Evening star., 1937-04-18

n past Winter turned to one
" of the most ancient of the
skilled sports, one which
has been in partial eclipse in the
National Capital for nearly decade.
Fencing, which was we'll developed
technically when Hectors chariot
rumbled along the lofty walls Of Troy
and which has been for hundreds OF
years the glamorous pastime of gen.
tlemen, is again in full flower here.
The greatest step in this revival has
been the reorganization Of the Wash
ington Fencers Club, affiliated with
the Amateur Fencing League of Amer
lea, the national governing body of
the sport. The Washington club had
functioned actively for nearly SO
years before lapsing into dormancy in
1928. In the first season of its rebirth
1t boasts among its members some OF
the outstanding swordsmen of the
country and brings Clovis Deladrier,
maitre d'armes of the United States
Naval Academy, to Washington at
least once a week to give individual
instruction to its members. The Off
GERS Of the club include the Ambas-
sador of Ecuador, Colon Elroy AL
faro; Col Edwin Emerson, David
Moore, James Ulmer, Maj. Walter E.
Blount, Comdr E. w. Broadbent.
Capt. S. L. Conner and Lieut.. Col.
H. M. Rayner
In addition, fencing teams and
classes are to be found in several OF
the exclusive girls schools, at least
two public high schools, the stage
training academies, some colleges, the
Y. NJ C. A. and the Community Gen.
ter Department. There are at least
three private fencing floors, such as
the Sale dArmes Jacob Won Braam,
named in honor of the man who taught
George Washington sWordsmanship.
which have carried on the coaching
Of fencers for several years.
The highlight of the amateur fenc-
ing season in the Capital was April g.,
when several dozen amateur novices-
men and women who had never won
In q recognized match-competed for
eight gold and silver medals and an
imposing array Of weapons In the
Maj. Walter E. Blount Medal compe-
tition under the auspices Of the
Fencers Club at the Coast Artillery
Armory. Another interesting event
was the fencers' ball at the University
Club on George Washington's birth
day.
An interesting coming event will be
a match between the Y. M. c. A. and
the younger members of the Fencers'
Club, at the Coast Artillery Armory
next Friday night.
There Is a fascination about fenc-
ing which quickly turns the beginner
into a zealot, and much of this fas-
cination probably Is due to the his
torical background Of swordsman-
ship. Many of the strictest of mod
ern-day social customs have descend
ed from the swordsmans etiquette Of
the days Of chivalry, and as sport
fencing today scrupulously preserves
the courtesies OF . bygone era. Even
in warming g-up" matches, the con-
testants never fail to salute formally.
Not only at the beginning and end
Of encounters but each time point
is made, the loser is expected to &C
knowledge with salute.
Among the customs included in the
heritage OF the blade is the hand
shake, q survival Of the custom of ex-
tending the open sword hand as a
sign of peaceful intent and the plac-
ing Of ones fighting hand in the grasp
Of another denoting confidence. The
tipping OF mans hat is similar, de-
scending from the armed knights lift
ing the visor Of his helmet in the
presence Of ladies. giving a possible
opponent the greatest advantage and
calling on his sportsmanship not to
engage in combat. When q gentle
man offers his lady his right arm he
does SO because his forebears wore
their swords on their left side.
One Of the strangest Of our inheri-
tAnces from the swordsmen Of old in
wolves our right to vote at 81. During
the Middle Ages the Germanlc peoples
Of Northern Europe were extremely
strict In the matter OF civil rights, and
one Of these rights concerned the
bearing Of swords. Only freemen, those
of gentle birth could carry a blade
Boys of this class were considered ba-
bies until they were years old, then
they began training as boys, learning
to fence with wooden sticks. When
they reached the age of IA years they
we're given swords with blunted points
and edges and took their places as
squires to the older gentlemen. It was
only when they reached the age Of II
and proved to their superiors they
could defend themselves that they
were invested with the weapon denot-
ing full manhood. And today many
civil rights accrue to boy Of II years
under the common law, while he takes
his place as q man and q citizen only
bMhen he reaches the age of 81.
nVsWlly fencing has none Of the
,s blood and thunder of boxing, although
saber contest can be highly exciting
If the contestants are more enthusias-
tic than expert. In that case it may
IehsilN become a crash and bang affair
e after the first few feints. But to the
expert, crash and bang mean nothing
Every wild flourish of the blade. spec
-tAerfAr as the novice may imagine
himself, only leaves him open to at
TACK good fencer keeps his entire
body covered by his blade, even when
he is making an attack.
OF the three weapons recognized In
nnodnry fAprinc thA foil u NrOaajd Arntj