Page:Angelo's Pic Nic.djvu/90

 AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE singular élive, they occasionally met to fence together, and to keep up the science, setting the example to the many who, though they may have had the best masters-it is not merely the lesson can make thein excel, without the absolute necessity of keeping up the practice, at the same time promoting that health, which otherwise they might be deprived of, without that sudorific produced by the foil in preference to master Galen. Hearing that a Monsieur Micheles, fencing master at Brighton, was patronized by Mr. Leslie, to me was a sufficient estimation of his abilities; and being informed he was much taken notice of by the nobility and gentry there. Desirous to be introduced to him, my friend took me to his house, where, after a civil reception, having been previously informed of my intended visit, he exhibited before me, jleuret à la main; not with one of his scholars, or inferior antagonists, but with a French amateur, whose scientific knowledge and execution must have been acquired from long practice abroad. Pleased, seeing the correctness and science of the old school, the veritable attack and defence, if not so strictly attended to now, no disparagement to the efforts of the present school, when some learn for a few months, only because it is genteel, and they have had the first masters; some for a good sweat, and, like the school-boy, impatient to read before he can say his A B C, fence loose before they can thrust carte and tierce; no wonder they are ferailleurs, far different to those who not only learn for amusement, but, strictly attending to the master, become scientific and good swordsmen. As I have as yet said very little of the art, my intention being to write more at a future time, I cannot refrain from mentioning one of my former scholars, who had practised at my room for a number of years, adopting a method peculiar only to himself, and very 28