Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-20
FENC|NGREVVAL
|S0N IN DISTRICT
Capital Society Seems Intent
Upon Regaining Popularity
for Sport.
COL. ROBERT M. THOMPSON
HEADS RE0RGANIZED CLUB
Formal Opening of the New Rooms
at 1920 Connecticut Avenue Set
for October l.

1t would appear that diplomatic.
official and military society is intent
upon bringing the sport of fencing
back to the place of popularity and
fashion formerly enjoyed by 1T in the
days when the late Count Arthur Cas-
sini formerly Russian ambassador to
the United States. was the chief patron
of the old Washington Fencers' Club.
and experts with the sword were
trained to such a high state of pro-
ficiency as to bring the national anna
teur fencing championship at least
once to the city of Washington
The bouts with saber and dueling
sword and foil held in former days in
the club used to attract the sport-lov-
ing folk of Washington. The interest
of the foreign diplomats gave the sale
d'armes a cosmopolitan air that at
tracted people, probably by the pleas
ant society afforded as much as by the
exposition of good sport But there
came a falling away in interest, and
for the last few years only a small
circle of enthusiasts has kept the sport
alive in the city.
Now. under splendid auspices. 1t seems
as If Washington is to take its proper
place again as one OF the premier lenclns
cities of the United States. Inc old
Washington Fencers' Club Is being re-
OF some of the best known personages OF
the capital. Col. Robert M. Thompson,
the famous American patron of sport,
who has done so much for athletics In
general by his generous support OF the
American team in the Olympic games.
and who has always been particularly in
terested In the practice of arms, Is the
president Of the newly organized CLUB. Sir
Arthur Cecil Spring-Rice. the new British
ambassador who. during his former tour
of duty in Washington. was a fencing en-
thusiast, has lent the prestige of his as
ISOLATION by accepting the vice presidency
of the club.
Henry Breckenridge Secretary.
The secretary is Henry Breckenridge.
the assistant secretary of war Mr..
breckenridge was captain OF his Fencing
team while a student at Princeton Uni
versity, and continued his keen interest
in the sport while attending the law
school at Harvard University. While at
the law school he won the amateur cham
pionship Of New England both with the
foil and with the dueling sword. and
should make a very strong addition to the
club team. The assistant secretary. while
student at Princeton also was MEM
Der of the Washington Fencers CluD
team, and as such was a member or the
team which twice won the handsome
| trophy offered by Count Cassini.
Mr.. Breckinridge's brother, DR.. Scott
D. Breckenridge, practcing surgeon OF
| the capital, is the captain OF the sale
d armes of the club and the real Fencing
leader of the community, having been IN
succession intercollegiate fencing cham
pion, national amateur fencing champion
and a member of the last Olympic team
which competed in Europe.
One of the attractive features OF fenc-
| ing it is appeal not only to man. but to
| the fair sex. The sword is very mucn
| like Carlyle's definition of gunpowder-
1t makes all men equally tall; and the
| fact that finesse rather than mere brute
strength is the determining factor In
making a fencing expert makes this
sport appeal to the sport-loving woman
as well as the virile man. In the past
such well known leaders of washington
society as the Countess Cassini, Mrs.
| Christian Hemmick, and Misses Ffoulke,
Foraker. Berry and May have been MEM
bers of the club. AS 1t Is planned to have
a ladies' annex to the new club. 1t Is
hoped that the fencing teas and informal
| gatherings which made the old club
house on 10Th street so interesting and
unique a feature Of Washington social
life will be revived In time to add their