Evening star., 1894-04-02
HIGH SCHOOL RECREATIONS
Physical Culture is Greatly Interesting
the Young Ladies.
The Coming May Concert-Regimentaa
Ball and Literary Topics.

PHYSICAL culture for the young ladies' has
become an important feature of the Wash
lngton High School instruction. At the
central School. on Thursday morning last
an exhibition was given by a number Of
the girls before the girls Of the school 1t
embraced club swinging to musical ac-
compartment, by several classes exercises
In the Delsarte movements that give ex-
preston to the feelings, and ended with
gestures suggested by THE Last Rose of
Summer" as that song was rendered by a
quartet located behind a curtain. The af-
fair was pleasing novelty, and for the
first time showed the school as a whole
what Is being accomplished by these
classes.
More atten ton than formerly is being
devoted to the work during the present
school year. Since the Christmas holidays
room has been fitted up with chest
weights and Indian clubs special classes
organized and everything possible done to
popularize the physical culture branch of
instruction. 1t has resulted. among the
young ladies, in better dressing, improved
health. a superior class Of food for lunch
and an erect and proper carriage of the
body in walking. The expectation is that
a rowing machine will soon be added 10 the
gymnasium.
DR.. Lane, principal of the school, is deep
ly interested in this department
Il would like to see all the pupils take
a certain amount of personal pride In their
physiques." he said, and not walk along
with chins resting on their breasts, and
wearing an expression on their faces as
though apologizing for being alive"
The next musical afternoon of the series
in progress at the Central School will be
devoted to a recital of the compositions
of Gounod and Schumann, and the date is
to be Wednesday. April IL, when IL is ex-
pected that five or six performers will par
tcipate. The young ladies. at present, are
devoting the spare moments during the day
in developing their general intelligence On
current topics, and to the discussion Of the
musical works that later are to be illusrat-
ed at the above recitals.
The Annual May Concert.
Hardly six weeks distant is the annual
and eagerly looked for May concert. The
pupils feel that this event is particularly
their own affair. DR.. Lane has long held
that an entertainment that would prove a
complete success in the graded schools is
not what the High Schools should furnish.
1t should not be such one parents VIII
simply tolerate, but an exhibition to be APP
preclated. In former years, during tie re-
gime of fancy drill squads and The like. it
was simple matter to provide a popular
list of attractions, but since such things
have been abolished, the arrangement Of a
suitable program, excluding professional
talent, has become q serious task. The
feature Of the first entertainment under the
new system was Hub Smiths New Year S
Reception" 1t was given three years ago
and proved such a success that the cast
was invited to render the operetta on sew
erai occasions at outside halls. The AS
trologer" was sung the following year, and
in May last one of Howells farces con-
stituted the chief attraction.
Whether or not an operetta or a farce
Will be presented this spring has not as
yet been determined. 1t was expected that
The Rivals" would be given, but that ce-
pends to a large extent on the talent Of the
pupils assigned 20 depict the several char
acters. Should the final decision be in favor
OF an operetta, sufficient musical ability
exists among the scholars TO secure a cast
without enlisting the aid of outsiders.
Principal Lane has communicat ted with
Maj. Ross. drill instructor of the cadets,
requesting the latter to settle in his cMn
mind the feasibility Of holding a regiment al
neld day this year, to take the place OF the
Customary company competitive irill The
question must be settled in the near future
and as both DR.. Lane and Mai Ross are
heartily in favor OF the proposed change
IL Is almost certainty that the innovation
Will be determined upon. Should the Held
day become a reality, a gala occasion will
then be recorded in the pages Of High
School history.
The presence of visitors has been one of
the features at the High Schools during the
past week. The influx was due to several
Easter excursions of school teachers from
other cities. A party numbering lSO mem
a r.arrf.-~