The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1920-10-21
AVIATOR DROPS
FLOWERS ON
FIR. DROUHIN'S HOME
Florist Burns Furnishes
Display Which Pilot
Robinson Distributes

the memories of Catholics as well a,
Protestants in St. Johnsbuly occurred
! at the close of the consecration cere.
monies at Notre Dame des Victories
shortly after noon today, when {
most complete assortment of beauti-
Jul flowers, including yellow anC
white chrysanthemums, carnations
and roses, were dropped over the
Prcsbytere of the church as tribute
to Rev Fl. Eugene c. Drouhin, who
is celebrating the 25th anniversary OF
| his ordination as a priest, from q
! Curtis type areoplane, owned and OPP
Grated by Lieutenant Paul Robinson
the expert young aviator of Pittsfield
/ Mass, and New York. S. y. Tufts
OF Epping, N. H., friend of the pi-
lot, travelling as a passenger, distIi-
buted the flowers over the lawn CT Fl
Drouhins residence Just as the pastor
Of Notre Dame church and the Other
high church dignitalies We're proceed
ing from the consecration services TO
the banquet for the clergy which was
served at Mt st. Joseph School. Hun
dreds of palishioners, who We're just
filing out of the church had an oppol-
tunity to witness the demonstration.
It was a most impressive sight and
brought forth eXclamations from the
gathered priests, bishops and mon
signi.
Although the day was not clear as
could be hoped for, nevertheless, the
performance was a complete success
and was witnessed not only by the
church members who were present
but by hundreds of people in the
business and residential section in
the vicinity of the church. Aviator
Robinson sWoopcd down toward earth
until he was about 1900 feet above
th eresidence. Then Mr.. Tufts start
ed his distribution of the flowers.
While some went an1iSs the fnstU1ity
OF them landed close TO the popular
rector, who was surrounded by 9th
er clergy. Fr. Drouhin seemed to
thoroughly enjoy it all and was very
enthusiastic over the stunts that the
aviator executed following the drop
ping of the flowers. His eyes were
skyward until the plane was out Of
sight. Several young boys gathered
in the flowers and presented them to
Fl Drouhin.
The tribute to FIR, Drouhin came
from two men, one a St. JohnsbuTy
resident and the other man an out Of
towner. James Burns, the local fo-
rist supplied the flowers gratis, while
Aviator Robinson volunteered his
plane to handle the distribution. FIR
Drouhin has asked the Caledonian-
Record to express his most heartfelt
appreciation of the honor bestowed
upon him. 1t was indeed very gener-
Gus of Mr.. Burns to give of his own
free will such a'lavish display of cost
t. flowers and the Catholics of the
town feel indebted to him as we'll as
to Pilot Robinson for the services
rendered. Dropping flowers over a
clergyman, as mark of respect, by
an aviator is something that has
never been done in this section of
the country heretofore and coming as
such a complete surprise overwhelm-
ed the populace, 1t will be pleasant
for Fr. Drouhin to look back on
Thursday, October 21, 1920, as a
Red Letter" day in his life. Such
an honor is unusual and there is no
question but what the rector of the
French church fully appreciates the
bigness of the thing.
While the large crowds gazed heav-
inward, Aviator Robinson circled
over the church several times, doing
uch variety of stunts in quick sue
ession that the crowd was astound-
ID. Many of the clergy present
tated that they had never seen an
lirplane in the air before and it is
'ertain that large number in the
he crowd had never had the opportu-
lity to see stunts executed before.
Starting with a loop the loop, the
'birdman", who distributed flowers
over the grave fthe late Senator
Winthrop Murray Crane at Dalton,
Mass, few weeks ago, continued his
'ricks for nearly ten minutes. doing a
light spiral, nose dive, falling leaf,
;talling engine and many other feats,
while his audience beneath gasped in
lmazement. When he stalled his en-
gine there were several cries of "Oh"i
he frightened ones believing that
something had happened to the ma
chine. Taking everything together
,oday was a big day in the history
Of the local Catholic church.