The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-06-19
TRAINING THE BODY
By FREDERIC ]. HAsKIN.

The thirtieth national gymnastic festi-
val Of the North American Gymnastic
union will open at Cincinnati today. and
viii continue until the 9th inst. During
this period thousands of German-Ameri-
cans and their descendants will partic-
ipate in all sorts of gymnastic feats
cheered on by many more thousands of
friends and relatives. There will be a big
parade and impressive civic ceremonies
| drills physical culture exhibitions. con-
tests OF skill and endurance dances
games, concerts by German singing so
cleties and many other features of in
terest.
Elaborate preparations have been made
Tor the gymnastic festival A stadium
mas been constructed for the races and
other athletic events Congress passed a
special act authorizing the loan Of $50
large tents to the organization for oc-
eupatlon by its members during the fes-
uEal, believing with reason that the ho-
tells OF the Queen City could not accom-
modate the crowd Of visitors A large
tent city has sprung up on the Carthage
TAR grounds, equipped with baths and
hospital, gas, pOstOffice, telegraph, tele-
phone and press service, and ample IA
scale
The Cincinnati meeting is a great event
among the German Turner societies
throughout the country. 1t is estimated
That 5000 members of these societies will
participate in the festival, and that 200, 900
spectators, in addition, will witness the
events. The visitors will feel perfectly
at nome in Cincinnati, as probably there
can not be found so many of their race
and kindred In an equal area anywhere
else in the United States as live in that
portion of the city north of the canal,
which is known locally as over the
Rhine"
One of the most interesting and inter-
eSted spectators attending the festival is
General Ludwig Augustus Won Heine of
lne herman army, who is accompanied
by his staff. General Won Heine was del
egated by the German military authori-
ties TO study the gymnastic powers of
the American Turner'S, with d view to
adopting some of their methods for use
in the physical culture system of the
kaisers army.
The Turner societies probably have done
more than any other single agency in
modern times to promote the cause of
physical education and gymnastics
throughout the world. The word ''tur-
ner' means "gymnast' It was coined
about 1911 by Frederick Wilhelm jain,
who is popularity known among Germans
and their descendants in every land as
the 'Turnvater.' In the hour of Prus-
sias deepest degradation. after the bat
tie Of Jena, jain hit upon the scheme of
bringing about his cOuntrys redemption
by training a nation Of athletes. In the
end the Turner idea played a prominent
part in the final overthrow of Napoleon,
OF a regiment Of Turner'S, had the salts
faction of entering Paris with the allied
troops In 1914
Originally organized as a system of po-
htical athletics, the society suffered some
what from prosecutions and misunder-
standings. Many Of its members partic
ipated in the German revolution of 1910,
and were forced to flee to America. Lat
er the organization came into its own
again, and it is primarily responsible for
the magnificent physique of the millions
of loyal Germans who are ready to follow
the kaiser's eagles to battle There are
100000 active male members of Turner
societies in the German empire, and the
gospel of the TurnVer refine is being
preached and pracdced, too, In one form
or another, all over the world.
The first American Turner societies
were organized at Cincinnati and Phil
adelphia in 1913 Similar organizations
were formed in other large cities shortly
afterward- The civil sWar checked their
growth, because the Turner's, being op-
posed to slavery, enlisted in the union
army almost to a man. There were sew
eral regiments composed entirely Of Tur-
ners, and one Of their commanders, Gen
eral Franz Sigel was a popular hero
After the war the societies were reor-
ganized and have flOurished. Many of
them own their halls, representing a cap
ital of many millions.
There are said to be between 800 and
400 separate Turner societies in the United
States, divided into twenty-nine districts
and having a total membership of nearly
50,000 These include 5000 young men,
or so-called active members, an equal
number of ''old gentlemen" as they call
themselves, but who are in reality gen
orally between 30 and 20 years Of age,
coo young men and 10000 boys and girls.
Each society meets weekly, or oftener,
to drill with wands and perform various
gymnastic exercises under the leadership
and direction of a "turnwart,' who is
elected annually. Besides demonstrating
the poetry of motion, Turner societies
prove that longevity. health, beauty, hap
piness moral character, and success in
life are best attained by educating the
body as we'll as the mind.
The Importance of physical culture was