The record-union., 1891-06-13

State OF California. On juno Is to lo
1860, the first general Turn Fest of the
world took place at Coburg. On January
L, 1851, the Turner's of ST. Louis founded
a military organization, and on April %,
1861, the Cincinnati Turner's were sworn
INTO the United States army On Nav 9th
tne New York Turner Regiment was
sworn into the United States army. On
May 10, 1851, the st. Louis Turner Regi-
ment and four German regiments (prin-
Sigel, expelled the rebels from Camp
jackson, and saved st. Louis and the
State Of Missouri from joining the South
ern Confederacy.
TURNER'S AS SOLDIERS.
During the year 1851, when the terrible
| war Of the rebellion occurred, the Turner
societies received great setback. Many
halls were closed, as nearly all the mem
bers, more than so per cent, had Joined
the United States army, either in regi-
ments OF their own or as members of
those which were organized in their
locality. Very few joined in consequence
OF the bounty offered by the Government.
me overwhelming number joined to de-
feno the cause of human freedom, which
Ia an1iey = considered the common heritage of
all men, black as well as white The
members of the Turn Vereins of the
United States may well feel proud of the
record which their organization made in
the late civil war. The physical culture,
which had been part of their education,
made them absolutely the best troops in
the Federal army. The men who fought
with Sigel were spoken OF in the very
hlghest terms by every loyal man in this
country.
On February s, 1863, the New York
turner Regiment returned, having lost
more than one-half their number on the
held OF battle. They left New York 200
strong, and returned with only AGO men;
the balance were offered as a willing
sacrifice for their adopted country. After
the termination of the war those who re-
turned Joined their old or started new
societies, SO that in 1865 the North Amer
ican Turner Bund had membership of
over 10000 Slowly. but surely the Tur-
ner Union made progress, and not only
eral Government, but actually opposed
by the Ignorant classes of many of the
large cities, who failed to understand the
intent and purposes of the organization.
After time they succeeded in intro
ducing the gymnastic exercises in
some OF the public schools of the
country, and now it has been
adopted as part of the instruction for the
scholars in Cleveland and Davenport,
Ia; Denver, Col; Yankton, Oak; Butler,
Ia.; Cairo, Ill; Louisville, KY; Slater,
la; Keokuk, Ia; Marshalltown, Ia.;
Clear Lake, Ia; Holyoke, Mass; Fort
Scott, Kas.: Harrisonville, Mo-; Omaha,
Neb.; st. Louis, Mo-; Kansas City, Mo-:
Pittsburg, Pa, and Chicago. There are
many more cities that have adopted sim
liar systems of physical culture, which
Will, In the future, be improved as oppor-
tunity offers to obtain teachers who have
received thorough instruction and have
graduated in the training schools of the
North American Gymnastic Union The
hOC ~ -,
Of the cities is as follows:
PLAN OF INSTRUCTIONS.
l. The Board of Education shall an
point superintendent of Physical Cult
ure, who gives direct instructions TO
teachers and to leaders, scholars appoint
ed by the teachers.
2. Teachers are divided for physical in
structions into four sections: Ia Teachers
of the first and second grades constitute
the first section; (b) those of the third and
fourth grades, the second section: (c) those
of the fifth and sixth grades, the third
section; (dD those Of the seventh, eighth
and ninth grades, the fourth section.
). All sections meet together twice
every month. when teachers will be
drilled by the Superintendent.
4: The leaders Ia boy and girl from
each room excepting the first and second
grades meet every Saturday to receive
instruction from the Superintendent.
8. In the daily lessons these leaders
perform the exercises before the scholars
Oh their respective rooms, the teacher,
however, commanding them.
6. The Superintendent ofPhysical Cult
ure visits all schools, as often as possible.
supervising the Instructions.
Z. 1t is the duty of the Superintendent
to report to the Board of Education at
proper intervals concerning the standing
OF the branch of education under his su-
pervision.
BY this means only a short time will
elapse when quite number of teachers
for the primary department will be OBJ
tainable, and the Turn Vereins of the
several localities have always been will
ing to aid, by every means in their power,
the school authorities in their efforts to
advance the physical development of the
people. 1t is to be hoped that the time is
not distant when it will be introduced
into every school in our land. In those
cities above named the gymnastic in
struction is compulsory, and in Chicago
alone over 5000 children receive lesson
daily.
To show how successful some of these
Vereins have been, through their own
efforts entirely, the Central Turn -Verein
of New York is mentioned, which has
now membership of over $500. It has a
gymnasium which cost over three-uuar-
ters of a million dollars, including a
shooting gallery, swimming baths, bill
lard and chesSroomS, library, and being,
beyond any question, the finest gymna-
sium in the world. 1t is hard to compute
the actual number of members of the nu-
merous Vereins in the United States,
and if these figures could be obtained
they would shed no light on the vast
number of children who are now receiv-
ing the benefit of this instruction. Some
idea of the progress of the order in the
United States may be formed by the fol-
lowing data:
oo.o,, ,ez, Clubs. Members,