The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-09-02
S. HOLLISTER JACKSON
ORATOR OF THE DAY
There Were Many Sporting
Events and a Round of
Amusements That Pleased
the Huge Crowd Better
Than Ever Before

brimful Of the attractions that have
come to confer on Labor day unique
place in the calendar of red-letter days.
II was breathing space in the rush
of the months for, with the usual minor
exceptions, everyone abandoned the pur-
suits Of the ordinary workaday world
and let pleasure, rest and recreation run
rampant. Viewed from any angle the
conventional tribute which people pay to
labor once, a year was an essentially
successful tribute. Even the weather
man was prone to excite the suspicion
that ne holds union card or is at the
very least strong sympathizer with
labor, for never has he furnished more
propitious outdoor conditions.
Up with the earliest birds, Old Sol
did business all day long and wherever
people gathered. whether at the monster
picnic which the Central Labor union
conducted at Intercity park or in the
numerous smaller parks, groves and out
ing grounds nearby, his iovial smile was
always evident and everywhere welcome.
Not that the day approached in tempera-
ture the oppressiveness of the atmos-
phere which has come to be connected
with another memorable national holi-
day early in July, for the air of YES
terday was always clear. thanks to
cooling breeze that tumbled up through
the valley. 1t was an ideal day moth
ing less, and perhaps to that fact may
be attributed much of the success of
the big official celebration at Intercitv,
where more than 5000 people were gath
cred at one time or another from morn
ing till night.
Not an exaggerated estimate is 5000,
for there were those who said the park
had never held a bigger crowd. II was
a big natured gathering that thronged
the baseball field, filed the bleachers
and grandstand. and Travelled up and
down the little midway, where pretty
maidens, etc, passed out pop beer. He
brew sundaes and the other little re-
freshment packages that the young peo-
Pile link with celebrations of the kind.
What with a baseball game in the morn
ing, races for the Youngsters and an
afternoons card that included an excel
lent and timely Labor day address BY
S. Hollister Jackson. former public serv-
ice commissioner and a member of Mu-
other baseball game, quoting matches
and hose race and ladder climbing con-
test between Barre and Montpelier fire.
men, there were diversions a-plenty for
the merrymakers. Not that the speech
Of commissioner Jackson was consid-
cred in the light of : diversion, for sell
dom has Labor day audience been
privileged to hear a more earnest dec
laration Of lahor's principles and the sig
niicance of labors day.
With the program completed at the
park. the theatre of the celebration went
back to Barre, where in the evening.
a largely attended dance in Rowland
hall music for which was furnished by
Rley's orchestra, brought the pleasure
making aspects of the occasion to a
close. AT the City hotel dining rooms,
prominent labor men of the city and vi
,inity, together with the speaker of the
lay and other well-known citizens, gath
cred for an informal banquet with
speech making afterwards.
Centered at Intercty Park.
Interest in the days observance may
De said to have centered almost wholly
,round Intereity park. Here in Barre
with the hum of industry in every stone
she'd stilled, stores closed with few ex-
options along Main street and dwell
ng houses vacated for the most part in
'avor of picnic grounds and Intercitv.
he streets presented the appearance of
he most puritanical Sabbath. The B. &
W. Traction & Power Co. had large
number of special cars working overtime
IN its interurban line. Over the Barre
-ailroad a special train in the early
orenoon brought many to the seat of
he biggest celebration in central Yer
mont, if not in the entire state. Others
anne BY team and automobile. True,
he DAYS preceding Labor day witnessed
IN unusually large exodus of people from
he city, but there were many who pre-
erred to celebrate at home. as the big
.rowds bore ample evidence. In the
morning. the newly organized band OF
-oung italian musicians gave concert
n city park. That the music was well
appreciated no one could doubt and to
he players went the honor of investing
he city proper with its single semblanee
f a celebration.
Wherever the sports in yesterdays
rogram saw athletic representatives OF
,arre lined IN against other towns. the
,alms invariably came TO the home
own folks. At the park in the morn
ny, the Barre Athletic club, PLAYING