Place your feet together, with your sword hand resting on the bend of the left arm, the edge of the sword turned up. Take two quick steps to your front, beginning with the left foot, and as you make the second, deliver an upward cut with a good edge, throwing the point of the sword high in the air, so that when the veil separates the two parts will have some distance to fall. A good effect will thus be produced.
At the finish of this cut, as in the lead cutting one, the arm should be brought straight.
The feat may also be done with a cambric or a silk handkerchief (the latter is very difficult), or with a kid glove or ribbon.
When ribbon (which should be very narrow) is used, have three or four colours, about a yard of each, and lay the whole on the sword at once.
After cutting them once, take all the pieces and cut them again. If they are thrown high they will somewhat resemble the coloured fire falling from a sky-rocket, and will have a very pretty effect.
Gauze is the best textile to practise with. Try to cut a yard of it into as many pieces as possible, always taking care to fold each piece lengthways before placing it on the sword.
When you can do this well, try something more difficult.
For this and the preceding feat you require a special sword called a handkerchief cutter. It should have the edge of and be kept as sharp as a razor.
The edge should be ground and set towards the hand, and when sharpening or stropping it, you should always rub from point to hilt.
If you look through a very powerful magnifying glass you will find the edge of a sword is serrated like a saw, but not so regularly; therefore, by having the teeth pointed towards the hilt, the edge more readily lays hold of the veil.