FOILS

the exercise a ociated with the use of the fencing-foil, a small sword 33 inches in length, tapering gradually from hilt to point, manufactured as light as po ible, and tipped with a leather button to prevent injury. It is e entially a weapon to thrust with and not to cut. It was used in this country for the first time in Elizabeth’s reign, and since then it been regarded as a particularly suitable weapon for duelling. Whilst originally the education of every man of quality and fashion was regarded as incomplete without considerable practice in the use of the foil, the exercise of fencing has fallen into disuse, more so in this country than on the Continent. The Continental nations display very marked superiority in international contests such as the Olympic Games. In Great Britain prominent contests are exceedingly few and restricted to very few competitors, as in the Public Schools Championships, which are conjoined with boxing and gymnastics, the Inter-’Varsity meeting (Oxford and Cambridge), and the Amateur Championships. A few fencing-clubs are also in existence, often a ociated with well-known schools and teachers of the art, and the gymnasium of every public school po e es in its sergeant, usually a retired non-commi ioned officer, a competent instructor. Neverthele , considering the excellence of the exercise, its comparative neglect is to be deplored.