Omaha daily bee., 1897-12-27
ATHLETICS In HIGH SCHOOL
Proposition Of the Omaha Tur1verein Will
Be Accepted,
GIRLS LIKELY TO RECEIVE MOST BENEFIT
Boys Have About .sil The, Cnn DO in
the Line of Military Drill
Too Cold for Field
sports.


facilities which 1t was announced a short
timo ago would be offered to the students of
the Omaha High schuol will become an actual
fact with the opeuing OF the coming term.
The proposition of the management OF the
Turnverein gymnasium will be put before
the students and from the expressions made
by them informally 1t will be very generally
accepted, probably to the limit of the gym
nasiums accommodations. The proposal of
w. G. Retzer OF the Turnverein is to put his
gymnasium, together with his services as in
structor, at the disposal of High school pupils
for two hours daily free of all churge. His
purpose in doing this is to train classes to
exemplify the superior results possible from
the German system Of physical culture at the
exposition, as that system in his opinion. Is
the only perfect method for the general de-
velopment of the human body.
The time placed at the service of the High
school Is from until O'Clock every after
noon. Prof Lewiston of the High school has
net as yet definitely determined what recon-
mendaticu he will make in regard to the di-
vision Of classes. 1t WIS his desire that two
classes of fifty each should divide the time,
which would allow of 500 pupils taking one
lesson week. but difficulty arose in dis
posing of the last division until it's tum
came and as to the probability that 1t would
not be on hand at all So 1t Is probable that
ins ructon will be given TO one class of 100
, daily for un hour and three quarters which
would give each one his turn at the ap-
| paratus.
| 1t Is expected that advantage OF the offer
| will be taken matuly by girls, who have now
F, no opportunity for physical traiuring to cor
re5pCnd with the drill available to young
! mon. There are now more than 700 girls on
the rolls and not only are they given M
| chance for exercise at the High school, but
| there is no gymnasium in the city properly
| equipped for their use. From tae spirit with
| which they have welcomed the offer of the
| Turnveren it is probable that the provision
| made for the number of 500 will be ex.
| harsted by them alone. They have made an
| attempt of their own TO organize basket ball
| team and have supplied themselves with y
| ball and baskets. The difficulty with this
| however, is that there is not an empty room
| in all the building which can be used for this
| purpose. An attic 10 the front of the build
| ing which IS new stored with geological
cases and drawing tables, is being considered
but there is difficulty in getting it cleared up
The boys will be able to devote less time
| to gymnastlc work on account of the bis
| weekly drill. All of the 500 boys in schoo
are enlisted in this work except those ex
| cused for physical disability and the eXer
Csc afforded by it is sufficient to keep then
in fair condition. The weather has not per
mitted outdoor drilling OF late and the tins
| Is consumed III SeltinB-up EXERCISES aIlt
practice of the manual of arms in the hall
of the building. The former system ia hav
ing q noticeable effect upon the appearance
of the young cadets. The hours worl
every Tuesday and Thursday is giving then
supple and graceful figures, lining up unevel
shoulders and dignifying sham3!ng gaits
The exercises were planned for the use o
maturei men and care is therefore take
not to strain in any way the bodies Of tn
young athletes. Those with the guns hav
| become Intelligent in the manual of arm
in the short time since their acquiremen
and show renewed interest in the wor
, since the guns have been in use Their
are now ninety rifles m the armory of tn
| cadets sufficient for the une of two OF tn
five companies, and they have been obtaine
altogether through the efforts of the boys
Another order of thirty-two is now on il
way from the factory, bought, like tn
others, with subscriptions mace for the pun
. pose and with the proceeds of different mu
steals and theatricals. The guns are of
good pattern and of the proper weight.
Outdoor athletics, in the lines of base ba
and track events, are as yet in frost-boun
r condition. Prof. Bernstein has the oversigt
of High school athletics and states hio be
, lief that good material will develop in bot
these sports when there is an opportuDit
for training The base ball team has nj
yet elected a captain and no indoor prat
tice work hes been begun. The professc
hopes to emphasize the Importance of tn
field sports in the coming spring more tha
: has heretofore teen done. Some of the me
e ne expects to bring out are Jensen, 81,
a the shot put; Rob Morris Harry Neal an
U DAWSON, 81. in running events. He believe
the school is unusually strong in runner
and among other features Is considering tf
: introduction Of flag race. The plan of tn
# is competition of four picked men of eac
e class, to rur' in relays of cme-quarter of
mile each, when the flag is passed to a ma
e standing ready to relieve the runner
n is thought that good bicycle talent Is later
e aIso in the hundreds OF riders in the scho
g and sn effort will be made to prepare