Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-12-31
AT SHELBURNE FARM.
HOW CHRISTMAS WAS OBSERVED AT
A MlLLlONAlRE'S HOME.

Shelburne Farms, the summer home of
DR.. and Mrs. w. Seward Webb, was the
scene of most elaborate Christmas festiv-
tiles in which the employees of the farms
and their families participated, as well as
many of the people of the village of
Shelburne. The big central breeding
barn was arranged and decorated for the
occasion. The guests passed through the
ring building and into the carriage room,
where seats were provided for several
hundred. The Howard Opera House or
chestra of ten pieces was present and
rendered a concert programme during the
arrival of the guests. G.. Creighton
Webb was present and spent much of
the earlier part of the evening in the
manipulation of a large photograph at
the right entrance. taking, according to
the Burlington Free Press, as much
trouble to select the melodies which
most pleased the children as would have
been shown at Bradley Martin ball. In
this he was assisted by DR.. Webb and his
older son.
When all had arrived and were gath
cred in the carriage room the choir boys
of Trinity Mission at Sheburne village,
where DR.. and Mrs. Webb worship when
at Shelburne, appeared and rendered
three carols led by d. Lloyd Jones. The
carols were "The Shepherds Watch Their
Flock by Night "ShOut the Glad It'd
ings, Exultantly Sing" and "Thou
Didst Leave Thy Throne The choir is
made up of If voices. The closing strains
of the last carol was the signal for the
appearance of young Vanderbilt Webb
impersonating Santa Claus in a manner
which drew out many eXclamations of
delight from the happy children. Then
there was picture which would have
sent thrill of delight through any true
American citizen. At the front were
grouped over $50 men. women and chill
dren of all classes and creeds. LabOrers,
who cared for the stock, teamsters, who
labor 300 days of the year for their daily
bread, men with hands hard with cease
less toll, all with their families; among
them Mrs. w. Seward Webb, the wife of
the New York millionaire and the daugh-
ter of Vanderbilt, with her children
and her husbands brother; and at the
front Vanderbilt Webb, aged six years,
dressed in the pretty fur trimmed Santa
Claus jacket and beard, reciting "The
Night Before Christmas,' while his
millionaire father, president of the great
Wagner Car company, and possessed of
wealth with which to buy whole town
ships. stood beside him and followed the
lines in the book that ne might prompt
his son should the latter falter in enter
tanning his fathers servants.
When the recitation was finished the
curtain which had hidden the big Christ
mas tree in the room beyond, which
opens into the main carriage room, was
dropped. disclosing ii most beautiful
sight. In the centre was the tree coy
cred with presents and standing in the
centre of an immense pile of paper par
GELS of different sizes which its branches
refused to support. Tlnsel and candles
llumined the boughs of the big cedar,
and were rivaled by myriads of similar
lights fastened among the boughs of
hemlock which lined every inch of space
on the walls about the room. Truly it
was beautiful sight.
Probably the most interesting time
during the whole evening for both the
guests and their host and hostess was
the distribution of the gifts from the
tree. DR.. and Mrs. Webb with their
family and G.. Creighton Webb, removed
the presents from the tree. and as the
doctor called the names the children and
others responded and received their gifts.
1t was the ideal Christmas tree with gifts
FOR everyone. TO the children were
given toys, games, books and useful arti-
cles according to their ages, while among
the gifts received by the employees of
Shelburne Farms were such Items as 30
gold watches, seven fur coats, articles of
wearing apparel, hats, caps. gloves,
mittens and other things appropriate to
the winter season. Each of the Webb
children received gifts from the tree.
When all had been remembered and the
tree shOrn of its, fruits opportunity was
given for the children to frolic about it
and take from it the remaining cOrnuco-
pas of candy. The gifts had been ar
ranged so that those of each family came
as nearly as possible together, and often
there would be from four to ten gifts for
one household The first child to receive
present was Alice Wickson, and the
others were called as fast as the names
could be read. The value of the presents
to the farm employees was regulated
according to position and length of
service. Each member of Trinity church
choir received purse in which was a
new 81 bill.
At 6 o'clock the chairs were cleared
away and Caterer Coon served a sumptu-
Gus banquet, which was placed upon a
table 80 feet in length at the west side of
the room. The banquet was eaten while
standing. The table was beautifully
decorated with roses, carnations and
other flowers from the Webb conserVa-
tories. The menu included oyster pat
ties, frozen salmon, chicken croquettes,
chicken salad, sandwiches, cold meats,
cake of several kinds, ice cream, nuts,
candy, fruits, coffee and lemonade.
! Thera were Oamas nd other divarSiOnS