The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-05-02

broke forth into cheers for the country's
younger defenders.
The column moved down ito the plaza
at the foot of Main street hill, thence
back to the common and return by way
of Linden street The line halted with
the service men in front of the town hall
building. Up to this time traces of
rain storm had been manifest, and now
rain began falling, but not in sufficient
quantity to break up the program, al
though hundreds of umbrellas went up
and interfered somewhat with the view
At this point the soldiers and sailors
proceeded to the armory and the Brattle
boro Military band to the Brooks House
balcony, where later concert was given.
There were two bands and two drum
| corps in the parade.
| Immediately after the soldiers and sail
ors had gone to the armory Captain Glib
son mounted an automobile truck and
was introduced by Martin Austin of the
| board of trade, who had charge of the
| entertainment features of the day. Cap
j tain Gibson spoke briefly, expressing the
appreciation of the boys for the notable
reception to them, He mentioned the
absence of the 10 men represented by the
| gold stars on the service flag, and said
that they could not have died a more
/ glorious death and that they would snot
have wished it otherwise. He also touched
upon a few phases of the Var.
] The closing feature of the outdoor dem
| onstration was drill in front of the
town hall by St MichaeFs Cadets in com
mand of James Clune 1t was a fine ex
hibition and many complimentary re
marks were made by officers from over
seas.
At o'clock the boys gathered in Fes
tival hall, which had been decorated beau
tifully with flags of various descriptions
bunting, and fancy hangings. The tables
were set for $50 men In the center o
| the officers table, running from north K
| south in front of the stage, was baske
bouquet of red and white carnations anc
blue thistles with bow of red chiffon
At each plate tiny silk American flaI
set in half grape fruit, and the pape'
napkins with flags of the allies in on
corner, completed the decorations.
The menu consisted Of grape fruit, GU
cumber and lettuce salad, hot chicken-pie
cold roast pork, mashed potato, beet rel
ish, homemade pies and cakes, ice cream
with maple sauce, and coffee A cigar
a package of cigarets and banana wer
beside each plate, while an additional
supply was in the center of the table.
While the banquet was being served b
the large number of young women wait
resses, Hicks's eolored jazz band rendere
selections, there were vocal solos by
member of the orchestra, and Miss
Hazel Childs of Boston entertained tn
boys, and their guests who were seated i
the balcony. Miss Childs appeared twic
in pleasing cabaret numbers, and in on
of them danced i'll and out between tn
tables On each appearance she was gi'
en- wild applause by the boys, many {
whom gave verbal expression to their az
probation in the halls and on the street
after the close of the festivities a
though Miss Childs did not arrive her
until the 6 o'clock train she appeared /
] the hall shortly afterward and few kne'
! she had arrived so shortly before
Private Bernard Dunlevy, imprompt
POSTMASTER and cheer leader, called upo
8 Captain Gibson, whom he said had fat
! cred many of the boys, and Captain Gil
son responded by expressing the thanl
of the boys for the reception and heart
Z welcome which had been given by Il
4 townspeople. Lieut. Col. Cooley was Il
next called upon. He said he would ha'
given his right leg to have served wit
4 the Vermont boys, as many others Won
have been glad to have done, for he sa
4 there was no better outfit of men tn;
those who assembled at Fort Ethan
len; that all who went out were comil
back better men and that their hear
must be touched by the splendid recepti
4 given them bv the town of Bratteboro
B "the best little town on earth!"
Captain H. p Sheldon, the next spea
4 er, said he felt he knew them all; he h
I been over the top with some of them a
D was willing to go over with them aga