The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1857-08-01
Correspondence of The Cecil Whig.l
An "Old FOgy" on Pic-nics.


My Dear Ricknts.:-As have not hadthc
pleasure ola chat with your for some time, anil
as wish to say few words to you and your
nnme' ons readers on the general Subject Of
Pic MICS, which are Just now in vogue in our
vicinity, beg that you will give an oil fogy
a place in your columns. And as tie Pic mic
which, came off Yesterday in our neighbour
!ipod will furnish examples. illustrative of
nos, Of tile points about which wish to speak
| will refer to it only, in my remarks. No
doubt, some one of your more regular cores
pondrnts in this locality, will provide you
with the usual glowing accounts of 1.-THE ar
ray of beauty aud fashion" and all tina sort
of Stuli with which Of course vcri;abe "oi,
fogv" can have nothing in common =. and in
which a confirmed old bachelor can have no
interest.
But am not insensiblc of the fact. that it
is a pleasant thing, for young people to as
scmhlc in the green woods and enjoy them
selves, in all sorts of harmless am,lsementS,
even including the "trippings on light fan.
tiStlc toes For my OWE part am at loss
ito discover the fun in this latter sport, cspr.
rallv to one bless ID with so many corns as
pc S >s.-Ard may also say, en- paSSa"t that
| think it rather inconsistent, to attend
dancing party. and to cncouaseit by our
presence. while ones conscience is too tender
to allow enc to 'mingle in the II aZy dance"
oneself. If I did not wish to speak very tenn
pcratcly IN this letter, would say that such
conduct was simply ridiculous. If thought
the tendency of dancing parties was evil !!
would have very little respect for mys,li ifI
lent such gatherings the influence and sane
ton of my presence.
But there are certain abuses growing out of
|
these asscmblagcs. for which think the origi-
nal Pic.nicS are responsible. do not mean
to charge the acts of which complain. upon
the managers, or the inr,tcd guests of these
parties for it is to he presumed that these
are gentlemen and certainly no gentleman could
be guilty of drunkenness and rowdyism, at least
in the presence of ladies. Undoubtedly.
the profanity the vulgarity, the diScordant
shouts and screams, rendering night hidcous
which greeted my cars. as passed the picnic
grounds last night, after 10 o'clock, could on.
| ly proceed from The very lowest and most de-
graded of our population.
Now. friend Ricketts,. have these gentle.
men managers, any right to annoy whole
'ighbouho 10y prlonging their festivities
to such an hour in the night. and thereby
attract a crowd of these outside blackguarls
who amused themselves, after the departure
|
ing like wild beasts. and by swearing l;kt
devils from their own future dwelling place
\ farmer in the vicinity told Inc to day, that
th.y tore down the shocks of wheat in his
fields, and threw Shcavcs into the public road
| do not complain now. of the petty thefts OF
spoons, knives and forks and of what ever
they can carry oTunder the shadow Of he nigh;
this is a part of the play, in al pic.nlcs and
| n m. n maj I,a in "A rtnip ia,
stealing thing for which he has use; but
such an act of Vandalism, as that hear men
toned the wanton destruction of anothcr's
property is an act, that a respectable deru
would he ashamed to pcrpctratc.
Long after midnight. our town was in an
nproar. The returning rowdics could not get
rid Of their supeIflrous steam, under an houl
or two. Tired Ma Il 'c's sweet rcSio"cr," Wis
tied my cyrlid> somewhere in the short hours
pray you therefore to charge all the ltcmpcr
you may find in this article to my loss Of
rest.
In CONCLUSION, beg to offer one suggest on
if tn csc gentlemen managers intend to do
any more P'cmcking, in this nelghb,rhood
(Which hope they don't would it not be bet
ter to close the performances at shutdown g
Ali IF the outside evils have mentioned
would Tins ,. prevent d. Nights sladowy
mantle cove RS acts, which the day would not
see committed. Men who are not ashamed,
or afraid to outrage dcccncy and to insult God,
by ribaldry and profanity, under the cover
Of darkness. would be ashamed of such dee DIS
in the light OF day. Perhaps some of the gen
temen would not drink so much whisky and
water, with the glare of day ight ,ound them
Perhaps some Of the stern opposition, which
these parties meet, from the Staid and old fngy
part Of the community, would disappear, il
the parties would only break up when night
comes DER this PLAIN"
One more word. | have some nicces
whom love very dearly and think may
Judge how would feel about daughters Of
my OWN. would he very sorry to subject
any of these deal girls. to the hurtful inilu-
cncc of these night pic-nics. think it but
reasonable to SUI pose, that young:mtn feel a
little more free and easy, in the dark woods
than in brilliantly lighted drawing rooms, or
dancing saloons. Perhaps the whiskcy and
water would not have so much effect upon
the gentlemen who indulge in it. inside of
four walls, as in the open air. Certainly the
young ladies' would not be RECALLED by tn,
coarse criticisms of the "outsidc barbarians'
in the daytime, as they would then prcsylv V.
more respectful distance at least
| OLD FoGY