1S83.J on the Forms and History of the Sicord. 395 



is too remotely connected witli the main part of tlie subject to be 

 dwelt upon here ; the duels in question, for the rest, have been often 

 and ]»rettT recently described by English observers. The rapier and 

 the small-sword are weapons of single combat, not of general military 

 use ; the small-sword is too fragile, the rapier both too fragile and too 

 long, for a soldier's convenience. It is true that it was proposed by no 

 less an authority than ITarshal Saxe to arm cavalry with Ions bavouet- 

 shaped swords, and his opinion has been followed by at least one 

 modern -writer. But it is founded on the erroneous notion that a good 

 cutting sabre cannot have a good point, and therefore either the edge 

 or the point must be wholly sacrificed : a notion which has so far 

 prevailed that late in the eighteenth century an excessively curved 

 light cavalry sabre (apparently copied with close fidelity from an 

 Indian model) was introduced throughout the armies of Europe. It 

 was the weapon of our light dragoons all throusrh the Peninsular and 

 Waterloo campaigns, and efiective for cutting, but almost or quite 

 useless for pointing. Even now there remains a certain diflerence in 

 most services between the shape of the light and the heavy cavalry 

 swords, the heavy cavalry sword being straighter, or sometimes per- 

 fectly straight. But it is pretty well understood by this time that 

 one and the same sword can be made, though not so perfect for 

 thrusting as the duelling sword, nor so powerful for cutting as an 

 Indian talwiir or the old dragoon sabre, yet a very sufiicient weapon 

 for both purposes. A blade of moderate length, not too broad, and 

 lightened by one or more grooves running nearly from hilt to point, 

 may be shaped with a curve too slight to interfere gravely with the 

 use of the point, yet sensible enough to make a difierence in favour 

 of The edge. This plan is now generally followed. 



The use of the edge, after being unduly neglected in consequence 

 of the startling efiectiveness of the rapier-point, has also been more 

 carefully studied in modern times. Closely connected with the error 

 just now mentioned, that the same blade cannot be good for both 

 cutting or thrusting, is an equally erroneous belief that a cut cannot 

 be delivered with sufficient force except by exposing one's whole 

 body. The old masters of rapier-fence already knew better. What 

 says Grassi in the contemporary English version ? " By my counsel 

 he that would deliver an edge-blow shall fetch no compass ^vith his 

 shoulder, because whilst he beareth his sword far ofi\ he giveth time 

 to the wary enemy to enter first ; but he shall only use the compass 

 of the elbow and the wrist : which, as they be most swift, so are they 

 strong enou£rh if they be orderly handled." This is exactly what 

 the best modern teachers say. Though sabre-play cannot rival the 

 refinements of the lighter and more subtle small-sword, there is 

 much more science in it than would be supposed by any one not 

 acquainted with the matter ; and it may easily be seen that a pair of 

 single-stick players who have learnt from a good master do, in fact, 

 expose themselves wonderfully little. Xor is it easy to say on which 

 side the advantage ought to be in a combat between foil and sabre, 



