Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-01-01
COMMUNITY GATHERING
CLOSES CHRISTMAS DAY
Carols and Other Music Have
Places on Program of Enter.
tainment Given in City Hall,
Attractively Decorated With
Evergreens and Many Lights


the gathering Thursday night at the City
tiall or representative crowd of Bur-
lngton people. filling the auditorium oc
the hall, to join in singing Christina
carols and listening to excellent must.
furnished by St Joseph's choir and other
entertainment Edward ]. Beaupre was
In charge OF the music and tho excel
lenco OF the program rendered was COM
mented upon by u largo nrmber OF thos,,
present.
Christmas atmosphere, created thrur,
novel arrangement of decora tons ut.
der tho direction OF. Community Service.
whose comm tteo had general supervision
OF tho gntt or1ng added much 20 the Or.
casion. The auditorium waa made at
tractive With evergreen. t.ugts and trees.
two sma" gayiy decorated Christmas
trees occuryicg the wing positions On ths
stage while .arge wreath held the cen.
! tar position or tho stage
All over Tho room in among the eSer-
greens and peep'ng from various corners
were sprgs of holly. The red and gree,
color SCIENCE was predominant, with
Christmas bells adding touches of bright
er color here and there
These interior decorations we're set off
by the soft light of candles, glimmerin,
all over the hall, helping largely in pro-
ducing an atmosphere which was renln-
iscent Of the old-time spirit of Christmas.
toward which we often strive to-day bu.
too often fail to- attain.
Then, from the west entrance to tho
auditorium streamcd pathway Of light
coming from the community Christmas
tree set up and beautifully decorated with
all kinds of tinsel and bright things on
the west balcony of the City Hall. This
tree was effectively illuminated with
electricity shining upon It from the sides
of the balcony. the reflection from tho
tinseled decorations upon the tree pro-
ducing the effect of many tiny lights in
among the green branches. Just above
the tree blazed forth the Christmas star,
which has figured in the Christmas story
since it was first told. nearly 1000 years
ago. This star composed of a combina-
ton of red and yellow lights sent out it's
message to all the people of the city and
strangers within the city, coming from
the union station, We're attracted to its
light as they neared the City Hall Park.
Al, these mechanical effects helped to
make the community gathering in tho
City Hall the best of its kind ever held
in the city. according to older residents.
The program carried out included an
overture by the Magner orchestra: sing
ing of carols; rendering of the Pastores
by the Burlington Choral Union. led by
Edward j. Beaupre, to which an encore
was given; a story by Miss Mary NJ.
Patrick; two more carols: a flute solo by
Miss Mary Magner; more carols; selection
by the orchestra, closing with the singing
of the Star Spangled Banner The pro-
gram was followed by a half hour Of
Misunderstanding and greeting of friends
Among the carols which were sung by
the entire gathering, led by Mr. Beauprs
and the st. Josephs choir were, "Hark!
the Herald Angels Sing" 1T Came Upon
the Midnight Clear" professional
Hymn" Holy Night; Peaceful Night"
and 1--WE Three Kings of Orient Are"
why the Chimes Rang" was the title
of the story told by Miss Patrick. The
theme of this story brought out the real
idea of giving The story goes that a great
church had wonderful chimes which had
ceased to ring and it was foretold that
they would ring only when the perfect
gift had been placed upon the altar
Kings, princes, lords ladies and people
of high and low degree came and placed
their gifts on the altar without success
one day two country boys, coming to
place two small pieces of silver on the
altar, saw an old woman fallen in the
snow. The older boy stopped to help the
old woman. sending his younger brother
to the altar with the pieces of silver.
When these We're laid upon the alta~.
the chimes rang in recognition of the act
or service which the boy had performed.
All those who attended the community
gathering last evening seemed agreed
that it was one of the most successful
of it's kind ever held In the city Among
those who hel ,ed to make it a success
were; Edward Hanbr .ge of the Old Bee
Hive, through whose courtesy wreatha
were loane for the decorating; George
IL. Mylkes' furnishing shop, from which
caHCelabras were loaned: the Burlng-
ton Electric Light department for the as
9'srance OF the employees in the decorat-
ing; the city water department for CO.
operating and aid: c. A. Barber. who gave
Chrietncs trees and n box of holly: and
tire Burlington hg. school and others
''ho s2ns in articles for decorating. Hem
ry Rissoh. jan;tor OF the City Hall. wcrl'-
oil diligently Snd changed the aspects q.
match In tho afternoon to the atmosphere
for tho community gathering last evening.
Edward =. Ecauprc. the members CT
the Choral Union, st. JoseDh's chc.:. the
Misses Maggie. and Miss Patrick we're y.
course, the cEes who put the spirit jpio
the OCCASION WITH the excellent music
and they deserve great credit
The conTi.tse In charge of the Christ
mas cea bration was made lip as follows:
james p Taylor chairman; B. j. Boyli.
ton, T. r. Wright, Mrs. e. G. Greet and
Miss Mabel Brownel..