Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/837

 imperfections arising out of long storage in the shop. An injury to the eyes, resulting from the mask giving way before the force of an unparried thrust, is the last thing desired. Such an accident, however, is of the rarest occurrence, and need never happen at all if precautions be taken. The cost of a pair of masks will run from six shillings to twice as much. The jacket, close-fitting and reaching to the hips, may be either of canvas or twill ; the latter will cost a sovereign or so. Canvas will be about half as much. Be sure that it fits easily, especially around the neck and shoulders, and purchase a two-sleeved garment. Gloves or gauntlets are necessary, and the latter are preferable, though rather Fig. 1. How to hold the foil more expensive. Gloves will cost about 5s. a pair, gauntlets 7s. 6d. The foil blades, if the fencer prefer to use her own, and this is wise, will run from 6s. a pair to 21s., the latter being of the Italian pattern and provided with the bell guard. Such prices refer to Solingen blades, which are the best. Cheaper blades (only) can be obtained for as little as eighteenpence each, but they are not to be recommended. Rubber foil tips cost two or three pence each. Fencing cannot be learned from books. Actual tuition at the hands of a master of the art is an absolute necessity. Born fencers there are not ; although some persons learn very much faster than others. To use a foil without that instruction 809 RBCRIATIONS take up the art for pleasure that is given the following information respecting that part of it which may be obtained by reading. Though the first thing the novice has to acquire is the proper method of holding the foil, and next the correct attitude to assume when coming on guard, it is well to get fixed in her mind the idea that the first considera- tion of the fencer is not to touch an opponent, but to prevent herself being hit. Anxiety to score a hit is to be deprecated ; it should be conquered. Its existence leads to all manner of faults and errors of forgetfulness. This may seem a disagreeable hardship, but it is for the fencer's good. A hit is rather the reward, the deserved outcome of a good piece of foil play, than the direct object of the stroke which won it. It is, technically, the circumstances from which a hit results, rather than the touching of an opponent, with which the fencer should be pleased. To Hold the Foil. — Grasp tne hilt so that the thumb lies flat on that side of it which is convex — that is, the upper. The Fig. 2. Position of fingers making the lunge which can be given only personally is to lay the foundation of a bad and totally in- correct style The most that can be obtained from books is an intelligent understanding of the prin- ciples of fencing, a familiarity with and comprehension of the terms employed, an in- sight into what one may do and may not do. Fencing is never wholly learned. A great performer with the foil once said that it was only when he was getting too old to apply the knowledge that he was beginning to know the art. As with the expert pianist, to whom constant practice is a necessity, the expert fencer must keep up fencing, unless her skill and tech- nique are to suffer. But much pleasure may be obtained from a piano without the performer being a genius, and so it is with fencing. And it is to those fencers who Fig. 3. Hand in pronat'on — that is, with the palm undermost forefinger is beneath, and must not be too greatly crooked ; in fact, of the top joint only the lowest part should actually touch the hilt. The other fingers are close up, and all touching, but the angle of the little finger and the palm should not come into contact with the hilt. The grasp must be firm and yet light. The foil is manoeuvred with the fingers rather than the other part of the hand. One does not use a foil as one would a carving-knife. Fig. i. Some slight changes of grip take place during actual fencing, but the principle of Fig. 4. Hand in supination— that is, with the palm uppermost a light grip remains the same. Thus, in making the lunge, which is a thrust at one's opponent, there is a momentary alteration of finger position, due to the tightened pressure of the fingers, which come into the position shown in Fig. 2. There are two terms in use in fencing for defining the condition of the hand which are apt to puzzle the tyro : " Hand in pronation " and " hand in supination." The meanings are perfectly simple, as reference to Figs. 3 and 4 clearly indicate. To be continued, 2 H