The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1876-08-10
HOWARD c. RASH. Secretary.

Last Tuesday being the day set for the Cen
tennial Basket Picnic, it was decided that a
representative of the Journal should attend
and take copious notes of the incidents of the
day and report the remarks of the speakers.
Fitted out with a chunk of cheese q wooden
fork, a tin spoon, a note book and a slate pen
ell, the Junior was started of in company with
Lieut.. Ward to gather the news-and the Sen
Tor sat In his low-back chair thinking how free
from labor he should be while the boys were
rushing up three or four columns Of picnic
items. How vain are human hopes-or words
to that effect; the Junior lost his slate pencil,
chewed up the leaves of his note book, fed the
cheese TO his horse, and returned home with
the spoon IN his coat-tail pOcket-competely
lattened by getting between him and the sad
die during charge across the prairie. lie
says: We started out about III o'clock in the
morning, facing vigorous breeze from the
south, on the road leading southeasterly from
Santa Fe Avenue. Very little broken ground
was observed until we had gone about two
miles beyond A. NJ. Beebe's place, when we
passed the northern boundaries of one of the
largest and best farming communities in our
county. In this community are the farms of
ii. l.. Jones, r. S. Champlin, the Bergs, Car
Inns, Swartz, Martin, Maltby, Lieut.. Ward.
Underwood, Donegan, Hanford, Henry Olt-
man, Coburn, and many others, all of whom
are industrious, thrifty farmers. The charac-
ter OF the community was most truthfully stat
ed by a gentleman at the picnic, who re-
marked TO us; Il do not know a rough or
dissolute man among us, and the children
are as fine 4 class of young people, without ex-
ception, as you Will meet anywhere AS we
were in good season for the picnc, we passed
on down the road to Lieut.. Wards farm and
took look over the place. He has about 10
acres broken up which he proposes to sow TO
fall wheat. After spying OUT his land We
started for the picnic grounds, where we ar
rived about O'Clock in good condition for the
pleasure in store for us-not so very ''spoony"
either. The picnic was held in beautiful OAK
grove in bend of the Smoky Hill, on Henry
Oltman's farm. There had a goodly number
assembled when we arrived. and many others
came during the afternoon. The younge
portion were deepin the boundaries aud angles
of the croquet ground, or had gathered about
the organ listening to the music, while the
older people were talking over their expert
ence in various matters. They must have read
il I'm our faces, for the baskets were soon un-
loaded aud tempting feasts spread out. We
think it was Sam Carlin who soun ded the
charge AMI In the midst OF the afiray wanted
10 know II we had long been out OF provisions
at home, while the Lieutenant, was reminded
that he was not scalping Siouxs. After all
had finished their dinners and gathered their
baskets, August BoBdi announced an address
by Hon. III. L. Jones. Mr.. Jones gave 4 very
complete and interesting review Of the es
adjustment OF our present National currency.
Hon. J. IL. Snead. being present, was called
for, and he responded in s shor' speech. The
speaking being closed, mnsicai instruments
were brought into reqnisision aud dancing
was resorted 10, lasting until about 8 p. In.
Ice cream and lemonade were served out IS
coolers and were eagerly sought tor A. VIC re-
turned from the grove we ielt oaly ooe regret
and that was that such pleasant picnics did
not occur more often that We might attend.
Tie managers desire Us 10 express their .h=Il1s
TO Messrs. Eberharii & Salendor: for lumber
furnished 70. staging.