San Andreas independent., 1857-05-23
Turn-Verein May Festival.


9Th, 9th and 7th, the Auxiliary Society of Ger
man Turner'S, of Stockton, held their Third
Annual Festival. On Monday the Society were
out in full strength. The weather was favora-
bic and all went merry as the chimes of
marriage bell" On Saturday night the Fest
commenced with torch-light procession, 1--WE
carried a TORCH headed by the Stockton Cor
net Band, after marching through several of
the principal streets, the procession entered
Turner's Hall, when the Society adjourned to
meet next day for the purpose of marching in
professor to the Camp about mile from town,
on Sarles' ranch, where every preparation was
matured to accommodate the Society and visit
ing guests, of which from six to eight hundred
participated, each day. To describe the anus
ing scenes and the historical as well as legend
ary formula of Turn-Vern Festival, we quote
from the Literary writer, who now edits the
Ledger, published at Jackson, Amador county
e Most of our readers have some ideas of the
National custom among the Germans, which
was observed for the first time in this county
on Sunday and Monday, the 9Th and 9th inst.
In most if not all the larger cities in the United
States, the Germans have their Turn Verein
Societies regularly organized; and, as in the
Fader Land" their Annual Festivities take
place in the month of May.
The particular occasion of which we are
writing was one of special interest to the vast
number of persons other than Germans who
visited the ''Old Camp Meeting Ground" 1t
was interesting because it was novel; it was
interesting because it exhibited, in reality, an
old social custom in the Germanic States; it
was interesting because it portrayed in pleas
ing manner the generous and high social quail
ties of which our German fellow-citizens are
possessed it was interesting, because those
who participated seemed as though they were
again in their native land, enjoying the festive
sports to which they were so much attached in
the days of their youth.
The patriotism of our German fellow-cltlzens
is proverbial; their devotion, in this country,
to democratic republican principles is universal;
and in devoting season to the ancient Gus
toms of the Fatherland-in living over again
for a brief period the happiness OF their youth
full days-in calling to mind the scenes in their
own native country-they but furnish another
evidence that they are true men, and more
worthy if possible than ever of the confidence
and esteem of the American people,
"And lives there man, with soul so dead,
Who to himself hath never said
"Now came grand rush for the ballroom
tent !; and just such ';stag dance" was never
danced before. Pen can't describe Language
would fail if the pen wouldn't! 1t was quad
rille and half the dancers "hoored"-then lager.
A polka, and all hands poked into convulsions
of mirth--then lager. Aschottische, composed
of hand-springs and somersaults-then lager.
A waltz-such waltz-and all hands waltzed
up to the bar for lager So it went, until the
al fire boys" came back and stormed every " ex-
hilirating shop" in town. They tried how much
fun they could have, and vastly exceeded their
own expectations!
In the evening, the party again assembled.
The attendance was much larger than at any
previous time. A large number of ladies were
present. and the dance continued during the
night. We are never disposed to bestow com
pliments but it would be gross injustice not to
say that the grace of the German ladies in the
ball room called forth universal commendation
from the immense throng of :" outsiders pres
ent 1t was gala-night, and right merrily did
it pass. As many outsiders as desired, were
admitted to the ballroom; and all agreed that
the German ladies and gentlemen exhibited To-
wards them the most gallant and generous
bearing They were freely permitted to JOIN IN
the festivities of the occasions; and we observed
that number of the boys appeared peculiarly
happy while being whirled through the misty
mazes OF the waltz" by some German belle,
whose superior I" balance preserved them from
an inglorlous sprawl upon the dancing floor.
A number of our most estimable American
ladies were present spectators, and enoycd
themselves to unlimited extent. It was new
to them but there was naught to offend the
strictest propriety or the most delicate modestv.
We are only sorry that the attendance of this
class of persons was not more general because
we know that all would have been pleased and
amused, and we knoY that all ideas of any real
indelicacv at German May Festivities would
have been effectnally dissipatcd.'