Out-of-door Amusements and Games-The long Walk continuedFencing Single-stick-Wrestling-Quoits-Gymnastics-CricketBall-games-Golf-Curling-The long Walk concluded.

"BEFORE we go, Mr. Newton," said William, as they prepared to leave the house on their way home, "just let us show Mr. Singleton your nice large room-your 'Gymnasium,' as we call it, where we 've had many a good bout of wrestling and single-stick together; and where," added he, turning to Mr. Singleton, "where Mr. Newton has been good enough to give me some lessons in fencing."

"Ah!" replied Mr. Singleton:

"that noble art

On which agility and grace attend,
With proper manhood keeping company,
As on none other;-making lightest ease
To champion force.""

"Very true," said the somewhat matter-of-fact Alfred Newton, "that's as well described in poetry as if it had been in prose; fencing is much more a matter of skill than strength."

"Exactly," replied Mr. Singleton, smilingly, returning to his quotation:

"To turn the foil

In practis'd hand, almost a wheaten straw
Hath stamina enough. The point deceived,
An infant's arm in distance lounges home;

The art is strength, and length, and everything.'"

"Capital!" exclaimed Alfred Newton, "I don't know who wrote the lines, but they certainly describe fencing well."

66

They are Sheridan Knowles's," answered Mr. Singleton, "and in the same play he gives us a spirited sketch of the

fencer himself, which I doubt not is an equally faithful portrait of your own style of handling the foils:

"He is quick!

His point, and eye do go together! Scarce

You are mark'd, you are hit! His sword is part of him,
Grows to his hand, Sir, as his hand to his wrist;

The very moment that your weapons touch,

He is here, and there, and in !—his lounge, a shot
You see not till 'tis home!" "

Alfred Newton shook his head, and laughed; "I wish it were what you say, Sir; however," added he, throwing open the door of a large, long room, built out at one end of the house, "here is where I amuse myself with trying to attain some skill in the art of defence; which, if it serve but little real purpose in these wisely peaceful times, yet still suffices to keep me in health, and to afford me a pleasant change of amusement when I have gardened long enough."

"Yes, here's the Gymnasium!" exclaimed William, exultingly; and running to where the foils lay, he seized a pair, and putting one into his father's hand, he began making some desperate passes at him, and indeed attacked him so suddenly, that Mr. Warden gave way, laughing and said:

"Your ardour in your new pursuit reminds me of Molière's 'Bourgeois Gentilhomme,' who is so eager to put in practice and display his lately-acquired accomplishment, that he engages in a fencing-bout with his servant-maid, Nicole; and then her vigorous lounges, made in total disregard and ignorance of any rule in art, utterly discomfit and frustrate all his fine lessons of tierce and quarte, aud his fencing master's triumphant demonstration, where he pithily tells him that, 'tout le secret des armes ne consiste qu'en deux choses; à donner et à ne point

recevoir.'

"Besides, William," said Mr. Singleton, "you never gave your father a hint of your intention, by commencing with the salute, which, I think I remember somewhere to have seen said, is indispensable between two gentlemen about to fence together."

"The whole secret of fencing consists in two things only; to give, and not to receive."

222

ANGELO'S BOOK ON FENCING.

"Yes, I know where you met with that, Charles," said Mr. Warden, "it was in that magnificent copy of Angelo's work on fencing, which we looked at together once, in the Museum Library. Do you remember those fine spirited plates in it, representing the different positions of attack and defence, where the expressions in the countenances of the antagonists fluctuate from smiling self-possession in the outset, through various stages of interest, eagerness, disconcerted attack, fierce defiance, alarm, and horror."

"To be sure I do," replied Mr. Singleton, “and I remember our smiling at the gravity and importance in the style of some of the instructions, down to the description of the very salute in question, which he introduces with the following imperative flourish:-'Le salut des armes est une politesse qui est due aux spectateurs, et réciproque entre ceux qui se disposent à faire assaut ensemble. And he afterwards dilates, with extraordinary complacency, and with as careful a minuteness of detail as if the matter in question were a nice point of moral conduct, on the precise manner in which the hat should be held when lifted from the head:-'Le dedans de la forme du chapeau doit être tourné en dehors, et être à la distance d'environ deux pieds, de la cuisse.'t

"It is scarcely mere prejudice, to say that this is exquisitely French," said Mr. Warden, "for surely no people dwell with such unmisgiving solemnity upon trifles as French people do; they almost destroy the effect of their frequently acute remarks upon matters of sterling interest

"The salute in fencing is a courtesy due to the spectators, and mutually so between those who are about to make trial of skill together."

"The inside of the crown of the hat should be held outwards, and at a distance of about two feet from the thigh."

by the strain of hyperbole which they will lavish on the colour of a ribbon, or the precise fit and peculiar cut of a boot. Still, Angelo's book (if, by the bye, he be a Frenchman, for his name is Italian, though he writes in French) is a fine work, and contains admirable instruction in the art of which he was so celebrated a professor."

"Fencing should always form part of the education of a gentleman," said Humphrey Willy, "it inspires such true confidence and courage, besides augmenting personal strength, and bestowing grace, agility, and address."

"In fencing," said Alfred Newton, "everything depends on quickness and justness of eye, and great alertness of wrist. There should be decision and firmness in parrying, and perfect command of body in making a pass or thrust. It is essential to be extremely calm and collected, to be firm on your legs, and to know thoroughly the measure of each movement you make. Steadiness, yet flexibility, power of rapid change of position, complete control over the muscles, a firm grasp of the sword or foil, with a supple, active wrist, and a quick eye, are all of the highest importance, and are advantages which must be assiduously cultivated, and secured by constant practice." "The quarte is universally allowed to be the most advantageous as well as brilliant of all the positions, is it not, Alfred?" asked Mr. Warden.

"It certainly is the safest and strongest," answered Alfred Newton; "but you should