Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-06-16

gnHE thirtieth national gymnastlc
festival Of the North American
Il Gvmnastic union will open at Gin
cinnati today and will continue until
the 9th instant. During this PERIOD
thousands of mountaineering anu
their descendants will participate IN
ali sorts of gymnastic feats, cheered
on by many more thousands OF trlenos
and relatives. There will be a big pa
rade and impressive civic ceremonies
drills physical culture exhibitions, con-
tests of skill and endurance, Dances
games, concerts by German singing
societies and many other features OF
interest.
Elaborate preparations have oee!i
made for the gymnastic festival. A
stadium has been constructed for the
races and other athletic events. Con-
gress passed special act authorizing
the loan of $50 large tents to the or
ganization for occupation by its mem
bers during the festival, believing with
reason that the hotels of the queen
City could not accommodate the CROWD
of visitors. A large tent city has
sprung I'M on the Carthage fairgrounds
eauipped with baths and hospital gas,
postoffice, telegraph, telephone and
press service and ample facilities 1or
cooking and dining on a large scale
The Cincinnati meeting is a great
event among the German Turner so
cieties throughout the country. IL is
estimated that $4,000 members of these
societies will participate in the festl-
val and that 100000 spectators, In ad-
dition, will witness the events the
visitors will feel perfectly at home 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 in
terested visitors attending the festival
is Gen. Ludwig Augustus Won Heine
OF the German army, who Is accom-
panied by his staff General Won
Heine was delegated by the German
military authorities to study the gym
nastic powers of the American Tur-
ners, with a view to adopting some
of their methods for use In the
physical culture system of the kaiser S
army.
The Turner societies probably have
done more than any other single
agency in modern times to promote the
cause of physical education and gym
nastics throughout the world. The
word turner" means "gymnast." 1t
was coined about 1911 by Friedrich
Wilhelm jain, who is popularity known
among Germans and their descendants
in every land as the "Turnvater." In
the hour of Prussia's deepest degrada-
ton. after the battle of Jena, jain
hit upon the scheme of bringing about
his country's redemption by training
nation of athletes. In the end the
Turner idea played a prominent part
in the final overthrow of Napoleon and
Father jain" himself at the head of
regiment of Turner's had the salts
faction of entering Paris with the
allied troops in 1874.
Originally organized as a system of
political athletics the society suffered
somewhat from prosecutions and mis-
understandings. Many of its members
participated in the German revolution
of 1S48 and were forced to flee to
America. Later the organization came
into it's own again and 1t 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
Turnverein is being preached and
practiced too, in the one form or an
other, all over the world.
The first American Turner societies
were organized at Cincinnati and
Philadelphia in 1S4S Similar organiza-
lions were formed in other large cities
Shortly afterward. The civil war
checked their growth because the
Turner's, being opposed to slavery, en-
listed in the union army almost to a
man. There were several regiments
composed entirely of Turner's, and one
of their commanders, Gen. Franz Sigel,
was a popular hero. After the war
the societies were recognized and have
flourished Many OF them own their
halls, representing a capital of many
millions.
There are said to be between 300
and 400 separate Turner societies in
the United States, divided into TWEEN
ty-nine districts and having a total
membership of nearly $4,000. These
include 5000 young men, or so-called
active members, an equal number of
"old gentlemen" as they call them
selves, but who are in reality generally
between 80 and 40 years of age, 1000
young women and 10000 boys and girls.
Each society meets weekly or oftener
to drill with wands and perform vari-
Gus gymnastic exercises under the
leadership and direction of a turn
wart," who is elected annually. Be-
sides demonstrating the poetry of
motion Turner societies prove that
longevity health beauty, happiness,
moral character and success In life
are best attained by educating the
body as well as the mind.
The Importance of physical culture