Of course, it meant the entire day. The park was a block square, grassy and well shaded. It was fenced with posts supporting a heavy iron chain. The speaker's platform and seat were provided but no picnic tables. Four girls in the family naturally needed new dresses for the occasion.
Women never have the right thing to wear already handing in their wardrobe.
A new dress meant a new hat and shoe, too. Aunt Mildred tells about one dress that she remembers she had. It was of buff chambray. It was ruffled and trimmed in Valenciennes lace edging. She had ironed at least three starched petticoats to wear under the dress.