Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1915-12-31
YOUNGSTERS HAPPY
Municipal Christmas Celebration
Attended by About LOO
Santa Claus Was Source of Delight
Bennett Springer Of Boston Gave
Entertainment of Magic.

Many youngster for the first time
saw Monday night Santa Claus. Not
only that, but the youngsters received
direct from the hands of one of two
Santa Clauses half-pound box of can
dy. Besides that the little folk-and
many big ones, too-consumed bag af
ter bag of popcorn and sang Christmas
carols between erunches of delicious
corn. When Bennett Springer of Bos-
ton began his magic, mouths came open
from sheer amazement and interest and
everything else was forgotten as the
1000 children and nearly as many old
er ones watched dolls and paper pulled
out of Derby hat, saw coins disap-
pear and gold watches and cigars taken
from the clothing of transporting
youngsters.
All this and more took place in the
building which has been used as tab
ernacle at the municipal Christmas en-.
tertainment furnished through the
Brattleboro Civic league under the di-
rection of . committee of that organ
ization which had worked increasingly
for weeks to wind up the Christmas
holidays satisfactorily for every child
in Brattleboro. That more were not
there was not because of the efforts of
the committee or because there was not
room. While most of the seats in the
auditorium were taken there was still
room to have crowded in many more
youngsters and there were plenty of
grown.ups to relinquish their seats had
it been necessary. The total attendance
was not far from LOO.
There were two handsome Christmas
trees on the platform, lighted with col
ored electric lamps, and colored paper
ropes festooned from post to post gave
the building gay appearance.
The evening passed off without a
serious hitch. Ushers were everywhere
in the aisles and at the exits and en-.
frances. Children without their elders
we're seated in the center. The seats
on the sides were for fathers and moth
ers, uncles and aunts, who had chill
dren with them whom they were UNI
willing to allow to remain unaccom-
panied or who found the little ones I'M
willing to leave their guardians.
AS fast as the little ones were seat
ed boys armed with baskets filed with
bags of popcorn handed bag of the
corn to each child and as fast as a bag
was emptied it was replaced with a
fresh one. From GAO to 7.20 the in
fux was steady and it was very busy
time for everyone in the building. AL
most as if those in charge had been
trained for the particular work the in
coming audience was seated. Women
of the committee, and others who vol
unteered, were busy loosening wraps
and tucking caps and mittens where
they could be found when the time
came to leave. Here and there tear
started at some fancied loss, but quick
eyes detected the "trouble" and it
was promptly Strengthened out.
Leitsinger' s orchestra of seven pieces
on the platform was busily playing
popular pieces while the audience was
being seated and even the rattle of the
paper bags as small fists dived into
the white, fluffy popcorn could not
drown out the music. The stage was
arranged with the pharaphernalia of Mr..
Springer, which concealed from many
the big chimney and fireplace at the
rear through which one of the Santa
Clauses was later to make his appear
ance. -.- -4
Rev. Delmar f. Trout, president of
the Civic league, made very brief ad-
dress of welcome and made one or two
necessary announcements. Miss Emma
j. Gregg led in the singing of two we'll
known Christmas carols and then came
Mr.. Springer, For so minutes he en-
tertained with his magic and when
ever he called for boy or girl to as
sist him in some trick the volunteers
were numerous.
One more carol was sung and then
appeared the Santa Clauses. Through
the fireplace came one while down the
aisle from the main entrance appeared
another. Taking their places on the
platform after they had shaken hands
and told each other that they did not
expect to see another Santa there, they
handed package of delectable Christ
mas candy to every boy and girl there
The ushers had the children march up
row by row, 80 that each little one
could receive his or her own present
and then return to their seats.
When every child present had re