The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-12-26
IDEAL CHRISTMAS
CONDITIONS In
BENNINGTON
Prosperity of Community Reflected
in Observance Of Anniversary
BUSY DAYS FOR MERCHANTS
Carol Singing at Putnam House Cor
ner Attracted Large Crowd
In Spite of Cold Weather

The Christmas spirit overfowed in
| Bennington during the past few days.
| After his attempt to display all his
wares on Friday, the weather man
was good and gave us the best holiday
weather he had in his repertoire. Sat-
urday was an ideal day for the shop
ers and the deliveries, Sunday was
pleasant and Christmas day iself was
ideal, the air being crisp and the sun
deigning to show himself most Of the
time.
The stores experienced the best
business liz history. All the facto-
ries and other places of employment
in the village have been running all
year and as a result there was plenty
OF money to spend and everyone spent
a goodly sum. The Christmas clubs
were productive of the large amount
which was handed over the counters
in the last few days. The general trend
of the buying was more than ever be-
fore toward useful and practical gifts,
the little knick-knacks that are usually
associated with the thought of pres
ent being conspicuous by their abb
sence.
The post office and express office
were very busy have not yet caught
up with their regular schedules. The
pcstoffice had the biggest rush in
years and, while the force put every
effort into setting their deliveries out
one time, they we're handicapped by
the lack of extra help furnished by
the government from keeping up with
the demand The parcel post busi-
ness especially was very large in
volume. as many as four extra ve-
hicles being employed TO care for 1t.
The community song festival held
On Christmas afternoon fro mthe Put
nam house veranda was great sue
cess, being attended by large crowd,
which might have been greater but
or the cold, which forced the listen
ers to keep moving. There were
about sixty singers in the chorus,
which rendered the following pro-
gram:
l. Oh come, all ye faithful. Old
hymn, sung by everyone in the
Square.
u. At Midnight Summons Came.
Carol, sung by Community chorus.
H. Bring Torch, jeanette, lsa-
bella. Carol, by Community Choir
us.
Community chorus.
V. The Heavens are Telling. (From
The Creation) Community Choir
us.
VI Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,
Christmas hymn, by everyone.
The carols, which are translations
rom the French. were quaint and at
'ractive and were unusually well Civ
IN. They were used at the sugges-
ion of Professor Chambers, who has
Neen training the community glee
lub for the past few weeks in antici'
,ation of the Christmas exercises and
vho has had much success with them
n North Adams and other places.
hey are different" from the ordinary
,inds of CHRISTMAS songs and their
ombination with the we'll known
Nvmns was particularly pleasing.
those in charge wish to convey their
Nearty thanks to all who gave their
oices, while the singers themselves
ny that they got a great deal of
Measure out of being able to give
leasure to others.
There was a number of big Christ
Nas dinners. at which old acquaint.
noes were renewed and many new
friendships made. Practically all
tudents at schools and colleges are
'ome for the vacation and a number
,e events are planned for the rest
't the week especially for their bene-
t and for those who are home only
t this time. At the Soldiers home
turkey dinner was enjoyed by more
han sixty, with music by Hurley's
rchestra of eight pieces.