
Fencing has been always celebrated
for it's training of the eye, whether
the system followed is the Ordinary
one. namely, that the fencer should
watch the eye of his antagonist in or
der to divine what blow he is about TO
make. or the rule advocated by most
fencing masters that the eye should be
always fixed on the hand and wrist
holding the opponents sword. Ihc
combinations of false moves an
thrusts, of turns of the wrist ana OF
brusk attacks on the enemy's sword
form the intellectual enjoyment OF
fencing. which leads its admirer 10
rank il closely to chess and whist in
respect to it's intricate nature and the
need in it of a use of brains. 10 pc
sure. like whist and chess, II is ury
work in the learning; but when a GER
tain progress has been made and there
are men to play with not greatly supe-
rior in power it exerts a fasclnaIloil
like nothing else. Points are OFTEN
mAde on lIle DlOSI ClllSiNiib
by a greenhorn-so even are tne
chances in fencing. Tall men fight
with short men at a very small ad-
vantage. and the older with the young
or. Bows of IA can be soon taught 70
more than hold their own with the or
dinary fencer who works for exerc. Sc
rather than making points. on the
other hand, until an old fencer is no
longer able to stand up and put out
his arm, he is capable of enjoying d
bout. The nearsighted wear eye
glasses safely under the mask; even
the lame and stiff-jointed can choose
a special method of offensive sword
pIay which is very disconcerting ana
wins them points. The energetic use
of the legs in fencing makes 1t the
hest known exercise for men and boyS
who have to stick to their office desks
or schoolrooms eight or ten hours
day. a.. WOW, so
Fencing has been winning its way so
gracefully and steadily throughout me
limited States that no city of much size
is without it's athletic clubs or sales
d'escrime and fencing masters, many OF
the latter. like Tronchet. some years
ago. in San Francisco, Senac in New
York Gignac in Boston and cam IN
Washington, having been famous IN
paris New orleans has always had
i+s salles d'escrime, and nearly all the
fashionable young men of the Crescent
city and a majority of others are