Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-04

Wednesday night I paid visit to tue
Central hall, the third most important Oh
the turner halls here. 1t was the sriS
night and some fifty young women, from
sixteen to twenty-four years old though
am told women Of quite mature years
can and do ioin), were eagerly and with a
joyful spirit pleasant to observe carrying
ont the instructions of their master. MI
James Brougham, a dapper mdweiehe
gentleman Of German descent, who might.
but for remembering 1 was visitor In
Chicago. have been dancing ana oe-
pertinent master Of the eighteenth CEN
fury For Mr.. Brougham Is possessed Oh
all that manly courtliness and charm or
gait and manner for which the Teuton Is
so justly famous. ~
The girls went through series or orins
and exercises, and aaso some gracelui
step and dance exercises. Afterward, at
a signal from their master. they, Win
the greatest gusto, stormed the walls OF
the hall and from hooks ana corners anu
from overhead transformed what no-
ment before had been dance nall INTO
a perfect gymnasium. Rings, Vauitins
horses parallel bars, jumping BOARDS anu
ladders appeared like magic. IL was IKE
the midnight call to arms of some regi-
ment which but few moments oelo,e
had been disporting itself and was sud-
denly called to duty.
Fifty Girls in Gymnasium.
There were some fifty girls present.
and in physique department and grace
fulness it would be hard to find any bel
ter / suppose. as mere man. may be
nermitted to comment on their appear
ance. All were good looking. but here
and there were strikingly beautiful girls
One i'm particular was spienoio; iair
Teutonic American child, who, though
modesty ITSELF yet must have known her
beauty She walked like an empress and
looked fit bride for any prince or en-
peror.
The seance takes place twice week
and lasts two hours. Then every month
or SO a social evening is given, when the
young men are invited to join In and a
Cinderella dance is given with a Few
MI Brougham kindly took me to his
office and explained to me some of the
spirit of the work, on which he is en-
thusiastic He is strict with his pupils.
and enforces the strictest order. with the
slightest Ievity tabooed. Withal the girls
are trimming over with mirth and the
Joy of life, and il made one young again
to see them and their hearty enjoyment
of everything.
What struck me most during the even
ing and pleased me most, was the old
style courtliness and dignity of the pro-
ceedines. The American OF German de-
scent has preserved all the dignity of that
dignified land, and to it is added the
charm of liberty Of thought and action
which their beloved America has given
them For a perfect combination give me
an ideal American, comprising all that
is chivalrous from the old world crown
ed by the boundless inherent liberty OF
the new.
American Scorns Impoliteness.
i do wish a certain happily small clan
of young Americans. whom one cannot
help noticing would once and for all
drop the idea that to show independence
IL is necessary to be rough and brusque
in speech and department Nothing OF
the sort is necessary. The really inde-
pendent American man or boy scorns to
be impolite to any one. Politeness il
not subservience. II is the hall mark OF
chivalry. ] am sure. my friends. the in
structor thinks the same as do. 1t was
in the air in the turner hall.
/ was pleased TO hear the instructor say
he approved of boxing, and had quite a
big class of young men who go I'm for II.
But he said he always stopped them when
they got a bit fresh. Personally / should
like to see them a bit fresh. and, far from
stopping them. / should let them go full
swing. 1t would never hurt them. But
then. of course L am a whale on boxing.
Some day soon 1 hope to return and see
the boys at work. But / am glad / saw
the girls. 1t was Interesting and pretty,
and / left the hall with regret
/ hope to write another article on the
SO will have another opportunity to di-
late upon a subject Of such universal in
terest, and one which can by no means be
sufficiently gone into in a short article
like this.