The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-08-14
The Straw Ride.

somewhat unusual exhibition of youth
full vivacity last Monday evening, the
occasion being "straw-ride" projected
by the younger guests of the Peabody
House, prominent among whom We're
Mr.. Win Chaplin and Mr.. Mark M.
Maycock.
The party, which consisted of fifteen
persons, assembled at the residence of
Miss Flora E. Wright, from which, at
about nine a'clock, they took their de-
parture for the ride in a large wagon
drawn by four horses. AS II chief Pc
culiarity of ''straw-ride" consists in
the absence of seats, the vehicle
being thickly strewn with straw and
buffalo robes, the merry party seated
on the bottom of the wagon in two
rows facing each other, presented a
some what peculiar appearance as they
drove gaily through the village; and,
Judging from the makeup of the par
ty, we can readily believe that the ride
and its concomitants furnished an even
ing of rich enjoyment. The ladies
who participated in the ride were
Misses Flora Il. Wright, Mary Pierce,
Josie Bowen, Minnie Tyler, Hattie
Leavitt, Sarah Sturgess, Carrie Sturgess
and Stella Yearly, who We're rcspec-
lively escorted by Mcssrs. q. 0. Hunt
ington, Noble johnson, Julian johnson,
Phil Barnard, NJ. M. Maycock, viii
Chaplin and w. Dietrich.
AS the party started joyously ontheir
trip the air rang with clarioI-like notes
pealed forth from number of tin
horns with which the gentlemen of the
party had provided themselves, and as
the wagon with its load of beauty and
manhood swept through the main street
it was heartily greeted by a throng OF
villagers aud guests who had gathered
on the piazza of the hotel to see the
party off, and who fingered there,
listening, until the merry laughter,
mingled with the rousing strains OF
the horns, died away in the distance.
The ride was taken along the road to
Lowell Lake, turning off to North
Londonderry, then around, till after a
drive of two hours, the party APP
preached the picnic grounds just above
the village. There, by pre-arrange-
ment, blazing fire had been kindled
in the old fire place near which was a
heap of green corn and watermelons,
showing that the excursion cOntem-
templated ''corn-roasting' in addition
to the straw-ride.
Another hour or more was spent i'll
the grove most delightfully."- to all con-
cerned, and, to those who CHANGED to
witness it. the party and its surround
ings presenteda very picturesque APP
pearence as shown by the ruddy fire
light, which brought ont the figures
about it into bold relief against the
background of forest trees, the nearer
boughs of which were tinted with the
same ruddy glow.
Many pleasing incidents of the ride
are related by those who participated
in the enjoyment; among others was
the rivalry among the ladies as to which
could call forth the loudest blast from
the tin bugles of the party. To stimu-
late their endeavors the offer of a
! chronlo was made by one of the gen.
\ tlAnen to the successful contestant.
As the palm of merit was adjudged to
| lie between two of the fair ones, nc
claimant for the prize appeared, so we
fear our village will not be enriched
! by the proffered gift. Standing on the
piazza of the hotel the following morn
ing we overheard an esteemed fellow
townsman say that he had been reused
from his bed the night before by the
lond blast of horns reverberatine
among the hills, and, supposing some
neighbours dwelling to be i'll flames, he
had hastily dressed himself and rushed
out to render assistance, but found ev-
erything as quiet as usual except that
from the distance there came to his cal
the faint footing of the receeding horns
He could not imagine what it meant,
but we suppose the Colonel informed
him.
From all we hear of it we infer that
the occasion was a pleasurable one to
all who took part in what is, to us, a
novel entertainment, and as the party
returnedin good season and made ne
noise to disturb the peaceful sleeper'
here on entering the village, we com
mend them for the discretion they dis
played.