New Ulm review., 1915-06-23
TURNER'S COMING
TO Big. TURNFEST
LOCAL ANDTWIN CITYATHLETES
WILL COMPETE IN BIG MEET
JULY 4TH-5TH.
VICTORS WILL RECEIVE LAURELS
LIKE GREEKS OF OLD, FOR
CYMNASTIC FEATS.

For the two days of July 4th and 5th
New Ulm Turnverein will be host to
some four hundred Turner'S from the
Cities, two hundred of whom will COM
pete in the big Turnfest that is to be
staged at that time by the local athletic
club. Both the St. Paul and the St.
Anthony. Turnvereins expect to send
strong delegations in hopes of carrying
back the lions share of the laurel
wreaths and diplomas to be given as
prizes of proficiency in the various
contests.
The visitors expect to arrive on a
special train from the cities on the
evening OF the Sd of July. The exercises
start early the following morning and
the competition in the various classes
and events will occupy all the time from
seven o'clock till noon. There are
three main divisions of the events which
will be judged by competent judges
from some of the Twin City Turn
vereins. The first events will be the
calesthenic group work after which
the field events will be commenced.
These events will be two in number,
this time, and will consist of the sixteen
pound Shot-put and either the broad
jump or the hop-skip-and-jum to be
decided later.
The third division of the competitive
morning work will be the apparatus
work. This will consist of exercises
on the horizontal and parallel bars
and i on the horse. There are two
sections to the work on each piece OF
apparatus, the obligatory and the
voluntary. This section Of the work
will be more difficult than usual. In
the past it has been customary for the
classes to specialize ON but four events
and the obligatory exercise would be
taken from this list. But ,at the annual
meeting of the societies Of the State,
Professor Helm made the suggestion
that the choice of the obligatory exer-
cises be left to the judges of the meet.
This means, of course, that the classes
must be prepared for anything that
may be asked rather than the limited
four events. The purpose of the new
rule is to do away with over-speciali-
zation and foster an all-round develop
ment. The points will be awarded on
perfection in the exercises and these
points will then be divided by the
number in the class. Prizes will thus
be awarded on the basis of individual
achievement and on the class standing.
The usual custom of the North Ameri-
can Gymnastic Union will he followed
in the distribution of awards. No
gold medals or prizes of great money
value will be given but the old Greek
custom Of giving a laurel wreath for
first place and diplomas for seconds
and thirds will be followed. This makes
the athletes strive for the honor Of the
event alone and keeps out any mercenary
element that might otherwise enter into
the contest.
In the afternoon gigantic 3iSchau-
turn will be staged on the Turner
Hall lawn. Each teacher will be ex-
pected to furnish a model exercise and
mass exercises by all classes. These
may take almost any form from fancy
dances to pyramids and Roman ladders.
Monday morning the societies will take
part in the big parade with the military
and civic organizations of the city. The
Turner's will appear in the parade in.
gymnasium costume and will be a
striking feature of the pageant. In the
afternoon there will be another big
gathering at Turner Hall park at which
there will be band concert and more
gymnastic exhibitions. If possible, the
prizes won in the Sunday morning COM
petition will be awarded at this time.
The visitors will leave either Monday
night or Tuesday morning. While they
are here, the visitors from the City
Turnvereins will be the guests Of the
local organization.
A grandstand is to be built for the
comfort Of the spectators and q very
nominal fee will be charged for admission
to the park. A badge which will admit
to the entire program is being designed
which will sell for one dollar. The
committee on arrangements, headed by
Fred Pfaender, chairman, Alfred
schroeck, secretary and George Hogen,
treasurer. Is doing every thing, Ia ii:
power TO make the big ''Turnfsastt"
success.