The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-07-05
One of the Finest Parades in
History of Bennington.
PICNIC AT HUNT GROVE
Large Attendance in Afternoon Help.
ed Fill Public Welfare Assocla-
ton Treasury.

duuilOl 10 INC Itildl hduic ICNOiu IL
has been building for itself in recent
years, The Fourth of July celebra-
tion, particularly the parade, was one
of the most creditable obseryances Of
the nations anniversary in town
that has always demonstrated wide
possibilities I'm this direction There
have been public occasions in Benz
nington that, perhaps, were more
spectacular, but few that have been
more fitting and few that so force
fully brought out the real sentiment,
Of the great anniversary.
There were many really beautiful
features. Some Of the floats and the
decorated automobiles gave evidence
OF artistic ability. They were not
only artistic but they showed a com.
prehensive grasp OF the present sltu-
alton with the entire country involved
in the most stupendous task in the
history of the world There was the
breath OF patriotism In every detail
and the display of the national colors
was almost unprecedented in this
yicinity
The influence that has been exerted
upon the community by the great war
was every where evident There was
Red Cross and its work of mercy. the
great task that has been thrust upon
/ the agricultural resources of the coun-
/ try and the call for funds through the
war savings stamps for means with
which to carry on the struggle for a
better world in which to live.
Two bands and two drum corps pro
; yided inspiration while the long line
/ was marching and countermarching
over Main street The countermareh.
ing feature was an excellent idea IN
: that 1t gave those who had given of
their time and their money in prepa.
ration an opportunity to see the
/ parade
The line OF march as published in
Wednesdays Banner was almost com.
pletely reproduced in the parade.
Nearly every individual who had
agreed to take part was present. one
OF the satisfactory incidents of the
day that reflected credit upon the
executive ability of those who had
the affair in charge.
At the conclusion OF the parade the
Bennington band gave a concert from
the Putnam house piazza and Rev
Richard J. Cahll and Rev. George s
Mills made two stirring appeals to
the assembled people for support OF
the nation through the medium of the
war savings stamps.
There was Just enough Of humor IN
the parade to pleasingly break the
more serious features. Some of the
floats, particularly those of the Red
Cross must have gripped the very
heartstrings of the spectators a..
those designed in lighter vein helped
to round out harmonious panorama
It Is difficult to attempt to do jus
tice TO the patriotic members of the
Welfare association and those who
. assisted In making the parade sucl
an unqualified success 1t once more
proved that the public spirit of Ben
, ningtOn can always be depended up
+ on. even in times of great stress ant
anxiety when II would almost seen
that the last ounce of effort had al
ready been brought out.
The days observance was close,
! with the picnic at Hunts upper grov,
which was attended by an unexpect
edly large crowd. There was 4 LITTLE
shower early in the afternoon, but |
: failed to have any depressing effec
| upon the attendance or upon the en-
thusiasm of the gathering. The re
freshment stand had large patron
age and the dancing pavilion wa
crowded during the large portion o
the afternoon regardless of the fac
/, that many of Bennington's best teri
sichorean artists are now maxim
, Huns dance Just on the other side O
: No Mans land.
over three hundred dollars wa
(. taken in through admissions and tn
gross receipts will be in the vicinit
!, OF four hundred and fifty dollar
= which. under the circumstance
!. makes the picnic a much better linar
!. cial proposition than had been e'
!. pected.
Taken as a whole the observanc
s. was one of the best ever held in Bel
|. nington Some OF the people VIII
@ took I'm all the events of the day ar
Il inclined to the belief that we hay
l. had nothing quite up to It In year
a but It was good all through, exceller
y in it's preparation and excellently ca
o ried out
# A good deal OF interest was take
D. In the athletic tournament at the pi
d mic. The following is a complete Iii
d of the winners of the differei
)f events:
It Junior Girls one legged race-Fir
d prize, Christina Lister second priz
r Ella McComb; third prize, Edna Sau
H. Vile
% Junior Girls 4O.yard dash-lNir
If prize, ella McComb; second prize, E
'e ma Sausville; third prize, Christir
y Litstes.
Senior girls one legged race-Fir
prize, Irene Plante; second pri2