The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-02-11
BARRE MERCHANTS
HELD FINE BANQUET
Rev. G. E. Price Of Rutland Was the
Speaker Last Eve
ulrg.

The mention of banquet to mer-
chants and their employees, who last
evening attended the second annual
banquet of the Barre Merchants as
sociation, will henceforth bring rem
iniscences of jolly crowd of l52
people seated about several long tables
in the dining hall of the Hedding
Methodist church, an excellent chicken
pie supper, and many hearty chuckles
at the wit of Rev G. +. Price of Rut-
land, one OF the best speakers heard
in this city.
Business before pleasure, that was
the order of the day yesterday. Store
keepers of the association closed their
shops a trihe early last evening, and
less than an hour later were assembled
in good old democratic Yankee fash
ion as large family, for the pleasure.
At 6:l5 nearly every chair in the ban
quet hall was occupied by merchants,
employees and few guests. Every EN-
ployer was surrounded by his corps of
business assistants. They could make
merry as enthusiastically as they
could work together, which they did.
The city caucus was called for 1880,
and every voter in the hall had his
mind made up to be there. The ban
quet hour, which had been set for 7
o'clock. was changed to 6 o'clock, to
suit the wishes of the voters. For this
reason the event passed along much
sooner than it would ordinarily, yet,
despite this haste, proved a joyous
occasion.
A committee Of ladies OF the church,
consisting of Mrs. A. j. Young, Mrs.
HENDERSON, Mrs. Thomas II. Cave. jr.,
Mrs. D, j. Morse, Mrs Earl Davis, Mrs.
b. w Hooker and Mrs. ID. c. Jarvis,
under the ehairmsnship of Mrs. Earl
Batchelder. and with the assistance of
II Young ladies and IL young men as
Mattresses and walters. served a ban
duet feast that would have been a
credit to the best eating places. Every
thing was home made except the
grape fruit and cherries, and possibly
the tooth-pieks. Five courses were
served in good succession, while popu-
lar music numbers by Landi's four
piece orchestra spurred the spirits of
the crowd to a greater height.
As the fourth course was going into
oblivion, Max c. Fisher. a talented
reader. gave fine reading. This was
the beginning of the entertainment
James Bennett, the lyric
tenor soloist of statewide fame. sang
soon after. "When the Great Red
Dawn is Shining" with piano accom-
paniment of Mrs. Bennett and violin
accompaniment by Peter Landi. A
vehement applause rewarded him for
his excellent rendition.
President Frank Shea. toastmaster.
then gave an address of welcome, in
which he stated that the merchants
deemed it great pleasure TO have
their employees with them at this an
nual banquet. Cooperation of employ
er and employees is the backbone of
successful business, he declared, and
what better way could they become
closer associated than by rubbing ell
bows at the same tables and enjoying
their annual feast. His address was
brief but right 70 the point.
Rev. G. F. Price the speaker Of the
a Method.t minister Of Rut-
land. who served his country in the
front line trenches in France as a
chaplain and Y NJ G. A. worker, as
soon as introduced. opened upon his
audience q harrage Of VIZ and humor
IN many q good story, just fitted to
The occasion and related to emphasize
some point in his address in which he
rrged the ht-n 'l,als of business meth
,ds. the utilization Of American initi-
,tiye. and the perpetuation of the spir
L Of cooperation Of labor and capital.
One good story deserved another was
,videntlv his motto. for in his revela
ion of some of his experiences both in
,iyil and war life. he kept the entire
audience in continual roar of laugh
er. His address was cut short 10 per
nit the voters to attend the caucus,
much To the regret Of everv listener,
nanv Of whom would have listened to
lim for hours.