Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-08-13
OLD FOLKS AT HOME.
Annual Picnic Yesterday at Bart
lett-"The Rest In the World"

The weather was favorable yesterday
that is to say, it did not rain-and the
grand barbecue and picnic at Bartlett,
on the Memphis and Ohio Railroad,
given by the Old Folks at Home Society,
was as complete success and as enjoy.
able as possibly could be in such hot
weather. There we're about three thou
sand persons on the grounds, all told,
although any one not in the habit Of emu
merating bodies of people would estimate
the number at a much higher figure.
The early trains which went out were
crowded with the old and young. grave,
gay, plain, beautiful, large, small, long
and short, thin, stout, fair, ford, fat,
forty, fifty and sweet sixteen, all bent on
pleasure, all chatterng merrily as school
boys and girls, and all anxious to 20 in
the same car. But there was room
for all without any Inconvenience.
The place selected for "all
hands around on the floor" is
well known as beautiful, shady spot,
where the sun only steals sly glances at
Terpsichere, and where the breezes
among the freezes" tops make his
truant rays dance lively waltz on the
saw-dust below. At an early hour an
order was Issued to "select your part.
ners," which was easily obeyed, for many
selections had been made on the way or
several days before. And when the "mu-
STEER" said balance all, they balanced
all, and seemed to rather like it; and as
the crowd increased, the way saw-dust was
pulverzsd, and the way perspiration
would come out on pretty faces and wash
out little paths in pearly compilations,
and the way some young men took the
starch out of their handkerchiefs, and the
way shirt collars fell, and glossy bosoms
collapsed, and the way people inquired
for lemonade, and how glad everybody
was when. the band sung out "all lem
onade-seat yer pardners," and how
everybody enjoyed he, she or itself are
important features Of the picnic not to
be forgotten, until the 2lst of August.
President Mclean, a young man, who
has been here long enough to be Presi-
dent of the society, was ubiquitously
present. He had good word for every
body, and there was smile on his face
as big as supaower. He has taken out
new lease on his term of the pursuit of
happiness, and calculates to see the next
total eclipse, early in the next century,
with the naked eye. He made speech
about the length of ginger-cake, and
rendered some remarks about the state Of
the weather, which elected unbounded
applause. His smile and his good spirits
we're contagious. He introduced Gen.
Marcus j.. Wright, the best in the
world" Both the speakers were cheered
Justify.
General Wright delivered from the
manuscript an appropriate and beauti-
full address, full of wisdom and pleasing
"reminiscences, and fine sentences, pol
ished dction, sound precepts and chris
tan sentiments. We have not room for
it entire, and synopsis would do the
orator injustice, SO we pass it over by
saying that the grafton was worthy OF the
man, worthy of the occasion and of the
audience, and was frequently applauded-
After this, dinner was announced.
Long tables swayed and oreaked
beneath pyramids of fat pig and
roasted chicken, juicy mutton and
tender beef, huge loaves, baskets of bis
cult and all other substantials, inter-
spersed abundantly with jellies, sauces,
fruits, confectionery and every other
imaginable dslicacy. There was enough
for all, and ten hasksts-pot Of frag-
ments, but of untouched provisions could
have been oarted off when everybody
was satisfied. After dinner dancing was
resumed 10 good earnest, and at last ac-
counts-soms time last night-was still
going on with spirit and eclat. 1t was
happy day to all concerned and reflected
the highest credit upon the managers of
tho affair.