To understand this more clearly, take a common saw, whose edge is set towards the point, and rub your finger from handle to point. However hard you may press, the teeth will not prick you. Rub the other way and the effect will be very different.
To Cut a Sheet of Note-paper Unsupported.
Take a sheet of note-paper, and, half opening it, place it on end on the lead-cutting stool, the acute angle to your left, the opening to your right, and with your handkerchief cutter deliver as at the lead. This is not difficult.
In this and the preceding feats the thumb should be round the grip.
In the following it will be better to lay it on the back.
To Cut an Orange While Falling.
Suspend an orange by a piece of thin thread about four or five feet from the ground. Place yourself with the right toes in a line with the orange, then, with a very light touch of the sword near to the point, cut the thread, and quickly turning the hand, divide the orange as it falls.
The thread may be cut from right to left and the orange from left to right, or vice versâ, whichever you find the handier. In both ways the cuts must be very small and close.
For this and the following feats any light and handy sword will do. It should not be very sharp except close to the point, so that you can cut the thread with ease, and thus cause the orange to fall straight.
