The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-11
GREAT CROWD SEES MAY DAY EXERCISES Indicative of Modern School
 Development ICOURLEUX IN CHARGE Girls Dancing About Two Great May Poles and Boys In Athletic Races Was Real
 Inspiration
ICOURLEUX IN CHARGE
By MYRTLE MILES

Over 20O0 people witnessed the cele- bration of May Day at East park yes- terday afternoon. The festivity was arr ranged by the director of physical ex- ercise in the public schools-F. J. Cour- leux-with the assistance of Miss Mar guerite Weaver. teacher of expression ani calisthenics in the Central High school, and Miss Edna Sandlin and Mrs. Theresa Hooper Evans, also of de- pariment of physical training. It was a superb success. demonstrating to the patrons of the school and the public generally the fine physical training that the boys and girls of Bir- mingham are receiving along with the remainder of their many-sided high school work.
 This event was planned by c. A. Brown, principal of the high school, to be one of a series of affairs tending to the social development and advance ment of the students in that institution. It has followed art reception and mu- sicale and, like the other entertain ments. was illustrative of the work of the student body. This was one of the finest school entertainments ever given in Alabama; 1t was arranged in- formally and simply. naturally charm irgly showed the splendid athletic achievements and the fine. strong bodies and the superb poise of our Bir- mir gham youth.
 Two Great May Poles
 In the center of the great cleared space in East park set aside for the | Sx .l.ff tr., -k Surrounding this place was tho track over which the hundred yard dash and the 220-yard dash were made by the boys of the several classes In the racee with which the dances and calisthenics were interspersed. There Is nothing prettior or moro suggestive of spring than a Maypole The two which stood in that great crowd yesterday twinsd with blue and white bunting gave the scene an old-fashioned and poetic as- rect that was made quite perfect by the brilliant sunshine and the ver- dun, of trees and shrubs.
 Davidson'a orchestra played for many of tho exercises, the musicians had caught tho spirit of the occasion in q delightful fashion and tae lit or ey- cry melody was inspirational, while their Involuntary holding to tho rhythm, which was urging on Ina swaying of graceful young bedies, was smIiiagiy commented upon py those who stood near them, The Boys IA- dustrselt school band occupied chairs under t;,e ireea and played many of thuir best maiodl dlea-the volume of the instruments and their numbers prov ing Of great service In the marching exercises, As usual the boys came in fer great share of attention, Inc di- niinutiye stature of some and the enor- nity of their wind instruments bring ing sorth appreciative comment from tho audience. They play remarkably veil.
 Onlookers Interested
 T:;a interest Of the oniookers began at the moment the white-clad girls emerged from the high school across the way and began their long march through the park and to their places, the music introducing that Irresistible gavety peculiar to brass bandi in-| tcreEt lauted through the splendid pro- graipme, tho crowd increasing rather than diminishing toward the end Three hundred high school girls. representa-. tiyu of the various classes, took pat ln the march and in the exercises to follow. Uniformity of costume-white middy gowns with shoes and hair rib bons white also--assisted the fine eff feet of the uniformity of action. Rosy che elSs, bright eyes and straight, suple bodies were a delight to sec
 When the boys, in their races, oc- cupied attention there was feeling Of genuine thankfulness in the great crowd that the young men of Birming- ham are receiving sucn fine prepara- .I.. lw.f< A~ ~al arena of life to begin with their de- parture from school They are fine, manly fellows and their swiftness, strength and combativeness indicate that the big colleges will get some fine material from among them.
 The programme in full included:
 Wand drill, girls classes, led by MT. Cou-leux.
 Prussian folk dance, led by Miss Mar gucrite Weaver.
 Calisthenic drill, led by Miss Sandlin.
 Indian club drill, led by Miss Sandlin.
 Hungarian folk dance, led by Mir. Co, rleux and Mrs. Evans.
 Skipping dance, led by Miss Weaver
 Races. 100-yard dash. junior boys; 1oo-yard dash, senior boys; 220-yard dash, open handicap.
 Swedish weaving dance, led by Miss Weaver
 Swedish dance and Shoemakers' Gance, led by Miss Sandln.
 Ostende, led by Miss Weaver
 Dance of Greeting and Dutch dance, led by Miss Sandlin.
 Maypole dance, led by Miss Weaver.
 Too much cannot be said in praise of MT. Courleux and his able assistants. Their exhibition yesterday was a proof of one of the finest factors in the pha nomenal growth of our public schools today, the simultaneous development