Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-10-10
THE MACARONIANs.
delightful Excursion and Bnrbe.
cue-LRst Of the Season.

The Macaronians were organized in
the long dull summer days Of 1879.
when Memphis was surrounded with a
Gordon of pickets, and there was a
dearth of amusements. 1t was made
up OF a couldn't-get-away crowd of
people. Their strong social tendencies
brought them together, and they
formed happy family, which man
aged to while away many hours and
days that otherwise would have
dragged along very heavily.
Once week, or often as convenient
they hid a sort Of picnic in the sub
urbs or made a steamboat excursion to
some cool and quiet retreat up. or
down the river. The friendships
formed under these circumstances,
like those in army life, were too strong
and pleasant to be thrown off when
the causes that led to the organization
had been removed. 1t was determined
to keep up the society, and it has been
done ever since. 1t is purely social 10
its aims, an| the membership is not
confined to those who remained here
in 1879. There. are no membership
fees or dues, but assessments are made
when necessary to defray current ex-
penses, as everything is done in bus
iness like way, and on a cash basis.
A number of very enjoyable excur
sions have been made this sum m or.
All have been quiet, orderly affairs
and tended to bring the membe RS
more closely together. The last and
closing one of the season occurre d
yesterday. At an early hour in the
morning a large party of good a.
tured Macaronians went aboard
the steamer Mike Davis for
an excursion down the river
to Camp 500. They were well supplied
with the comforts and accessories that
are generally deemed essential for a
day Of enjoyment out in the country.
When all were aboard the neat, we'll
handled little steamer swung out into
the middle of the stream and was
soon out of sight below Presidents
Island. A pleasant ride of two
hours brought the excursionists to
their destination. The camp is stu
a1ed in a beautiful grove on the
banks Of the river, where the air is
cool and pure and not sound
is bOrnc on the breeze from the din
and dust Of the city. Nature reigns
supreme in solitude. Twas of such a
place as this that the poet Cowper wrote
"0h for lodge in some vast wilderness,
Some boundless contiguity to shade"
The Macaronians were welcomed by
large committee ofthe leading citizens
of the vicinity, who became in de-
gree the hosts OF the occasion; among
the number were Major Scanlan and
son, Hon. Henry T. Hubert, Mr..
Clark Brewer, Mr.. Harris and a mum
Der Of Others. They had pre-
pared generous barbecue of pigs,
goats, sheep and'beef. This at dinner
time was served out in good style to
a crowd that had keen appetites.
Other solid and liquid supplies were
taken down by the Macaronians.
Altogether, it made a royal feast. The
beer, it may be remarked, en- passant,
was taken aboard BY the boat direct
from the Memphis brewery, and of
course was of the purest and most de
licious quality as we'll as in abundant
supply. There was enough and more
than could be consumed Of everything
to eat and to drink, and it was fully rel
ished and enjoyed in a rational way.
The boat returned with the delighted
Macaronians at z o'clock, the only
shadow of regret being that this is the
last excursion of the kind for the sea-
son. Owing to changes that may be
expected in the weather, it is not
thought advisable to have another
outdoor gathering until some time
rext summer. This morning some of