Sport: Stab Register

Contrary to popular legend, Frenchmen are not emotional, like Germans, but the most rational race in the world. In a Parisian salle d'armes last week one Dr. Armand Massard, inventive swordsman, President of the Parisian Federation of Fencing, exhibited a device to rationalize duelling. Frenchmen applauded.

Like navigation, electrodynamics, foil fencing is an exact science. Its only drawback is the necessity for sharp-eyed judges crouching on the sidelines to shout "touche" every time a fencer's sword point touches the plastron of his adversary.

Whether a fence has actually been touched or not is...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!