The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-07-14
Picnic in the Woods.

On Friday morning last a reporter OF
THE LEDGER, having received a special in
| vitation, wendell his way to the picnic near
Ike Hoskins' mill, about four miles east of
town, and reports as follows: Arriving at
the designated spot, we found the picnic
grounds located ina pleasant valley, with
foliage so dense as scarcely to allow a single
ray of sun to penetrate, while Immediately
at hand were two springs of refreshing wa
ter. Two large platforms for dancing were
in the centre, while the musicians stand
occupied a commanding view of the sur
rounding hilltops, as well as the panoi m
beneath. Seats were arranged on different
parts OF the ground-some capable of seat
ing a goodly number, while others seemed
only intended for a couple; and we noticed
the latter were decidedly in requisition, the
eouplet generally being a young gentleman
and his dulcinea. A little TO one side was
erected a very long table, of which we will
speak hereafter.
The picnicers were a little slow in arriv-
ing, and those who were present when we
reached there were seated around the dan
cling platform, with not much to say, and
looking as if they thought the picnic would
prove a big joke. A gentleman was looking
for the Chairman. We asked what he want
ed with him. "Why," saidh he, II wan him
to explain the object of the meeting" But
this did not become necessary, for the crowd
began to roll in, the string band from their
elevated perch struck up lively air, sets
were quickly formed, "balance alp was
commanded, and all was gaiety and anima-
ton. Dancing was the chief feature for
sometime, which was alternated by round
and square dances. The time between the
| dances was devoted to soft talk on the part
of the young folks, and matter-of-fact topics
by the older ones.
About one o'clock dinner was spread on
| the table mentioned above, which was liter
ally covered from one end to the other with
the good things of this life. Every variety
of cakes, meats, fowls, fixed up in every con-
ceivable manner-and more chicken pies
than you ever did see. Our Eastern friend,
Phil. Garrett, was on hand, and we noticed
hat he and Mr.. Withers were not at all
partial to chicken pie. 1t is needless to say
we Jared well. We took a position on the
immediate right of Clark Maxwell and just
opposite Mrs. ALI. McClendon, and that is
all that is necessary to be said. The dinner
was magnificent-as fine as we ever saw on
such an occasion. There was plenty room
for all, and enough eatables not touched to
have fed another crowd equally as large.
There was not a particle of selfshness
shown, butthe utmost good feeling prevailed
After dinner some INDUCED in a prone.
made, some in a merry romp, some in social
chat, and all in having a good time. The
rustic beauty and the village belle, the
country beau and the town gallant, mingled
together with the utmost cordially and So
ciability. Among the young ladies present
from a distance, were Miss Mollie Norris
of Port Gibson; Miss Cola Barr, OF Jackson;
Miss Georgia Richards, Of Greenville, and
Miss Annie Hooker, OF Canton, who seemed
to enjoy themselves. Ice cream, lemonade
and watermelons were on the ground, which
added much to creature comforts. Stokes
Allen favored the crowd with few comic
songs, which were appreciated on account
of their sentiment; they were especially en-
ioyed by Uncle Sol. Bardwell with every
manifestation of delight. Dancing was
then resumed and kept up until the merry
makers were warned that it was time to
make preparation for their departure.
The day was a very pleasant one, and
the originators should feel g~ratified that
their picnic was such a success; the partici-
pants certainly feel indebted to them for
the pleasures enjoyed on the occasion. We
edeavored to find out whose picnic it was,
and some said Ike Hoskins', some said Mr..
Bowyer's, some said Clark Maxwelrs, and
some said others. We come to the conclu-
sion that it was "all Of them's." When they
have another one. it is very possible that
we will be on hand.