The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-12-26
CHRISTMAS DAY AS
TWAS OBSERVED
IN TOWN
Community Christmas Tree A
New Feature
Big CROWD TURNED OUT
Exercises Not Complete, But Right
Way to Proceed Next Year
Is Learned

The carol singing about the com
munlty Christmas Tree was held last
evening at o'clock en- South street
under the auspices o. the Civic
league The tree was strung with
long lines Of electric bulbs with n
star surrounding IT, Under the tree
the Bennington band on the band
stand accompanied the carolers.
The program opened with the call OF
lhc trumDcters and the crowd that
responded was very large one, as
large as the throngs who turn out on
a June night TO listen to band con
cert.
The first two numbers on the pro
gram were Rock Of Ages" and Il
need Thee Every Hour" AT the
close CT the latter selection, the pro-
cesslonal OF The children OF st.
Franis dc Sales choir was seen
preceding down South street with
lanterns. They were singing AIDES.
te Fidelos," accompanied on the con
net by William Shea. As the chill
dren neared the crowd, an aisle OPP
ened and the children proceeded to
the foot OF the tree where they rem,
dercd the iarols. Softly the Night is
Stealing" and christmas Bells.
The choils of the various local
churches were near the tree and led
the chorus singing in which the
crowd joined under the direction OF
E e. Bennett. Among the special
numbers wcl-reudered was "Word-
evful night, BY the choir OF ST.
Peters church.
The chorus singing, because OF the
peculiar conditions incident TO out
deer singing, was not so good rs the
carols. The crowd was not compact
enough 10 give great volume. The
event was by no means a failure.
The promoters OF the plan have
pained valuable experience that can
be used with similar programs dur
ing the next year There was great
difficulty N obtaining 4 suitable tree
and one was brought out Of The
woods only after three had been cut
down.
The programs for the occasion
which were distributed through the
crowd were furnished BY Z. T. Girls
void The current for the lighting OF
the tree was furnished by the Twin
State Gas and Electric company. 1t
is planned to have the tree lighted
each night during the week.
The committee in charge was com
posed OF Miss Jeanette Perkins, Mrs.
William w. Burke and Miss tiIda
Pratt.
The community Christmas tree
movement has spread rapidly through
out the country. Last year there
were only three such trees cut. dur
ing the present season nearly every
city has had such a tree Nearby cit
les as Albany and Schenectady have
joined the movement and il is to be
hoped that it will be a regular .ea-
ture OF each Christmas celebration
pere.
The singing OF the children. Of the
81. Francis de Sales church choir
was very credltable and very much
in the spirl; OF the season. The e.
feet of the singing O, "Adeste Eide
les" was such az to remind many OF
the street singers Of the Old English
Yuleddc.
The program was as follows
Trumptcrs Cali
Chorus Singing
Rock OF Ages"
Il Need Thee Every Hour
Band Seloctlcn-"Old Settlers on
Parade"
Songs OF tho Carolors
Children's Choir OF ST. Francis de
Sales church accompanied by
William Shea and Mr.. Gokay
Processicnal-"A deste Fideies~
Around the Tree
"Sui,ly the Nirht is Stealing
Christmas Bells
Chorus singing
"Oh Little Town OF Bethlshem
Band Medley Of Patriotic
Airs
Old Caroi-''Wondeim Nirht~
suns BIZ choir Of St Peters Church
Chorus sinsing-"Hark the Herald
Angels Sing
band Selection
Chorus Si1cing-~lt Came Iron a
Midnight clear"
Chorus SinEinc--America