The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-09-30
me Hibernesans.,

IRISH instrumentation THE sTA1D
+. STAUNToNfANs SPENT LAST THURSDAY
The HAPP1EsF DAY or TIE SUMMER
&C., &C., &c. &c.
..Are you going out to the pfcHfss1 wsss the
leading question on Thursday morning. as the
omnibus, hacks and carriages with pacsrJls and
green flags. wheeled around the streets ana
were placed at the disposal of those who wish
cd to engage in the festivities Of the First An
nual Picnic Of the Catholic Hibcrnean Benevo-
lent Society, given at the Fair Grounds
About three hundred of the lords and lordess-
es OF creation answered the question in the
affirmative, and throwing aside business care,
determined to enjoy one day Of recreation and
pleasure, no matter how many National banks
failed, or whether or not u cents on the hum
dred dollars would pay the interest on the
| State debt. Indeed, no ore seemed to care a
fig whether the water works were ever built,
and if a lingering doubt remained as to the pro-
priety of the City's purchasing the Witt prop
erty, it4was consigned. together with all other
anxieties, to a more convenient season, or total
oblivion, as the festive taxpayer slept from
the carriage into the door Of the roturda and
paused for moment to contemplate. the gay
scene there presented. And it was "a gay
scene, too, for twenty couples were gliding
gracefully thu ough the '''giddy mazes," and
forty people were just about as happy as
small boy making mud pies, or the average
granger voting against a Court street caucus
man. All ages and conditions were there,
from the lassie Just arrived at the dignity Ct
tucked up hail, to the lloary- old traveller
past the three-score mile post, and toddling
briskly towards the stepping off place.
We remember to have read of poel-into
which the afflicted plunged and came forth
whole, and the old story came up fresh before
us as we recognized in one OF the ''dear peo-
ple,' tripping the light fantastic as it ne had a
rubber balloon in each breeches leg, the very
same individual who was suffering SO severely
from rheumatism OH the first Of September,
that he was wholly unable to step up to the
Treas,lrer's office and settle one-hs Ii OF his tax
bill. There must have been miraculous heal
j ing properties in that fountain OF pleasure, but
whether it was the pretty girls or good music,
or both together, he didn't pause to determine;
al! he seemed to be aware Of was that he was
vis us to the cunningest 'pin back" in crea-
ton, and that his duty to himself and posterity
demanded dance, dance. dance. And dance he
did, until he wished the music could be run by
perpetual motion and that his legs could be
made to Keep pace with his desires. He wasn't
alone, either, for if the vote had been taken to
continue for a week, the teller upon whom
would have deyolved the counting of the noes,
would nave done just about as much as the
last Virginia Notwithstanding.
But then. everybody doesn't dance, tho
there were not many who didn' tlook as II they
would like toy and as that was a festive occa-
sion for all, other amusements were provided.
There was hobby horse riding, an exhilarating
amusement participated in by several of our
sedate city fathers and many of the mature
| matrons, as well as the young people, small
| fry and all intermediate sizes boating, ball
playing, trotting on the course, aud lively III
diligence in that little game in which two com
! pose quorum and its principal business is
transacted through the medium of ''soft eyes"
scarlet cheeks, and some ridiculous manoeuvres
/ too tedious to mention, all pointing to an adj
| iournment to some future period, when Father
McVerry will be called upon to bind contract,
the contracting parties repeating something
about ''for bet. or or worse'' and the wretch
smiling all the time, knowing that he is ex-
changing the worse for the better, whilst the
confiding creature at his side fondly imagines
that she hes the best end Of the bargain.
And then there was the dinner, gotten up for
the benefit Of the Sunday School Library, and
such dinner as only the best OF caterers know
how to prepare. Even the Catholic ladies, who
I are proyerbially hard to please in this respect,
must have been more than satisfied with the
variety and abundance placed before that hun
cry humanity. We couldn't do that dinner
justice, IN scords, tho we gave practical dem
onstration Of our appreciation, which. had it
been initiated by the other guests, fncluding
the counting couples who Jared sumptuously on
the pinion Of a partridge and cucumber pickles,)
there wouldn't have been enough cleared to
buy the fly leaf of a catechism.
IN. BIZ any one is tempted
to doubt our truthfulness in this
particular, we confidently refer to the youthful
Benedict who occupied the seat next us at the
table. We registered solemn vow never to
cake CIlao young HAL 50 III bWay AollA HUM
again, for as course after course disappeared
:. and his appetite seemed to be whatted afresi
by each, We became alarmed and began tt
frame some fitting sentence in whcfrto convey
/ the mournful intelligence TO his bcreaved fam
], lily. Hc-survived, however, and will be happy
}, to relate his pleasant experience, in confirma-
ton Of our words, to all who MAY apply at his
! ,,,,,oy ,,lo 40 ofh ,1cinasS
After dinner every body and their children
repaired to the green to witness the sack race
The contestants were Messrs. w. S. Stutz and
Jos. Scherer, and the race was won by the
former in two strait heats-timc not recorded
/ There was another entry, but we were unable
, to recognize the youths fair features, they be-
!, ling, like those Of the YELLED Prophet, hid from
: view by the delicate folds Of a coffee sack, 1--WE
, mean the boys not the prophet'sl When las
!. heard from he was indnlglng the hope OF al
: arrival at the goal in the course OF huna'
events, but we left him without compass o.
= chart, completely bewildered as to his geo
Il graphical position, and the latest intelligence
I not of a very encouraging character. All EN-
7 jsyed this part of the programme, it being t.
: many novel as well as pleasing sight.
: The race over, on with the dance and games