The heretofore despised "parlour gemes" seem to have swung right back into favour in England as a means of amusing guests. "Philine" sends news of the ver; latest—- already a continental craze and w is feet set on home shores. It is duelling with tiny swords fixed to the forefinger. Of course a knowledge of fencing is a big advantage, for the fights are conducted according to the approved rules of Italian iencing.
The swords are fairy things, two or three inches only in length. The fighters' forearms lie on a table, the hand is free and the movements of ihe tiny weapons are governed by deft wriggles of the wrist and joints. No advance beyond an indicated line is permitted. An umpire keeps count of every thru watches over the strict observance of rules. If the match is merely a friendly one, the regulation rounds are fought as in a full-sized fencing contest. But if a serious affair of honour is to be fought out between the contestants, then a regular duel is arranged—the end being only when blood is drawn or "complete exhaustion" sets in. This latter does not take long, for finger-joints tire easily!
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.