The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-01-19


without saying that the average "star
in the athletic armament is better known
than many of the great names in his
| tory.
For instance, it happened in an adj
vanced room Of the Barre public schools
recently that an instructor asked a
youth: who was Aristotleln only to
be met with a blank expression from
the youth and negative shake of the
head.
Somewhat disturbed at the apparent
lack of information, the instructor de-
cided to try out the youth on another
tack and asked: "Who was Sam White ~
Eagerly and without hesitation, the
youth replied; "Why, he's the Teller
who scored on Yale?"
Which goes to show that the great
names in eontemporaneous athletic his
tory have more attraction for at least
part of the youths than the names of
the great men in the dim past of Greek
history, and it bears out, in part, the
contention of the magazine writer.
q
But speaking of interest in athletics,
the Spaulding high school basketball
team gave an illustration last week of
their earnestness in the game, as well
as their sense Of obligation in carrying
out their schedule. They had game
scheduled for Friday night at Morris
vile, and they started from Barre by
train in ample time TO bring them to
their destination in good season, only to
be met at Montpelier with the eondi-
ion of a demoralized train service be-
cause OF a wreck. which threatened to
prevent them from keeping their engage
ment at MorrisviIle that evening, Moth
ing daunted, these young athletes en-
gagged a team at Montpelier and drove
the twelve miles to Waterbury, where
they hired another relay and drove the
remainder OF the 80 miles to Morris
vile, arriving there Just in time TO gulp
down a hasty supper and hurry onto
the basketball floor. That they were
defeated under those conditions was nos
to their discredit; and it was entirely
to their credit that they did not dsap.
point their opponents Of Peoples acad
envy, Maintaining schedule is worth
striving for
Not so much can be said for the Bur,
lington high school team, which wat
scheduled to play Spaulding on the local
floor this evening. but which sent word
the first OF the week that because of
certain conditions which barred some OF
their players they would be unable to
keep their appointment in Barre to-
night.
Barre's other preparatory school, God
dard seminary, must be fairly bullying
with students this term, with a total
enrolment of no which is about the
record for the institution. And, too,
Goddard's athletic records are bullying
in a manner quite impressive to visiting
teams. If there is one thing in which
Goddard is particularly strong, it is ath-
leties.
And now coming around by easy stages
to the Barre opera house, did you ever
see the bottom drop out of the play
market in the startling way it has done
during the last month? There hasn't
been real show in Barre for weeks.
and there are no immediate prospects.
1T is a very unusual state of affairs.
The reason isn't local, for the good shows
which have appeared in Barre this sea-
son have been well patronized, as a rule;
and the theatregoing prblic are eager
for something good. But the play fam
inc in Barre is typical of conditions all
over the road as the theatrical papers
show that few companies are being sent
out; there are very few shows stirring
/;
A.. - -,
the moving picture houses has had to do
with this state Of affairs il, of course,
problematical; but it is quite certain
that the tremendous rise Of the picture
houses has been hard blow to the real
stage productions. They account, too
for large percentage of those 2500
actors and actresses who are said to be
walking the streets in Chicago alone.
But the dances are close rival TO the
tabloids Some nights there have been
as many as four regular dances going
in Barre, with the orchestras saving
away for dear life and the scores of
feet shutting out the weary miles.
{:
And. by the way. the official ban has
not been put on the turkey trot,' the
dummy hug OF the grizzly bear in
Barre as yet. Perhaps the class in nat
ual history dances has not become large
enough to come under the disfavor of
the authorities. Who knows?
::
But to revert to that pleasant topic
of smallpox. we are indebted to big
Pox" in the Lyndon Union for this little
bit of conversation between teacher and
pupil in a school near Lyndon:
"Iohnnie, have YOU been vaccinatedP
"No.7 replied Johnnie, carrying a puz-
zled look. but which turned into one o,
vivid brightness when he gleefully add
ed: "No, but Eve been intoxicated"
.'Why. johnnie, how did that happenf'
the shocked teacher.
ssTwas when they giv'd me Aunty-
Toxin" faltered the now erestfallen
youth.
The prognostieator who predicted au
open winter was wrong. 1t is dead
open-and-shut winter. Leave it to !
-on-t the Dog, if it isn't. But
its nearly half gone.
In fact, it's about time for Lieut.. -Gov.
Slack Of st. Johnsbury 10 come out and |
make his little bow for the governorship. |
If so, it goes without saying that he |
can depend on his two local papers for /
Is he waiting till February 2