The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-04-27
AFFAIR WAS GREAT SUCCESS
General Secretary Huntress Of Pitts
field Also a Very Interesting
Speaker


supper was served by the ladies' aux
iliary in charge OF committee COM
posed OF Mrs. G. W. That
cher, Mrs. Il. w Bradford, Mrs.
f. N. Squire and Mrs. L. H. Ross. The
Mattresses were ten of Bennington's
charming young ladies' and the ar
rangements and service reflected
great credit on the ladies' of the aux
Hilary. The menu was as follows.
Chicken Croquettes
French Peas
Cream Potatoes
Olives
Rolls Coffee
Grapefruit-0range Salad
Crackers
Vanilla Ice Cream
Fresh Strawberry Sauce
Assorted Cakes
During the banquet the Baptist
church orchestra rendered selections
which added to the pleasure of the
occasion. This orchestra is one Of
the creditable musical organizations
OF the town though rarely heard eX-
cept at the Baptist church.
The first speaker was Dr. l.. H.
Ross, president of the association. DR.
Ross spoke briefly on the value Of
the Y to the young men of the town
and urged that il be more generally
taken advantage OF by them. This
association was built and is support
ed by the older men of the town for
the benefit Of the younger and the
young men and boys should be alive
to the chance that is given them.
General Secretary E. N. Huntress
of Pittsfeld was the second speaker
and gave an inspiring address on as
ISOLATION work and the way ii deYel-
ops character and public spirit not
only among its members but in the
town where it is located. Pittsfield
now has the second largest associa-
ton in New England with a member
ship of over 1000 and a building and
outfit that cost over two hundred
thousand dollars and it has had a
large effect in the progress and pros
perity of Pittsfleld. Mr. Huntress
was compelled to cut his remarks
short in order to catch the S:45 car
for Pittsfield.
The principal address of the even
ing was by Hon. Joseph A. DeBoer
of Montpelier who is generally con-
sidered the brainiest and ablest man
in Vermont Mr.. DeBoer is native
of Holland and came to this country
as a boy and by his own efforts OBJ
tanned high school and college edu-
cation and through sheer ability and
without a pull OF any kind won his
way to the head of one of the largest
business institutions of New England,
the National Life Insurance company.
He was elected president OF this com
pany when only 40 years of age and
the progress of the company under
his management has been steadily
greater than ever before
His address was on the develop
ment Of a state through the develop
ment of character and the attributes
of manhood and Christian life. He
declared that a man is alive only in
connection with those things in which
he has some part and that as we in
crease our activities and correspon-
denotes, we increase the scope and
usefulness of our lives.
Speaking of Vermont Mr.. DeBoer
declared the figures and statements of
Mr. Rossiter to be not reliable be-
cause they represent only one angle
of the subject and not a correct con-
clusion drawn from study of the
whole matter. Mr.. DeBoer says that
Vermont is not a decadent state and
that it was never in a better condit-
ion for the future than today.
In the matter of roads the state in
1906 appropriated $4,000, in 1908,
$4,000 and in 1910, $150,0OO. During
the past ten years the state has chan
ged from a deficit to a surplus, and
without a state tax We are making
progress without bonding the state
while other states are running into
debt for future generations to pay.
Vermont has built up during the past
five years a permanent school fund,
which is paying 100000 in interest
annually to support the public
schools. Vermont is progressive,
well governed and her institutions are
the equal of those of other states.
People should not be misled by the
cries or views which are not war
ranted by facts.
Mr.. DeBoer's address was one that
ought to be heard in full by every
Vermonter and the Banner regrets
that it is unable to print it entire.
Frank e. Howe acted as toastmas-
ter and the committee in charge was
composed of w. r. Barratt, Wills r.
White, Philip T. H. Pierson, Arthur
u. Hollister and Frank f. Howe The
success of the affair was largely due
to the efforts of General Secretary
Banks and Physical Director Arnold
who did most Of the work for the
committee