Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-20

OF the celebration of the twenty-hfth ami
versary of the organization Of the Washington
Schuetzen yerein. There was beer, to begin
with, then plenty OF rain, then lots Of Rhenish
wine, so dear 70 the German palate, and finally
more rain. There was no lack Of moisture
both for the inner and outer man, and, as r re-
suit, all OF the happy philosophy Of the
| Teuton came to the surface amid the un.
| pleasantness Of the weather and the discord-
ant elements were forgotten. But laugh as loud
| as they would, and sing as hard as they could
they could not drown the fact that the rain
had interfered with the success OF the occasion
for there Is no doubt that had it OF been for the
thunder storms that kept chasing each other
across the sky the hundreds present would
| have been swelled to thousands on this great
/ festal day among the erman-Americans.
| THE OPENING PROCEEDINGS.
The program contemplated that the exercises
of the occasion should begin at o'clock, and
| Honorary President Simon Wolf and Actual
President Hockemeyer stood ready to begin
when that hour arrived. The Sengerbund was
on time, entering the gates promptly at 6
o'clock. line was soon formed and. headed
by Donch's Band, the society marched down to
the pavilion. But the slim crowd disheartened
the managers OF the event, and they decided to
postpone things awhile in order to give those
who were waiting for the clouds to break an
opportunity to get to the park.
THE TURNER'S.
Meanwhile the jollity was going on in the
grounds. Suddenly burst of music came
through the trees and a line was seen winding
down the muddy path to the pavilion. First
came the band and behind it was a string of
humanity in knickerboekers and light blue
trimmings, shading down from slim young
man Six feet two inches tall to black-headed
little fellow scarcely three feet above ground.
These were twenty-five pupils of the Turn
Nerein and they were on their way to give an
exhibition of their muscularity. The pavilion
was by this time pretty well filled and the dusk
had become so great that it was necessary to
light the gas jets, which protested vigorously
against the onslaught of the winds that caused
them to sputter and hiss.
THE EXHIBITION.
The exhibition was hugely enjoyed by the
crowd, the performances of the little fellow at
the end of the line winning for him rounds of
applause. For three-quarters of an hour they
went through their movements i'll marching
running. on the parallel bars and over the
dumb horses, and when they had completed
their maneuvers they marched back to the hall
and changed their costumes. BY this time it
was quite dark.
THE PROCESSION FORMED.
Presidents HockeIneyer and Wolf put their
heads together and decided to proceed with
the program. So another procession was
formed of the band, the S9ngerbund, the Ger
mania M9nnerchor, the Turn Verein and the
executive committee of the Scheutzen Verein,
and the road to the pavilion was tramped over
again. Between the band and the rest of the
line marched Messrs. Anton Eberly and Chris.
Heurich, proud of heavy burden they carried
between them with great care. 1t was a square
package done up in brown paper. sealed on
one side with three great splotches of wax.
Behind this walked Mr.. Paul Schultz. After
several turns around the pavilion the process
sion came to a halt i'll the center around the
square package, in front of which Mr. Schultz
stood with his hat off. Everybody else I'M
covered.
PRESENTATION.
Facing Mr. Schultz were the officers Of the
Schuetzen yerein-Messrs. Wolf and Hocke-
meyer in the center. Then Mr. Schultz began
his speech in German, presenting to the
verein a tablet designed by him commemora-
tive of the occasion and expressive of the
good will felt by the German-American citizens
toward the society. The tablet is surmounted
by vignette' emblematic of socIability. Be-
meath is a pedestal, in the center of which is a
Tyre; to the one side is the cOat-of-arms Of the
Technique societies surrounded with laurel,
and on the other those of the turner gym
nastic) societies, ornamented with the rod, de-
noting strength. The Tyre is decorated with
palm, representing peace; also with floral
wreath. The inscription is in German text,
and the whole is signed by the different Ger
man societies of the District.
Mr.. SCHULTZ ADDRESS.
Mr.. Schultz, in his speech. said: II consider
it a special honor and particular pleasure to
tender to you the heartiest and best wishes Of
the Germans of this city on this occasion 1t
will not be considered strange that SO many of
our nationality-and more would be present
but for the stormy weather-should today evil
dence their interest by their presence when
we consider how much your association has
contributed to the social life of our city and
how much you have furthered every enterprise
of public character. May your association
grow and prosper, not only that its members
may be together to pass social hours, but to
perform acts that will benefit the general well
fare.
Mr.. President, / am directed to tender to you
these memorial resolutions 10 testify that you
have earned our esteem and confidence. and
that they shall be a reminder that the WASH
ington Scheutzen Verein not only has a warm
corner in the hearts of its countrymen, but
also the entire community of this District In
conclusion ask one and all to Join me in pro-
posing the health, happiness and prosperity Of
the Washington Scheutzen Verein. Err lebe
hoch. This last exhortation was followed by
a tumult of Teutonlc cheers, waving of hats
and shaking Of hands.
MR.. HoCKEMEYER's REPLY.
When the noises had subsidized the sentiments
of the society were uttered by its president.
MIR. Hockemeyer, who spoke in English. He
said: "On behalf of the Washington Schuetzen
Verein thank you kindly for this testimonial
gift You have come here today to celebrate
with US our twenty-fifth anniversary You
come and tell US that We have done our work
we'll; that We have fulfilled our obi cations as
laid down BY our forefa;hers. What were these
obligations? A person would naturally sup
pose that all that Is necessary to do to belong
to the SchuetZen Nerein is to pay for member
ship ticket, to shoot at the target. to roll at
ten-pins, to drink lager beer and eat schweItzer
cheese. Oh, no, my friends; let us look back
twenty-five years. At the close of long and
bloody the streets OF Washington were
filled with soldiers fresh from the field Day
and night the social enjoyment of our citizens
was interfcred with. and it was dangerous for
your sons and daughters to travel the streets.
II was then, Ill the interest of humanity, we
organized the Washington Schuetzen Vercin
not only to shoot at targets, but to encourage
one another in social intercourse-to obtain a
park where they could bring their families
and keep watch over them and save them from
harm.
Gentlemen. you have filed our hearts with
Joy in telling US that We have kept all those OBJ
legations, and can assure you that with re-
newed vIgor We will keep ON. and 1 trust the
public of Washington will appreciate our labor
Again. gentlemen, thank you"
ADJOURNED TO THE BANQUET HALL.
Mr.. Wolf followed with a few words in Ger
man reinforcing Mr.. Hockemeyer's thanks and
announcing that the rest of the speeches would
be made around the banquet board. The
SRn gerbund, under the leadership of Prof
W aIdecker, sang a German song. and then the
societies moved back TO the hall, where long
tables were SpreaG in the banouet roam