Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 18.djvu/879

SWITZERLAND. 765 SWORD. I and resources, Wirth, AUgemeine Beschrcibung und Htutistik dcr ticltuciz (Zurich, 1871-75); Geering anil Holtz^ Die UaniUlspolitik dcr Hcha-eiz am Aiisyuitg dcs I'J. Jahrhundcrts (Ber- lin, 1902). Government. Reymond, Etudes sur les institutions cii:ilcs dc la Suisse (Geneva, 1885) ; Adams and Cunningham, The Swiss Con- federation (London, 1889) : Jloses, Federal Gov- ernment of Sicitzerland (Oakland, Cal., 1889) ; Vincent, Stale and Federal (lorernment in Suit:- erland (Baltimore. 18111); Winchester, The Sniss Republic (Philadelphia, 1891); Salis, Le droit federal suiusc (2d ed., Berne, 1902). History. Hug and Stead, Suitzerland (Xew York, 1S9U) ; Daguet, Histoire de la conftdira- tion Suisse depuis les teni/is ancicns jusqu'eii JS6', (7th ed., Paris, 1880) ; Muydin, Histoire de la n^ition Suisse (Lausanne, 1890-97) ; Jliiller, Monnard and XulViemin. Histoire de la Suisse (19 vols., Paris, 1837-51), indispensable as a refer- ence work; Jlorin, I'reeis, de I'histoire politiijue de la Suisse (Geneva, 1855-75) ; Diindliker, Geschiehte dcr Sehu-eiz (Zurich, 1892-1902); Vullietv, Ln Suisse a travrrs les ayes (Paris, 1902)." SWIV'ELLER, Dick. A lively young man in Dickens's Old Ciiriosity Shop, very flowery in language and untidy in dress. He finally mar- ries 'tile Marchioness.' SWORD (AS. su-cord, OHG. sicert, Ger. Schu'crt, sword; of uncertain etymology-). In its general sense, every steel weapon of offense or defense larger than the dagger or poniard; in modern military usage the term sicord is used to describe the infantry or straight weapon, and sabre for the slightly cui'ved weapon of the cavalryman. Although the distinction is clearly marked in German}' by the employment of Dcgen for the straight sword and Stibel for the curved weapon, the custom with other nations is to employ a single word for botli varieties. The sword always has been, and is at present, a personal weapon; so much so that in the prose and poetry of all na- tions it is often endowed with human as well as superhuman qualities. To surrender the sword has always been a token of submission, and the breaking of it a most impressive ceremony of deg- radation, while to kiss the sword is even to- day with Orientals the highest form of oath and homage. The first sword was undoubtedly of liard wood, and judging from the widely scat- tered area in which it has been proved to have been known, its employment must have been practically spontaneous among all the peoples whose stage of civilization rendered possible its use. Wooden swords were part of the equipment of the Indians of Virginia, according to the state- ment of Captain .John Smith. Greek literature refers more frequently to the spear and bow than to the sword, as is the case with the Roman and Hebrew writings. According to the testimony of the Greek works of art. the leaf- shaped blade sword was the one used by the Greeks in historical times, although the Greeks, almost alone of the ancient peoples, held the sword in but slight estimation. The ancient sword was usually worn on the left side sus- pended by a belt from the shoulder, although it was sometimes slung more forward, bringing the hilt in the front, or else suspended from a girdle around the waist. With the Egyptians the sword of bronze was carried in its leather scabbard in front of the body, and thrust in the sword bell in a sloping direction from right to left. The Assyrians seem to have possessed the weapon most nearly approacliing the sword of to-day. It was straight and narrow and ap- parently designed for tlirusting as much as for cutting. The pointed sword of the Roman legion- aries was invariably successful when opposed to the pointless weapons of their enemies. On the other hand, most Asiatic nations to this day continue to use the sword as a cutting weapon, its curved shape usually preventing any use of the point. Tlius the swords, military and civil, of to-day may be said to be descended from the Kuro]H'an straight sword and the Eastern scimitar or tulwar. Under Fencing will be found the his- tory of the sword up to the present day. Asia has been more prolific in the matter of variety of blades than has Europe : for instance, the yataghan of the Mohammedan races with its double curve is a compact and formidable w-eai)on, as also is the kuhri of the Gurkhas, which resembles the yataghan except that it is considerably broader in the blade. The pata, a long straight-hilted sword, is found in the south of India, wliile in the north the Icatiir, a broad-bladed weapon with a cross-bar handle, was for a long time in favor. The Japanese swords are many in number and characteristic to a de- gree of the Japanese people. They may be clas- sified as two-edged swords called tsurugi, and one-edged swords called in general Icatana. The tsurugi is the primitive weapon of .Japan, and is now rarely met with except as an ornament in temples. It was from 28 to 40 inches long and about 2io or 3 inches wide, and in the middle up to % of an inch thick. It ended in a sharp point and often thickened and broadeneii toward the point. It was evidently designed more for cutting than for thrusting. The Icatann or one-edged sword is also a cutting rather than a thrusting weapon, but is a much more handy sword than the tsurugi. The various varieties of the ka'tana are named according to their length, which is measured from the guard (at the inner end) to the hilt of the point, as: Lachi ; Uatana proper: uakizashi; tauto; and many others. The katana proper is from 2 feet 6 inches to 2 feet 9 inches long, and is the common straight sword of the .Japanese military class. The tautd or short sword was the weapon allowed to be worn by the tradesmen, and all others not al- lowed to wear the katana. The kuwaiken is a small sword worn by the ladies of the military class. The modern military sword of all civilized na- tions is so constructed as to combine all the advantages of cutting and thrusting. The thrust is regarded as by far the most effective attack, but as it demands considerable skill and coolness, and as the average soldier (who in modern cam- paigns will in the majority of instances have been hastily taken from civil life) cannot be always counted upon to remember his training and will very naturally use the cut. it has led to the compromise above descrilied. A good sword is required to be sufficiently elastic to permit of its being bent, or to resist a heavy blow without breaking or other injuiy. and also to be strong enough to deliver a thrust without bend-