Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-12-29
Merry DoIngs at SheIburne Farms.

DR.. and Mrs. W. Seward Webb enter
tainod the horny-handrd sonee f toll ir,.=se
vicinity of Shelburne Farms Saturday even
ing with Christmas party
This function, which was on a stupendous
scale, was given in one of the large barns,
which was decorated with flags and ever
green and the floor strewn with clean
straw Here the happy peasantry were
received by DR.. Webb in person, assisted
by Manager Taylor and Assistant Manager
Gebhardt of the Farms, and bobbed and
curtesied to the gentry in the most approved
manner.
The Howard opera house orchestra de-
lighted the wondering rustics with con-
cert program during the arrival of the
mountaineers with their wives and children
and G. Creighton Webb with charming
amiability manipulated large monograph
at the right of the entrance, taking great
pains to select melodies familiar to the
simple folk.
When all had finally gathered and
tramped through the straw to the carriage
house, they were met by Mrs. Webb and
then came thrilling picture, described by
contemporary in the following glowing
terms:
cat the front were grouped over $50
men, women and children of all classes
and creeds. Laborers, who cared for the
stock, teamsters, who labor 800 days Of
the year for their daily bread, men with
hands hard with ceaseless toll, all with
their families; among them Mrs. W. Sew
ard Webb, the wife of the New York mil
lionaire and the daughter of Vanderbilt,
rr,+l <ha,r ph.1dron and how h,,e ND
brother ;and at the front Vanderbilt Webb,
aged six years, dressed in the pretty fur
trimmed Santa Claus jacket and beard, re-
citing "The Night Before Christmas,
while his millionaire father, president Of
the great Wagner Car company, and pos
sessed OF wealth with which to buy whole
townships, stood beside him and followed
the lines in the book that he might prompt
his son should the latter falter in enter
tanning bis fathers servants"
After three carols had been rendered by
the choir boys OF Trinity Mission, Shell
burne, and young Vanderbilt had finished
his recitation, curtain was drawn aside,
disclosing an ideal Christmas tree with
presents for everyone. The first child to
receive a present, we are told, was Alice
Wickson, and her name will probably GO
down in history with that OF Peregrne
White who was the first white child born
in New England. To the children were given
toys, books, games and useful articles &C
cording to their ages, while among the
gifts received by the employees Of Shelburne
Farms were such items as 80 gold watches,
seven fur coats, articles of wearing apparel,
hats, caps, gloves, mittens and other
things appropriate to the winter season.
Finally, to complete the qualification of the
guests each OF the Webb children received
a present from the tree.
Following the distribution of gifts came
a sumptuous banquet, which was taken
standing, style OF proceeding that prob
ably prevented the guests from eating with
their knives. The menu included every
thing but fapjacks, pie and doughnuts.
At O'clock dancing began. the first
figure, a quadrille, being led by Mrs Webt
and A. T Taylor, with DR.. Webb and
Mrs. Gebhardt opposite. Money Musk
French Four and the Iri,h Washerwomar
followed each other in quick succession til
the dawn of another day.