The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-01-20
GYMNASTIO EXHIBITION AT NOR
NAL SUd0OL.

The Normal School gymnasium was
well filled last Thursday evening by
an audience composed of Bloomsburg's
best townspeople, a number of people
from distance, and the many friends
of the students who took part in the
gymnastic exhibition.
This was the fifth annual exhibit
ton since the opening of the gym
nasium, and it was in every way a
success.
An overture by The Normal School
orchestra, opened the evenings enter
tainment, and was Immediately follow
ed by a grand march of about two
hundred and fifty-fve students, repre-
senting nearly all the members of the
different gymnasium classes. In this
march the little folks from the Model
School, bringing up the rear, called
forth considerable applause. The con-
trasting suits of the different classes,
gave additional variety to the march.
The Junior grade of Model School
pupils gave the first exhibition of
practical work. The audience was
we'll pleased with this, especially with
the hopping and jumping exercises of
the little people, which caused con-
siderable laughter.
Eight girls and twelve boys from
the Senior grade of the Model School
gave one of the most beautiful wand
drills of the evening. The airy white
dresses of the girls. and the combina-
ton white and dark suits of the boys
made pretty contrast to the wands
wound with red, white and blue. The
accompanying music to this drill was
The Star Spangle1 Banner, sung by
the Normal School chorus class
The horse work and other special
work on rings, parallel bars and hori-
zontal bar by Messrs. Berry, Apple
man, Frederlckson, Oplinger, Stephens
L. H. Dennis, Fred. Dennis, Hart,
Waltz, Shipe, Knauss, Howarth and
Rarick, showed both skill and careful
training.
Another special feature of the exhi-
bltlon was the height jump of eleven
feet by Mr.. H. E. Aldinger.
For the first time at these exhibit
tions, special work was given by ten
of the girls on parallel bars. This was
done with considerable skill.
An Indian club drill by fiftyfve of
the Junior girls, and wand drill by
thirty-six Junior boys, was followed by
an exhibition of broad sword and
single stick practice, given by Prof.
A. F. Kennedy, physical director of
the Y. M. c. A., Scranton, and Mr..
Geo. Russ. Prof. Kennedy gave also
during the evening, cavalry sword
exercises, and cavalry pursueing
practice.
The largest drill of the evening was
dumb bell chorus given by seventy
five of the Senior girls.
After an exhibition of fencing, by
Prot. Kennedy, Mr.. Geo. Russ, and
Mr.. Stuart Plumley, fancy march
was given by eight ladies arfd eight
gentlemen selected from the graduate
class. This was the most beautiful
thing on the program, and was repeat
ed in response to an enthusiastic
encore.
The extension drill by thirty-three
Senior boys was one of the most
picturesque, and perhaps the most
difficult drill given. This closed the
exhibition.
The work done by all of the students
did credit to the efficient training of
the director, Prof. A. K. Aldinger,
and his assistants, Miss Margaret
Bogenrief, and Mr.. A. L. Smethers.
These annual exhibitions are not
only highly entertaining to those who
attend, but also show the good results
of regular and skillful physical train
ing. The last exhibition is especially
an evidence of the rapid growth of the
department of physical culture since
the opening of the Nor nal School
gymnasium SIX years ago.