Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-04-29
GYMNASIUM WANTED
Movement Launched at Supper
Given to Magnet Club
Gold Watch Presented to Roy 3. Miner,
Athletic Dlreetor-speeches by Club
Members and Others.

Athletic Dlreetor-speeehes by Club
Members and Others.
Members of the Magnet club showed
their efficiency in the eating and speak
ing line as well as in athletic work Tues
day evening when they closed their in
door season with a supper in the Centre
Congregational chapel. Any stranger
who passed by the chapel In the early
evening would have wondered why a
menagerie should be housed in a church
building, but most of the townspeople
would have connected the noise with the
Magnet club. 1t was good wholesome
noise, talk, laughter and cheers given to
show the appreciation of what the lead
ers had done for the club. The Magnet
club always has had a reputation for be-
ing able to make a noise, but they never
raised a greater clamor than when a
| handsome gold watch was presented to
Roy B. Miner by members and a few of
| the business and professional men of the
| town who are especially interested in the
| club and its work. Mr. Miner has had
| charge of the athletic work of the club
since its organization, and it was through
| his efforts that the fine exhibition was
| given in the auditorium last week.
Aside form the presentation of the
| watch the most significant feature of
| the gathering was the gymnasium boom
which was launched. When the club
| was reOrganized in January and began
| meeting in the basement of the high
school building no secret was made of the
| fact that the leaders looked upon that
| arrangement as temporary, and that as
| soon as the right time arrived an attempt
would be made to raise money for a gym
| nasum. Whether that time has arrived
| viii be determined by a few of the lead
ers in a movement in meeting to be
| held soon. In any case the boys of the
| CLUB have started on a definite cam
paign with We want a gymnasium" as
their war cry If they continue to din
this into the ears of the people for six
months or year it will be an effective
basis for the money raising campaign.
The enthusiasm of the boys was backed
up by equal enthusiasm in c. c. Fits,
Principal E. Burr Smith of the high
school and Rev. Roy NJ Houghton, the
guests OF the club who spoke in high
appreciation of what had been done and
expressed their confidence that the gym
naSium could be built
The leaders have very definite idea
of what they hope to see In the way of
a gymnasium within a few years They
want it to be an absolutely free public
gymnasium which will be open for use of
boys and girls, men and women alike.
They hope to see it established on such a
basis that some class will be using the
gymnasium nearly every hour of the day
and evening. Naturally the school de-
|
of it and certain hours would be set
apart for its exclusive use by school
children. In exchange for this privilege
| 1t would seem just that the school de-
partment make some definite appropria-
ton for the support of the gymnasium
each year. This would be much cheaper
for the school district than to erect,
equip and maintain a building. OF course
the Magnet club would hope to be the
real manager of the building, but if it
| seemed better that it should be under
some other management they would have
the satisfaction of having been the prime
movers in the plan and of having put the
project before the public in a convincing
light. They have done wonders with
very simple equipment and they can do
greater wonders with ample equipment.
The boys Of the old Magnet club cap
tured Esteyville and can have anything
they want there. The reorganized Mag
net club is starting out to capture the
town
The woman's auxiliary Of the Y. NJ. c.
4. decided some time ago to aid the club
and made a generous offer to its leaders
to do anything they could to further the
club work. At that time there appeared
to be no way in which the auxiliary could
assist except by showing their goodwill.
but a little later the suggestion was
made that they serve the complimentary
| supper to the boys to close their indoor
season They accepted the responsibility
of serving a supper and from the bount-
full way in which they provided it was
evident that they knew boys. The way
/ in which the good things to eat disap-
peared after the 20 boys once got under
| way was revelation to the women who
had no sons Of their own, and the moth
ers of the club members agreed that theil
sons were eating nearly twice as muct
as usual because of the enthusiasm OF
the gathering. The appreciation of the
.I,..r
: given the women when the tables haC
been cleared. Mrs. S. Wilcox was chair
man Of the committee in charge Of the
supper
The boys met at the high school build
ing at o'clock and marched to the chap
ell at $50, each squad being under thu
charge of a leader. They amused them
selves with some interesting little sou
venirs which the women had placed a
each plate until mess cali was sounded
and for an hour they paid strict attention
to the business of keeping the mattresses
hustling. After the tables had beer
cleared II. l.. Piper took charge and in
sisted on each of the boy leaders making
a speech. The presentation of the watci
, to "Zeke" Miner came first and the boy
gave vent to their feelings so vocifer
| ously that it was some time before tn
5 athletic leader could express his thank
e for the gift and for the spirit which tn
! | boys had shown during the year. Bel
Weeden, president of the club and on
of the athletic leaders, was greeted will
| | another demonstration, and the boy
a gave a similar sign of goodwill and en-
thusiasm to Hugh Agnew, another ath
letic leader, Robert Fits, vice president
and o. B. Hughes, one of the managers
Fred Howard and Hayden Randall, VIII
did such good work in the exhibition
stood up on chairs so the rest could Sc
them and give them a few cheers
Scott Eames, janitor Of the high schoo
building, received a noisy sign of ap
probation of his courtesy and goodwill
during their winter season.
c. c. Fits came in for few minute
after the supper and gave the boys som
| things to think about in a few words
He compimented them on their work an
expressed his belief that the time was a
hand when the gymnasium should b
built. He believed that the club wa
fostering a spirit in the town whic
8 would make 1t possible to raise the mon
ey. There are so men in the town VIII
= could be induced to give $1,000 each 70
IT, Principal Smith also spoke in hig
appreciation of the club and what
meant to the school system. He com
plimented Mr.. Miner highly on his wor