Connecticut western news., 1884-10-29
THE INVENTIVE YANKEE GIRL.
Her Latest Device in the Fli~tation Line
 Foliage PicnIcs in New England.

Foliage picnics are beginning to be used in New England as the most favor able opportunity for fall firtations, &C., cording to the NetO RGUen Ne,Os. When the leaves begin to turn the affec. tions of the ripening lovers do not turn, but grow stronger, and they seek every opportunity to hold lonely chats, not that they feel alone, for it is their great desire to get away from the outside world and run little planet all by them selves. It is necessary to have some ex- cuse to do this, and the old fashioned rage for colored faded leaves comes in very convenient. As the number of those who felt the aptness of the oppor- tunity increased, the natural desire of people whom the sensible, business, shekel-seeking portion of mankind regard as partially insane showed itself. They gathered and segregated. Foliage picnics are the result.
 Four couples are the proper number for good foliage picnic. Too many makes crowd, and little cross f1irtations occasionally spring up. One couple cannot have picnic-thnt is, not what other people call picnic. They can go off alone and have a real good time, but then a chaperon must often be included. For two couples some old lady may in- |ist on going along, but four couples do | 6nely-select, sociable and sort of har. monious like.
 Of course, there are as many buggies as there are couples. It would never do to have double seated carnage in the premature stages of love making. The young man on the back seat would have no reIns or horses to conceal his embar- rassment when words might fail or be wrongly said.
 The morning is the proper time to start; not early in the morning, when the grass is damp and nasty bugs are taking their before breakfast walk tc give them an appetite for bugs of minor degrees, but about ten o'clock, when tht day has got fairy started and the clouds have made up their minds whether they will scamper away and let the sun have fair show or be grumpy. It is GUS tomary to drive about five miles. Young men driving out with young girls art seldom hard on their horses. It is mar ried men who drive fast.
 When four couples, supposing thu proper number go, have spent one o two hours, according to the intensity o their affections, In getting to the plac' where the leaves are of the finest tint and the recesses most secluded, the horses are hitched to some convenient tree the luncheons hid from the dreaded tramp and the couples seek leaves. Ina is, the girl seeks, the youth gets. Were it not for the pathetic ridiculousness 0 their actions it would remind an observ CT of small child sending great obedi ent dog after shells or stones. The i'm perious maiden capriciously scans tn, trees for leaves which will suit her com plexion, hat, furniture or whatnot, anC the youth tears his clothes, bags hi trousers and gets moss stains on tn new light brown checked trousers whicl are his pride and pain.
 Then they get lunch, never mindine the bugs which are swimming around 1T the slushy ice cream and the pretty cat erp;llars and spiders which keep hold c the cheese and keep it from runnini away with the pie. They lunch anC feast, not so much on substantials thoug gh they are never neglected, excep in an extreme case of love sickness Even then both parties make up for it i the pantry on their return home.
 Finally the foliage picnic is over. Tn buggy trundles along home and in tn soft, cooing, murmuring twilight, leave are forgotten for love.