The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-09-22
ST. ]. BOYS ARE
INTERSTATE
CHAMPIONS
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Made Splendid Records at
Eastern States EX-
position

Our boys again made good at the
great Eastern States Exposition at
Springfield last week and are now
interstate champions. The team that
won first prize in judging of handi-
craft work was also first in team
demonstration. -Four st. Johnsbury
boys, Francis Poole, Walter Green,
James Puffer and Edward Farmer,
representing the "Wide Awake Pro-
ject club of St. Johnsbury and the
state of Vermont at the Springfield
exposition won from all other teams
in judging.
On Thursday this team demon
strated chair Gaming, ratlia weaving,
making of home Gamer, and mixing
and laying of concrete, and were
winners over Massachusetts, who
finished second by very wide mar
gin.
The largest crowd that witnessed
any of the demonStrations, gathered
about the stage at 2 o'clock with
many prominent men and women
who were high up in CLUB work,
among the audience, including the
national leader from Washington,
Prof 0. S. Benson.
The boys talked as they worked
and proved conclusively that they
thoroughly understood the work they
were doing.
They were continually questioned
by spectators concerning their work
and never hesitated one instant in
their clear and interesting replies.
At the end of As minutes they re-
ceived the congratulations of all and
Prof. Benson said he never saw n
smoother working team.
1t means considerable to be an in
terstate champion for the following
reason. First, these boys were Sc
lected in their home town as being
the best in their line and were sent
to the State Fair to compete among
the other towns of Vermont. Here
they became state champions and
were selected to represent Vermont
at the Eastern States Exposition,
which meant that through a process
of elimination every one of the other
ten states had found their best teams
in like manner and here were gath
cred 800 boys and girls representing
the elect of their respective states
and to win this company meart some
pretty fast work.
In the judging every member of
the st. Johnsbury team scored high
er than the next best team, Massa
chusetts.
Our lowest man was 16 points
higher than their best.
Walter Green of the Vermont team
was sweepstakes winner with the
highest score of $50 points out of
400.
This is the third year team from
this town has done this thing, st.
Johnsbury never having been beaten.
Mr.. Farley, state leader from Mas
sachusetts presented gold medal to
e. L. Ingalls, of Vermont saying "To
Mr.. Ingalls,, who brings each year
that wonderful handicraft team from
Vermont"
The boys received the finest of
treatment while at camp, were dHily
inspected by a medical man who was
always in attendance. Wholesmoe
food and plenty of it was always
for the boys and girls. Each night a
conference was held where the club
members met some of the finest peo-
pie who we're interested in club Work
in the United States. Speakers from
England and even far off South At
RIGA were listened to and at these
conferences the medals were present
ed to the prize winners of that day
Vermont teams won in many other
lines of work, also in poultry, calf,
sewing, canning clubs, ETC., and nev-
er was there so much interest arous-
ed for the coming year.
The state yells, the club songs
about the campfire and the good nat
ured mixing Of boys and girls from
other states, all tended to bring the
ideas of club work very close.
The influences derived from this
wonderful trip yet to be felt is the
ideas and enthusiasm gained which
will be brought home and spread
about the various communities where
the members live and the worthwhile
ness of being a winner shown, and as
President Wilson said "The only
rank of nobility recognized in Am
nnin ic nohinnrnrann ont -