The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-12-28
OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS
Entertainment at the School House
az Bennington Center

many people from their money in
these days. So much is this true
that factories where modern antiques
are made are productive industries,
both at home and abroad. This is
true however, only of property-pos
sessions, like Grandfather's clocks,
bureaus, chairs, jewelry and the like.
Grandfather's institutions and GUS
toms are passing or past We no
longer find homemade in the mar
ket, or go to the Bees of our grand
mothers for fun making. People know
very little of the old time general
training" or the town meeting OF
early New England democracy. There
are those who are so enamored OF
what is called progress" that they
have done away with our bylaws and
would now do away with about the
only thing left, our constitution. They
prefer modern antiques, made-oyer
conditions, new wine in old bottles"
II is a discredit to be thought behind
the times.
No one who attended that old time
institution, the "Deestrick Skule' ex-
hibition, under the modern guise of a
Christmas entertainment as given In
the little school house at the Center
Monday night, but felt the JOY and
profit of 1t, and perhaps reflected on
its lessons. As one entered the fam
iliar place the evidences Of taste and
skill, and hours of thought and labor
displayed in decoration as we'll as
the generous and interested assis-
lance of some good Lady Bountiful
were apparent on every hand and
overhead. There was a Christmas
tree and candles. There was a fire
place and stockings, christmas bell,
lanterns and festoons hung from the
ceiling, even Santa Claus himself ap-
peared during the evening and had
his fling at the modern, in a dis
cription of the up-to-date playhouse,
called a city fiat, whose doors were
so narrow and chimney so small and
ceiling so low that his well known
size seemed to forbid his entering, un-
til he thought of the skylight and air
shaft. But the trip proved so danger
Gus that He allowed he'd become
an up-todater and hereafter take
the elevator
More interesting still and more ed
ucating was the gathering of parents
and neighbors Ia the old school
house-where me- Of them had
themselves gone 10 school and which
now they pay taxes to support-to
see how the children of today do the
things they used to do. Sprinkled
among them were some little ones
who next year or the year following
will be members of this same school
who had come because brother OF
sister was going to speak a piece
or were even then bursting to 60 onto
the stage themselves and lisp a little
couplet they had learned. While
most interesting of all were the rad
liant faces OF the pupils with theil
immediate friends, who perhaps had
been promoted, but had not forgot
ton.
Amid a respectful hush thanks
were offered to Him, who gave us the
Day, we recognize, and the know
ledge of childhood Then with Miss
Helen Cutting at the piano and Haf
old Hurley on his violin we werC
treated to two contrasted selections
the latter a well deserved encore
which put us all in humor for th'
good things to follow To enter int
detail here would take too long ant
to mention individual names woult
be difficult where all did so well. Rec
itations, speeches, songs and dia
logues followed one another in inter
esting variety and brightness, from
the little one whom you would hard
ly expect to speak in public on thu
stage" to the one older grown, viii
more of self-consciousness.
Following this part Of the evening
entertainment which revealed III
good taste In selections as well a
the industry and tact In drill Of Mis-
Cutting their teacher, came the gift
to each pupil, supplied by generou
friend of the school, who has coun
selled and helped in numberles
ways, and 1t was worth any price o
admission just to see the bright eye
sparkle, as each heard his nam
E called and came forward to receiy
his gift. In this part OF the enter
. tainment parents also had a share
for when the other presents from tn
school had been distributed, eXchanl
es were made between pupils of gift
? thy had provided for each other. Blu
I the browning incident came In tn
, surprise which was held in store TO
Miss Cutting. Children can fool
p their teacher sometimes and the
i had succeeded we'll this time, 10
Q when Supt. Varney with graceful II
PRODUCTION handed her little packe
, containing beautiful bracelet sh
was for the moment taken aback, hu
J. Immediately recovered herself an
e feelingly expressed her appreciate
4 of their thoughtlulness and her plea
d ure In Just this particular gift.
J. Thus a very pleasant and prohtabl
a evening was delightfully."- brought
: n close, and he must be very shol
j sighted and short hearted, who sha
say, that the time and effort an
d strength expended on this old tim
way, upon an occasion which knit
= more closely all the members of IN
e community in the common interel
l. In the common school, and affords
o pleasure, which shall abide as a men
l DRY for many long years, ought to y
e curtailed or given mp, that the pupi
J, minds may be more fully stored vii
e useful knowledge, to be forgotten
4 out of use in a decade. There AZ
! some antiques even in our instlt
h tions whose love, we may trust, WI
G hold ms for many years to come.
CRUSHED BY FALL