The San Francisco call., 1899-04-21
A Monster Picnic Tor
School Pupils.
TO CELEBRATE DEWEY DAY
EXHIBITION WILL BE HELD
AT GLEN PARK.
Professor Miehling Arranges an Out
ing for Little Folks on May l.
Receipts to Go for Gym
nastic Apparatus

The school children Of San Francisco
are TO have a grand picnic and drill at
Glen Park on May l, Dewey day, which
is expected to exceed in point of interest,
as Ii certainly will in unrestricted enjoy
ment, the never to be forgotten Golden
Jubilee celebration over a year ago, in
which the children played such a promi-
nent part,
George Arehling, instructor in physical
culture and drill master in the schools,
who is the author of the plan to give the
children holiday at the big pleasure re
sort, proposes to gather 10000 school chill
dren in one body and give an exhibition
drill on that occasion, which viii be un-
parslleled on the Pacific Coast, II not IN
the entire United States. Ever since the
jubilee the youngsters have been asking
the instructor when he was gong 10 give
them another opportunity TO drill in pub
lie So when Governor Gage proclaimed
May l a legal holiday he decided that no
better opportunity to grant the request of
his pupils and at the same time give them
a chance to enjoy q days outing could
possibly be had.
With NIr. Miehing to think is to act
and he at once began to look around fol
a place where the monster drill and pic
uiC could be given. The park and the
Preside were considered, but they were
rejected, as If the exercises were held in
either no admission could be charged, and
81 is proposed TO make the affair a benefit
Tor the school children who furnish the
entertainment. Many Of the schools are
without proper apparatus for the exercise
OF the youthful muscles, dumbbells, clubs.
ETC.. being needed and BY charging an
ADMISSION Zee OF 10 cents for adults il is
.r-eNed sumClent sum can be realized
s' equip them all and leave a surplus for
future necessities. Mr.. Miehling finally
decided that Glen Park offered the most
- TTnRaaAaH aH n lara~r ~,
what terms il could be secured. He was
prepared to divide the receipts with the
owners of the park, but when he eX-
llalneu ms scheme 10 Mr.. Baldwin the
latter { once Informed him that he could
have the park for nothing and welcome.
SupeUntendent Webster was next Wis
lted by Mr. Mlehling, who explained his
project and requested the former to use
ms influence with the Board of Educa-
Lon 70 obtain the necessary permission.
Mr.. WebSters enthusiasm was aroused in
an instant and the permission was had for
the asking. Nothing remains now but to
arrange the prelimlnaries to insure the
success of the greatest picnic ever given
the little folks i'm San Francisco. But one
Of the most important matters is the ques-
ton or transportation. As many of the
children are not oVerburdened with nickels
and dimes Il IS hoped the street railroad
companies viii carry them to the park
Lree, thus enabling all to attend
committee to be appointed by the
principals of all the schools will take
charge OF the gate receipts, which will be
divided equally among the schools Other
committees viii have charge of the vari-
GUS booths which Will be erected on the
grounds Superintendent Webster is pre-
pairing circular TO the principals invok-
ing their ala to make the affair great
success. All the arrangements will be in
the hands of the teachers. They will at
tend 70 all the advertising and there will
he no money wasted in the employment of
managers or promoters.
The drill win take place in the forenoon.
so that the children may devote all the
Afternoon TO play The drill promises to be
a grand spectacle. as the proficiency Of
The pupils is too well known TO admit of
the possibility Of failure. Mr.. Miehling has
charge Of thirty-fve schools. with an aver
age Of a thousand pupils in each school.
SO that it will not be difficult for him to
gather together ten thousand and put
them through a course Of military eXer-
rents and friends