The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-11-22
The MeddIer
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The Associated Charities Of New
York city, having in mind the welfare
OF the multitudcs Of clerks IN the me
,ropolis, have formulated the follow
inr rules which are being circulated
widely among shoppers OF all cinsses'
do MS much Of the Christmas
shopping as possible now,
2-Ilaye IL all done one week beiofo
Christmas.
3-shop early in the day
do not ask TO have parcels de'
liyered on the day Of purchase
Garry home as many parcels Us
possible.
do not ask to have articles sent
home on approval.
DO not shop during luncheon
hours, thus shortening the hour Tor
the clerks
These rules are just as applicable IN
Brattleboro as in New York city, ana
their observance will work for the
benefit of shoppers and clerks alike
People are so prone TO wait until the
very last minute before making their
holiday purchases that the few days
previous TO Christmas resemble big
bargain sale in every particular except
that the bargains are not present, nav
ing been picked up by thoughtful buy
ers who went early and avoided the
rush. ''Do il now" is a good motto
for all Christmas shoppers to observe
at this time of year.
On one sidewalk between the Uni,.
tartan church aud the postoiiice The
Meddler the other morning counted
no less than 10 grounds on when
prosecutions for breaking the anti
splitting law could be based were the
names of the offenders known. When
this law was enacted year ago there
was much talk about the good that
would result in the way of protection
TO public health. This protection,
however, depends entirely upon the
enforcement of the law, and when, as
appears to be the case in Brattleboro,
no notice of the statute is taken its
value is nothing. Splitting on the
sidewalk is a filthy habit but 1t VIII
continue just as long as the proper au'
thorities fail to make examples Of
few offenders.
The famous map of Mars and ITS
canals which Road Commissioner
Eames painstakingly constructed on
the town hall plaza is not withstand
ing the elements in a way that augurs
for its permanency. Already the
lamp, black tracings are losing their
color and consistency and their total
obliteration bids fair to be matter
of but a short time If Mr.. Eames
is anxious to preserve this famous pro-
lection he might do it over again in
bright yellow paint of some popular
brand. which would probably be fur.
nished free in return for a small adj
vertisement in one corner; but if he
really wants to repair the concrete
approach TO the town building he
ought to repair it.
The success of almost every play
depends largely on details, unnoticed
if they are properly attended to but
glaringly prominent when neglected
Ii those who take the "heavy think
ing" parts in a performance are prop
erly trained made up and costumed,
for example, the audience gives them
hardly thought, absorbing uneon.
sciously the atmosphere which they
are used to create. But if the "supes -
appear on the stage ridiculously be-
wigged and be-whiskered ludicrously
clothed and plainly i'll at ease the en-
tire effect of the scene is many times
lost. In one scene of Monday even.
ing's play detachment of federal
prisoners appeared on the stage.
They were certainly a dishevelled and
motley looking group, yet their ae-
tions betokened incipient stage fright
rather than bodily fatigue, and when
one of their number in leaving the
stage dissolved partnership with the
faded blue breeches which covered his
regulation apparel the appeal made
| to the audience was exactly the re-
verse from what was intended, It
/ is, of course, impossible for travelling
companies to carry people enough to
fill all the minor parts, but they ought
at least to use care in the selection
and appearance of those who complete
the stage picture.
!
During his service as court officer
throughout the session of supreme court
which has been held in Grange hall
this week Deputy Sheriff C. l. Knapp
has been wearing a regulation uni
form of blue with brass buttons He
was walking down Main street the
other afternoon when woman
stopped him and said politely; "Con-
ductor, can you tell me whether the
ears run on the half or quarter hour7"
The Meddler.