Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1922-07-21
VILLAGE PEOPLE
ENGAGE In FUN
West Brattleboro's First Com
munity Picnic
Games of Odd ChiltIrcn's
Amusemcnts, Sporting, Lunches, Ghost
Banquet, Lantern Parade.

West Brattleboro had its first com
munity picnic and outing Wednesday
and a large number of children and
adults were on hand to see and take part
in the fun. The morning program, which
was prepared especially for the small
children, was given on the common,
while the afternoon and evening events
took place on the grounds in front of
Academy hall.
In the morning some 80 children were
on hand in all sorts of costumes to play
games. Dodge ball was played and u
peanut hunt and toss were staged.
During the games several of the larger
the small children. The morning pro-
gram closed with parade by the chill
dren under the direction of Mrs. l.. w.
Jackman.
At o'clock in the afternoon activities
started again with a game of volley ball
between teams captaned by Frederic X.
Brown and w. +. Bartlett. Mr.. Bart
let's team emerged victorious after a
hard game
The younger children meanwhile were
attempting to walk the balancing pole
A stripped limb was nailed on top of n
post and parallel with the ground The
trick was to walk the length to the
limb, which swayed under even the light
est weight, without being suddenly
tHIoNH VII W the STOunu. Hc WlnHcTS
of this contest were given molasses
kisses.
At 3 o'clock the sports started
large number of persons gathered ut
6 o'clock and enjoyed their picnic lunches
With the coming of night 100 japanese
lanterns were hung about the grounds,
furnishing pleasing lighting effect.
balloon blowing contest started the
fun. Two men were given large debated
balloons RI hloW n
until one of them burst. John Mckay
came through in noble style, as his bal
loon was the first to burst under the
strain of the hot air.
At this point several of the ladies
present were persuaded to play that
harmless game known as crossing the
Delaware" Each contestant was given
two pieces of paper called cakes of ice
and instructed to race to given spot
stepping only on the "cakes of ice" This
rnce was thriller and had the crowd on
edge every second.
Next, paper bags were given the chill
dren, on which they drew faces, then
wore the bags as masks. At the insti-
cation of bystanders the masked children
were given newspaper swatters, and with
these as weapons the hooded warriors en-
gagged in several iOusts, much to the
amusement of the older people.
The next stunt was the feature event
of the evening and was known rs a ghost
banquet. Two dimes were buried deep
in pans of -four and two boy volunteers
were allowed to root with their faces
until they could locate the dimes and
pick them up in their mouths. When
the boys gave up the hunt they had 'all
kinds of dough" except the dimes.
The closing feature was lantern pa
rade. The japanese lanterns were given
out and red fire was distributed. The
brightly illuminated line wound in and
out through the trees on the grounds
making a beautiful spscsacie. 'i'l'''
The affair was in charge of the West
Brattleboro Community Service commit
tee, of which Mrs. j. l.. Stockwell is
chairman. Mrs. l.. w. Jackman was
in charge of the morning program and
John Mckay of the sports in the after
noon. The programs were under the
general supervision of Community Ser
vice Director Frederic X. Brown