Concert and Singing Contest

     Concert is followed by the singing contest.  The theme of the contest is: “The act of arming the people for the Civil War.”

     Turnfest.  Yesterday at the New York Gym [Turnhalle], the two-day festival of the New York District Gym Association began with the singing competition and declamation.  A very large audience was present.  Gymnast Schneider of Bloomingdale opened the ceremony with a speech in which he explained the meaning and purposes of this district’s gym association to those in attendance.

     After this speech the New York Gym’s Vocal Roundtable [Turnliedertafel] was followed by F. Krüger’s tasteful and effective composition, “Weinchor;” [sic] song was sung precisely and with beautiful comprehension.  After this, the poems of various gymnasts which were declaimed and the lectures of the Bloomingdale, Williamsburg, Jersey and Carlstadt gym clubs’ voice departments concluded.  The second day of the festival will be celebrated today in the Bella Vista Garden, Hudson City.  Along with competitive gymnastics, fencing, wrestling, races, etc., the awarding of prizes for the best-sung songs and the best declamation will take place.