FELLOWSHIP
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FENIANS
Fellowship (College^ an honor granted by a university to a graduate who shows promise of high attainment, accompanied by an annual stipend. The fellow or recipient of the fellowship is expected to pursue advanced studies in some chosen department of the university. In America these studies usually are along the line of advancement to a higher academic degree. In some instances the fellow is expected to perform some service to the university, as giving a certain amount of instruction, in return for his fellowship. Sometimes traveling-fellowships are given, in which case the fellow has the privilege of using his stipend to visit other universities and pursue his work there instead of at the university granting the fellowship. The income from a fellowship varies from $120 per annum to $1,000 and over, the usual value being $500. The custom of giving fellowships is an old one in several European universities, but of recent origin in the United States. In Oxford University, England, a fellowship used to be granted for life, forfeitable, however, in case of marriage or of attainment to a position in the church or upon admission to the bar. In Cambridge University, England, fellowships are now held for six years. In America they are granted only for one year, but often may be renewed for one or two years more.
Felt, a fabric formed without weaving, made principally from wool. The making of it is an ancient art in some parts of Asia, but the first successful mechanical process was invented by J, R. Williams, an American, about 1825. It is made by forming the wool into thin sheets. A number of these are piled together and then submitted to pressure between rollers, some solid and some hollow, containing steam. The rubbing action forms them into a compact cloth, which is held together by the interlocking of the fibers. Such felt-goods as carpets and table-covers are usually printed with patterns in colors. Felt made from furs is used in the manufacture of hats, etc,
Fencing is the art of attack and defence with foils, swords or any weapon employed for cutting or thrusting. The rise of fencing has been due to the introduction of gunpowder, which rendered armor useless and made it more necessary to defend oneself with one's weapon. The rapier was invented for attack alone, and the dagger used for defence. The use of the blade as both "sword and shield" is a later development, which involved the shortening and lightening of the rapier. The Italian style of fencing is active and violent; the French, which is now more popular, is guarded and reserved. German fencing resembles the Italian type. In student-duels a double-edged blade,, sharpened near the
point, is the weapon employed. In French duels a regular type of small sword, for pointing only and not for thrusting, about 33 inches long, is the ordinary weapon. In fencing, gloves, a leather breastplate and a wire mask should be worn. The foil, which is of steel, is covered at the point by a rubber button.
Some of the terms used in fencing occur so frequently that they should be defined. A. feint is a movement to mislead. A riposte is a thrust made after a parry. A parry is a defence against a thrust. The appel is a smart stamp of the right foot upon the ground in a retreat or a feint. Prime and quarte refer to the part of the body to the left of the blade and above the hand, septime and quinte are also to the left but below the hand. To the right above the hand are tierce and sixte; while octave and seconde are on the right below the hand. In a lunge the right foot is advanced, the left leg straightened and the arm thrust straight forward from the shoulder. To be engaged is to be opposite one another upon guard. To feel the blade is to rest one's sword lightly against the sword of the other in order to foretell his next attack. But the eye is ever the best index of such an intention.
F6nelon (fd-ne-lon'), Francois de Salig-nac de la Mothe a priest of the Roman church, was born in the Chateau de Fe"nelon, Perigord, France, on Aug. 6, 1651. Early in life he showed signs of great piety, and in his twentieth year entered the newly-founded seminary of St. Sulpice to study for the priesthood, and was ordained in 1675. In 1689 Louis XIV appointed him preceptor of his grandson, the young duke of Burgundy. As an acknowledgment of his merits, the king in 1694 presented him to the abbey of St. Valery and in the following year to the archbishopric of Cambrai. Fe*n-elon was a man of breadth of character and practical piety. In middle life he engaged in a long controversy with Bossuet which ended by a decision of the pope against him, March 12, 1699. The beauty of his character was well-brought out in his taking the first opportunity to publish from his own pulpit the brief of his condemnation. His benevolence, charity and liberality were recognized by the allied army in 1709, which was instructed to spare the palace and stores of the archbishop of Cambrai. Fdnelon died on Jan. 7, 1715, and was buried in his cathedral. See Mrs. H. L. Lear's Life. His writings include the famous Adventures of T&lemaque and Dialogues of the Dead.
Fe'nians, a political association of Irishmen having for its object the overthrow of British rule in Ireland. The name is said to be derived from an Irish military organization, called Fionna Eirinn, founded by Sedna II about 400 B. C. The modera
