Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-05-24
EXERC|SESPR0VE !
DECIDED SUCCESS
More Than Six Thousand People Gath.
er in Three.Eye Park for Field
Day of Many Features.
CREDIT is DUE OPPENHEIMER
Physical Director is Responsible for
Bringing Work in Calisthenics
Up to Unusual Standard.

More than six thousand citizens of
Moline yesterday afternoon witnessed
the 1916 field day exercises in the
Three-Eye park. The exercises were
undoubtedly the most finished effort
of its kind ever held in any city of
Moline's size in the middleWeSt. The
people saw more than the mere pre-
sentation of field exercises by 1000
children of the city schools, however.
They saw in the exercises an express
sion of results accomplished in bring
ing the work in calisthenics in Moline
up to a standard which few other
cities make an attempt to approach.
They saw that the rising generation
of Moline is being developed in the
schools, physically, as well as men
tally, and is being disciplined, through
this all-important branch of the work,
with a training which will fit them to
be citizens who will become the bull
wark of their respective communities
| later in life.
| Greater part of the credit is due to
| Adolph Oppenheimer, who has been
head of the physical training in the
schools since its introduction into the
curriculum. The success he has en-
joye1 in his work, however, has been
contributed to by Miss Hulda Jansen,
his assistant
| For the first time in several years
the weather man was considerable and
the exercises were allowed to start
without postponement Crowds be-
gan to arrive as early as l O'Clock and
all special cars were crowded before
starting to the park. Pupils of the
schools were taken in special cars.
The crowd was we'll handled through
out the whole afternoon by the police
on duty.
Polka Dance Pleases.
Free movements and see-saw polka
by the third grade opened the after
Moons program Twenty rows OF
boys and girls, with 25 in each row
marched on the field for the opening
number. The color scheme of white
blouses and red ribbons made the eff
feet one which drew applause from
the audience at once. The polka dance
was one of the most graceful eXhibi-
tiOns of the afternoon and the diminu-
tive size Of the children added to the
fascination it held for the audience
The GOtland quadrille and butterfly
and pillar dance were equally good
Minuet by the second grade of the
Grant school proved another striking
feature. Two rows Of children, none
of them more than years old, ap
peared in Colonial costumes. with
the early nineteenth century. The old
fashioned dance, executed with dig
nifty which took the audience by storm
was perhaps the most successful effor
of the afternoon.
Maypole dance and leg exercises
were by the fifth grade The dance
was around twelve poles at the nortl
end of the field Tumbling exercise!
by boys Of the eighth grade and dunn
bell exercises by those of the sixth
were also features. The East Molin.
eighth grade club swinging is alsC
worthy of praise. Second appearance,
of the eighth grade boys was in pyra
mids and marching The Gavott,
dance by eighth grade girls was par
ticipated in by 140 girls and wa
highly appreciated.
Flag Drill Spectacular.
The 5000 persons rose to their fee
and joined in singing America at tn,
close OF the afternoons exercises
This was preceded by a flag drill b,
more than IT'S seventh grade girls
Flags for this event were loaned b,
Dolly Madison tent, No &c, Daughter
OF Veterans. Effect of the IT'S pair
of flags in the drill, covering the en-
tire held, brought more applause thai
any other one event.
Overture and music during the ex
erclses were furnished by the Molin
Plow company band. All dances ex
cept the Gotland quadrille wer
original compositions of Mr.. Oppen
heimer.