GLITTERING OF STEEL

NZ Truth, Issue 1199, 22 November 1928, Page 18

GLITTERING OF STEEL

Swords Flash In Salle d'Armes On Guard, M'zelle

"Salle d'armes" reads the notice pointing 1 the way to a room four flights up m Woodward Street, Wellington-' Many of the passers-by who glance curiously at tho notice have very little idea of what, precisely, a "salle d'armes" may be — still less, that m the upstairs room all the glitter, clash and skill of a French duel may be seen every night.

SIX months ago, Clement May, who hails from London and teaches elocution and the theatre arts to Wellington pupils, had a very bright idea. The "salle 'd'armes" is the idea put into practice. "In London," says Clement May, "the first ' thing 1 that a stage candidate is asked by her prospective manager is: "Can you use the foils?" And 'if she can't, it is insisted that she should learn. Fencing owes its popularity among stage folk to the fact that; it teaches them the divine art of walking gracefully. Pupils, learn how to use their hands and feet. ' A good f oiler is very seldom' self-conscious and almost always symmetrical ' and graceful. King Edward held that there was no art like the -swordsman's for the teaching of "deportment" — and the good King was supposed to- be a judge. Sir Frank Benson has a school of fencing attached to his theatre and all his girl artists must try their hand, with the foils. So here m Wellington, the salle ■ d'armes was opened and a master fencer, M. Emile JBornet. took :on the task of teaching young New Zealand how-to pink its man — or woman, for most of the pupils are young girls. M. Bernet was for five years foils instructor to the principal fencing school m Paris', and has taught also m Belgium and Switzerland. His blade— which was trained m a French regiment, has flashed against some of the best m Europe, and the duels between master and pupil, m the •Wellington Salle d'Armes, are an exceedingly pretty sight. "Grand salute!" The slim blades are swung smartly- round to heel, raised above the head, put. through various paces, and finally clicked m most mar r tial manner. Gauze masks are donned ' — lending a fierce aspect to the de,miirest pupil— and the battle 'is on. : The duel, of course, bristled . with ;fine points and French names — riposte, tierce, parry, all very mystifying to the onlooker, But what- isn't mystifying: is the attraction that fencing has for ifnir ladies. It is an art of grace — swift movements, the flicker of steel, breathless.; speed, and unholy satisfac-

Grand Salute!

tion when, the button touches the red heart outlined on the fencing master's costume. By no' means least of the. attractions is the smart little costume worn by the girl pupils — who number round about thirty, and who are staging a special display m the Town Hall for the benefit of the Sports Queen, Miss Sybil Swinburne. A white waistcoat, pointed and buttoned up the front, keeps company with a brief little bin ck serge skirt black i stockings and black shoes. All the girls — whose ages range from fifteen vp — are slim ami dainty, though perhaps, as its supporters claim, thismay be the result of the gentle exercise of fencing. The little lady who is shown on this page m the act of landing the "button" fair and square on her fencing master's chest is Miss Eteneveaux. a pupil of the Salle d'Armes. Though of French blood, Miss Eteneveaux is New Zealand born, but cvi- ■ dently one of her ancestors was ' something of a dab with the -foils, . for m six months she ' has picked up a surprising amount of swordcraft, and her bouts with M. Bernet are exhibitions of genuine skill. She is to be fencing and- croquet representative, m Sybil Swinburne's sport cortege, and takes a big part m the Town Hall display. Miss Eteneveaux is a tiny, blackhaired maiden, with dark eyes smiling m a round little, face; if she kept perfectly still, she could pose as one of the fetching French lady-dolls, which Milady of Gay. Paroe stands on her: boudoir table — but stillness is not- the part of the little swordswoman, who is overflowing with vivacity, and looks perfectly happy, if warm, at the end of ten minutes'- steel-clashing with M Bernet. . . : The school is teaching many young New Zealand girls grace, of movement nnd quickness of foot, and is undoubtedly" one of the , most healthy exercises possible for youth. , Wellington is the first to lead off with a "salle d'armes," .but it would be no bad thing for our physical culture folk to establish such a school m every centre.