The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-06-26
ATHLETIC DRILLS
American Amateur Athletic
Union Rules for funniest.
AHegorical Pageants TOday's
Educational Feature.

Denver, June 26.-Rules of the Amer
lean Amateur Athletic union Will be
followed in judging the performances
of the contestants at the thirty-frst
funniest now in full swing in this city
This is the first time a funniest has
ever been conducted along these lines
Wand drills and marching exercises
began today opening the program OF
gymnastics and field sports at Lake
Side park
All Turner's entered were required TO
take part in these exercises and the
points scored by them are not only
counted for their teams, but are also
added to their individual totals in cal
culating standings at the close of the
funniest. Nearly 1000 Turner's took
the field divided into six groups
AIIegoricaI Pageant
Intended to be the one big educational
feature of the program, the allegorlal
pageant today was pronounced the most
instructive as well as impressive, lesson
ever given by the North American
Gymnastic union. Through the agency
of 40 floats on which were grouped
Turner's costumed in keeping with the
period they represent, the story OF
the development of the German ma
ton and the part played by German
Americans in the founding and up
building of the American republic was
graphically told. The pageant was d.
vided into three sections.
German or American Citizen
The first section represented the Ger
man as an American citizen and por-
traved him as a soldier of the revolu-
ton, as a student and lover of poetry
music and art and credited him with
inspirfng a like interest in the arts
among the American people. Another
section contained floats designed TO
carry the imagination back to mediae-
hn
struggling against the Romans. Thir-
teen groups of floats, picture the story
of the struggle against the Roman in
yaders and the rise of the Germans
from a warlike race to one of great
Importance in the world of commerce,
literature, music and the arts and SCI
ences.
Wagner and Luther.
In one of these groups was moving
tabIeau in which the famous composer,
Richard Wagner and Martin Luther,
who translated the first Latin bible
into German. were represented. In the
third division were displayed the ban
ners and Insignia of the North Ameri-
can Gymnasium Union with a guard
of honor accompanying. The National
president and other national officers,
the judges of contests, the festival
president and the members of the local
committees and the pioneer Turner's
1IaTcneQ IN InlS DIVISION None RODE,
even the most aged, as it is an es-
tablished custom of all who participate
in such pageants excepting those who
form the pictures on the floats, to go
afoot.
President Theodore Stempfel. in
opening at funniest said:
Mr.. Governor, Mr. Mayor Mr..
Chairman, citizens of Denver: On be-
half of the North American Gymnas-
tic Union, whose executive chairman
1 have the honor to be, permit me to
thank you most sincerely for the en-
thusiastic reception accorded to US up
on our arrival in your city
with the joyous feeling of good fell
lowship the Turner'S have responded to
the call of your romantic Rockies and
ssemble to day to compete with each
other on the athletic field in friendly
struggle for the laurel wreath which
it is our pride TO mention is the only
reward, the only mark of distinction
the Turnerbund confers upon it's vic
tors
The North American Turnerbund. 4"
said President Stempfel, IFS the pioneer
on this continent in the field of gym
nasticS. and in many cities it has been
instrumental in having physical exer-
cises included in the curriculum of the
public schools. actuated by the convic-
tion that the harmonious training and
culture of BODY and mind. are the
most essential FACTORS for establishing
and preserving true democracy.
1--WE have come here today" he con-
finued, from all parts of this glorious
republic with great expectations be-
cause we feel confident that nothing
has been neglected to make our thirty
first annual festival stand out as one
of the most successful in the history
of our organization.
"And now my friend Turner's who
have come from near and far, do not
forget that you shall do honor to your
union and that in the enjoyment of
the festival discipline should not be
sighted. We shall begin our festival
ternity toward all who bear our name,
with a feeling of friendship and fra
Turner's. We hope that by our visit
the Turner's of Denver and the Tur-
nerS of the whole west shall be stimu-
lated and filled with new energy and
new enthusiasm for the ideals of the
North American Gymnastic union.
And thus, my friends, in this sense
declare the bundles funniest of the
North American Gymnastic union
opened and 1 request all of you to
bring a gut he'll to the North Ameri-
can Gymnastic union. To the citizens of
Denver, to the executive committee of
the Denver funniest association and its
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