WOMEN AS FENCERS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 280, 19 August 1908, Page 5

WOMEN AS FENCERS.

It would he impossible without taking a house-to-house. census to estimate at all nearly the number of ladies in-Loudon who practise tho art of. fencing (says the "Ladies' field"). To say that thero are several hundreds is to be well inside tho mark. At any rate, the number is large enough to justify the existence of some ten schools of arms, the Ladies' London' Fencing Club, and the employment in the various physical training colleges of old army sergeants, whose teaching, if it lacks the polish of tho French school, turns out very vigorous feiicers. Nor is this all; numbers of ladies;who belong td neither school nor club take private lessons, receiving visits from a professionn.l instructor at their own homes. This is in London. In tho provinces different conditions obtain, and most of tho fencing is taught and learnt in-tho gymnasiums and schools of physical culture. But the standard of fencing is not so high as in London. In all the London fencing schools the pupils enjoy the privilogo of receiving instruction at the hands of Frehch professors, each 0110 of them a specialist and past-master with the foils. Small wonder, then, that Loudon fencers are superior to their sisters of {ho provinces, who rely for their skill in and knowledge of the art upon the often rough-and-ready- teaching of a mere gymnasium instructor. Very much more has naturally been done in London than in other jig towns to foster and promote tho cause of fencing among ladies. A couple of hours a day for three or four days a Week is no moro than many an ardent and ambitious fencer will undertake ii: tho 'matter of practice; aiid fencing is nut light work, it takes heavy_ toil of both wind and limb. In tho very pink of condition a skilful fencer, provided she be hatviy. might indulgo in an hour's bout wii.r.out becoming exhausted, hut iho untrained fun.-or would probably cry ' enough" after a quarter of that time. Skill is, oF cor.;se, or tho first important , but "condition" iu also an essential atijunci. Endowed with tho necessary physical qualifications the tyro will, in most cases, make quick progress in the preliminaries of tho art, and in same cases bocome a passably good fencer after half-a-dozen lessons. No one, however, can hopo to become a really finished fencer under two years. That is tho minimum limit. It is, often doublo that time before any real proficiency is acquired. Quickness of wrist is tho thing that comes latest, and until this comes tho crowning fascination of fencing lias never been experienced. What is it that constitutes/the charm of)

foncing? To tlm uninitiated spectator it is tho graco of tho poise, the lightness, quickness, and poetry of tho movement, tho click and glimmer of tho foils and the senso of combativcness in tho fencers. To tho spectator who possesses u technical knowlcdgo of foncing, it is all these, pins an intelligent appreciation of the various thrusts and parries and their counters, together with tho many devices and play of swords which make up tho art of fencing. But to tho fencer herself the charm is greater and moro varied. First of all, thero is the excitement of trying to baffle her opponent's intentions and to elude her defence, and then tho delight when theso endeavours are attended with succcss. It is necessary to be a fencer to understand what is the exhilarating senso of lunging and making a proper nso of tho wrist. In this lunging and wristplay lies the chief fascination of foncing. But it is impossible to define at all adequately in words tho charm of fencing. It is indelinablo and only practical experience will supply a 'satisfactory definition.