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THE NEW METHOD OF FENCING. 405 
Italy. During the 17th and 18th cen- 
turies numerous schools flourished in 
that country, and almost every one of 
the larger cities had its own style of 
fencing, which was sometimes much 
at variance with other methods ; some- 
times only differed in minor details. 
Of course the weapon used was the 
rapier, or small sword, and only the 
thrust was attempted. Parrying was 
done with the blade or hilt of the 
sword, and sometimes a cloak or coat 
rolled around the left arm was used 
to parry or deflect thrusts. It is that 
method of fencing which inspired 
and continued to be held in that coun- 
try for a long period. England, Ger- 
many and other European countries 
took up the small sword reluctantly, 
considering it the arm of a weakling, 
but in recent times they have all at- 
tained marked proficiency. Since the 
beginning of the nineteenth century 
the broad sword was taken up, and its 
use spread rapidly, as it appealed to 
more energetic and aggressive natures. 
This weapon is about 3 feet long 
and the blade is 34 to an inch in 
width, with one sharp edge and a mod- 
erately sharp point. It is used for cut- 

STOMACH CUT (PARRY LOW QUARTE.) 
Alexander Dumas, the father, to write 
those fascinating descriptions of the 
heroic exploits of Bussy, D’Artagnan, 
and numerous other characters in his 
unparalleled romances. 
Another and more recent epic on 
fencing was written by Conan Doyle 
in “The White Company,” of which 
Sir Nigel Loring is the hero, always 
ready to enter a sword contest, sug- 
gesting to his opponent that they might 
gain much honor and advancement 
from the encounter. In Spain Don 
Cesar de Basan is the hero of swords- 
manship. During the 17th and 18th 
centuries the supremacy in the art of 
fencing passed from Italy to France, 
ting only, and the principles of this 
stvle of fencing are simple and few. 
Up to within the last 10 years there 
were thee 2 methods of fencing: the 
small sword, or rapier, which was 
practised with the foil, and in which 
the thrust only was employed; and the 
broad sword, which confined itself to 
cutting. The German student, in or- 
der to satisfy his craving for gore and 
glory, employs a hybrid arm, called the 
Schlager, which has the shape of the 
rapier, or straight sword,- but is used 
like the broad sword for cutting. Its 
field of usefulness is limited to the 
head and face only, probably because 
that part of their anatomy is the hard- 
