St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-08-21
OLD HOME WEEK.

quaintauces Renewed amd Love 0fState
strengthened-A Reception and Ban-
quet-The Guests.
The committee having in hand the ar
rangements for st. Johnsbury's share in
Old Home Week celebrations did not lay
out an elaborate program, but sought
mainly to secure such reunion of native
and former residents of our town and
vicinity as would leave a pleasant mem
ory in the minds Of all for some time to
come. Looking back now upon the
events OF the week, and noting the per-
sonality of those who responded in any
way to the committees invitation, it is
evident that this result was attained to
a marked degree, and those who worked
so hard to make our Old Home Week
memorable ,are to be congratulated on
the outcome. Anotheryear some the de-
| tails might be handled more easily, per-
haps; but the prevailing spirit of cordial
ity could scarcely be more gratifying, ON
the whole, in future observances OF this
sort, than was the case last week.
Some 500 invitations were sent out,
and half of these were responded to
either in person or by letter.
The principal events of the week were
the reception on Thursday and the ban
quet on Friday evening. Aside from
these were the enjoyable outdoor con-
certs by the st. Johnsbury band on Fri
day, and modest recognition of the
day, on the part of the community, as
partaking somewhat of the holiday ele-
ment beyond that included in its more
| formal setting apart as the anniversary of
TIE battle of Bennington.
THE RECEPTION.
Et Was Rainy and Few Attended.
The exceeding heavy downpour OF rain
which continued throughout Thursday
evening seriously interfered with the at
tendance of visitors and townspeople at
the reception at the Museum. About
seventy FIVE persons braved the storm to
participate in this the first real event of
the Old Home Week program, and the
time between half.past eight and ten was
very pleasantly occupied in the exchange
of social courteses and the giving and
taking of such greetings as beft such an
occasion. 1t was matter of deep re-
gret to the committee, as well as to our
townspeople generally, that the weather
was so unpropitious, since under different
climatic conditions the spacious area of
the Museum would certainly have been
we'll filled. But it was nothing that any
mortal could help, and nobody wasted
time in repining. There was nothing
dampening about the cordiality mani
tested by those who gathered on this oc-
casion.
THE BANQUET.
TownspeOple and Visitors Numbering
25O Sit Around the FestaI Board and
are Talked To.
There were no definite indications, on
Thursday evening, of the number of WIS.,
itors who would appear at the banquet
the following evening at Pythian Hall,
and it is safe to say the committee were
most pleasantly surprised on finding the
capacity of their tables very completely
tested. Interest seems to have centered
about the Friday evening program as
the feat,re of the week, and large num-
ber of visitors arrived during the day.
Supper was served to $50 persons, tables
being spread in both the banquet room
proper and the main hall. The time
intervening between the arrival of the
guests and the call to supper was ener-
getically devoted to sociability; and
when all were seated the animated faces,
the varied tints in apparel the prettily
decorated tables and the brilliant light
ing of the halls, formed picture pleas
ant to look upon.
Rev. DR.. Edward T. Fairbanks was
toastmaster of the evening, and in his
word of greeting prior to the "falling
to" at supper. he suggested that the idea
of Old Home Week might we'll have been
born in Vermont, since it was most con-
genial to the spirit of our people. How
ever, he willingly gave Gov. Rollins Of
New Hampshire the credit of originating
the idea, and made felicitous reference to
certain experiences that Vermont had in
shaking off New Hampshire and New
York in colonial times. He spoke
word of welcome to the visitors, and
then called on the Mahogany Quartette
to give "The Bill of Fare" in the absence
of any printed menu. This was done to
the great pleasure of the company, and
at the close of this lively selection, sup
per was begun.
Hon. D. c. Remich of Littleton was
introduced as "a true son of Vermont
and genuine St. Johnsbury boy" Said
his ancestors traced back to the founders
of st. Johnsbury. He thought those
who have had at heart the best welfare
OF their own state had never originated
anything better than this "Old Home
Week." referred feelingly to the JOY of
coming back to meet old friends and re-
visit old scenes and the strength given
and taken by all concerned. He thought
that these sons and daughters of the
state, coming back after years of success
full career elsewhere, would contribute OF
their enthusiasm and means to prevent
decline in the towns of their nativity or
younger days. Judge Remich suggested
that if these reunions were to be held
annually, local committees should see to
1t that the introduction feature was very