The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-06-02
1000 CHILDREN PERFORMED
In Outdoor Festival on Grounds at Lin
coin School.

Sunny skies and congenal tempera-
ture favored the teachers and students of
the graded schools in their somewhat be-
lated May day festival at the Lincoln
school campus in Gospel village yesterda,
afternoon. After weather extremities
had thrice compelled postponement Of
the affair, outdoor conditions obtained
that were wholly suited to the charming
folk dances, drills and May pole exer
cises. If 1000 figured at one time or
another in the fete. four times that num-
Der of parents and others gathered to
see the young hopefuls perform on the
green carpet Soon after | o'clock the
crowd began to assemble and at 2;30
S o'clock, when the browning of the May
queen took place, it is estimated that
nearly 1000 people were looking on from
the roped sidelines which enclosed an acre
plot of greensward given over entirely to
the exercises.
1t is to be hoped that the May festival
becomes permanent fixture on the grad
ed school calendar in Barre. This state
ment is made without reservation and is
believed to reflect the sentiment which
prevails among a large number of people
who witnessed the fete yesterday. Be
yond doubt, the presentation of folk
dances, drills, etc. together with the
singing which naturally accompanies the
other program features, requires a con
siderable amount of time and prepare
ton. But the results, as shown by the
work of the children on the occasion of
their initial appearance, are altogether
worth while. To the instructor of music
In the city schools. Miss Lucy A. Proc
tor. who initiated the plan of holding a
festival some months ago, is due great
credit. Her assistants among the grad I
ed teachers staff worked long and faith |
fully to make the affair success and to
them too. belongs a liberal share of the I
commentator accruing from the showing
OF the youthful performers.
Lincoln campus affords an admirable
setting for exercises of the kind and the
Unexpectedly large crowd Of spectators
found no difficulty in viewing the festi-
val numbers. On the east side of the
green many automobiles were parked
and the space Immediately contiguous to !.
the stage Of activity was otherwise very
populous. Small children who had parts
IN the fete were conveyed from North
barre ana OtneT distant paris OF the city
In automobiles generously loaned by
number Of people. Music for some OF
the more intricate dances was furnished
by the Goddard seminary orchestra and
piano accomplishments were available for
other numbers.
Perhaps the most elaborate perform
snce Of the afternoon was the browning
of the MAY queen and the Weaving
Dance" IVA foa Nadmah. an adoption
from an historic Swedish folk dance. 50
called because IL represents the different
in the old-fashioned wav
of weaving. The advancing Of the lines
n school girls toward each other told Of
the beating Of the threads together; link
ing arms represented the pulling Of the
breads together and 80 on. Forty eight
Eighth grade girls from lincoln and
schools figured 10 the weas
Ing dance. A Swedish singing game.
-Ms's Little Pigs" bv children Of p
grade followed. Third and fourth grade
children were next seen IN The Three
Strand Nav Pole" and a Swedish singing
rsme. "Csrrousei- Merry 20 round hy