Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-06-13
The Blue Ribbon Picnic.

The picnic excursion of this So.
ciety, last Wednesday, to Oak
Grove, was success in every essen
tial particular. The number mar.
ticipating filled two cars, the wealth.
er was propitious, the place select
ed most admirably adapted for a.
pleasure resort, the "provinder.
ample, the strawberries ripe and ex-
ceedingly plentiful, and the party
in the best of spirits for enjoying the
sports and festivities of the occa-
sion.
The forenoon was devoted to pick
ing berries, and for several hours the
broad fields were dotted with brave
women and fair men and Joyous
children, engaged in the exhilerat-
ing employment. About noon snowy
cloths were spread in the grove,
and the good things from the
lunch baskets were arranged in
tempting array, Aanked, of course,
with large plates of the delicious
Strawberries and pitchers of cream
obtained from the hospitable resi-
dence of Mr.. Kratz, the owner of the
grounds. During the repast, every
body appeared to be in the seventh
heaven Of sublunary enjoyment.
While the cravings of sharp appe-
tite were being appeased, an intellec-
tual tournament kept every faculty
i'll full play, and it was no less
u" feast of reason and flow of soul"
Original epigrams, in the form of
candy-mottoes, gave piquancy to
the lepast, nearly everybody CON-
ing within range of the poets rat
ting fusilade. After dinner, the
games began, most of which were
conducted according to the classic
model of Olympic renown. The
foot-races differed only from the an
cient model by having bright and
vivacious maidens for contestants.
They were succeeded by more mod
ern pastimes, Blind-man," eco
penhagen," and such other roisterous
games as are enjoyed by young peo-
pie, few of the elders participant
ing merely. to show how the games
should be played. A fine swing
was improvised, meath the spreading
branches of stalwart oak, where
the little-ones held undisturbed car
nival.
An incident of unusual interest,
was an ovation to Gen. Milroy, whose
sixtieth birthday was commemoratsd
in remarkable manner. A GROUP
of maidens carried the gallant veter-
an to the swing and having seated
him in ii, united their strength in
sending the warrior far above the
heads OF the young men, who stood
by speechless, with mingled feelings
of admiration and envy.
As the time for departure drew
near, portion of the party visited
the pleasant residence of Mr.. Kratz,
where they were entertained by the
excellent rendition of several beauti-
full pieces on the piano by the hos
tess.
Thus was the time beguiled until
the arrival of the train, when the
cars were again densely packed with
their human freight, and the party
swiftly gliding homeward, without q
single incident to mar the pleasures
OF the day, except the temporary ILL
ness of one of the ladies', who was
left under the generous treatment of
Mrs. Kratz to recover from her sud-
den indisposition.
The excursion was one that will
long be remembered with pleasure
by all who participated, and it is
hoped that it will not be the only
one arranged under the auspices of
an organization that unites so many
Of the better elements of society.
There is "much in little" on comments
regarding "crop prospects" of the Puget