Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-09
HOW TO GET UP A PICNIC.
BY CHRISTINE TERHUNE HERRIcK
First-Catch your guests.

OF COMPANY for a dinner. At large So
cial gathering there is opportunity Tor
those afflicted by bores to rid themselves
OF their tofmentors. Occasionally at
these an unhappy man or woman Is
"stuck," to use slangy but expressive
phrase, with dull companion, but there
Is a CLEAN of nope so long as liberty OF
motion is left and the power remains OF
boldly quitting the stool OF penance. But
to the unfortunate who is seated by a
bore in a carriage or boat on an alleged
party of pleasure no such looph0le OF es-
cape appears. At the risk of breaking
his neck or stopping his breath by leap
ing from the vehicle or skitf, he must en-
dure his sufferngs with the best grace he
can muster until the end of the trip ac-
cords him release.
Naturally it is not always possible to
provide each one with thoroughly SYM
pathetic neighhor. Taking it for granted
that the protector OF the picnic does not
| desire to make it a large affair, the difh-
culties Of harmonious grouping are as OBJ
! VlOuS here as at any other small assem-
bly,. But in case the choosing and ill.,
wiling are judiclously done. this very lin
| ltation Of SIZE forms one OF the chief
! charms. When mammoth gatherings of
! any Kind are undertaken, WneLher they
! be indoors or al frescO, preparations must
be made on a grand scale that pTecludes
| all attempt at selecting only congenial
companionship IN inviting guests. The
! les ambitious reunions have coyness
about them that the pretenti0us ones en-
! tirely miss. Nor is the labor for cater
! ing TOR SO many an unimpOrtant consid-
| Grafton. One may as well shrink from
! the business OF providing suitable food
| for even thirty or forty people whose APP
! petites have been sharpened by row or
drive in the fresh air. Let the number,
| then, who are chosen to make up the band
not exceed twenty. 1t may fail below
that without disadvantage.
Whatever other qualifications may be
insisted upon in guests one is Indispensa-
ble-a good humOr that will put up cheer
| fully with trifllng lncOnVeniences and
! slight discomforts. One person of ditti-
| cult disposition may ruin an otherwise
| harmonious party, or, at all events, de-
| tract greatly from the enjoyment of its
other members. Those who take part in
| outdoor expeditions should bear firmly in
mind that there probably will be draw
! backs, which may be rendered more or
! less serious by the temper in which they
| are received. A Mark .Fapley jollity that
| makes light Of hot dust, bot sun, slow
! horses or iesky boats can snatch success
| from the Jaws of failure and convert an
| otherwise humdrum entertainment into
a bright one.
! Good fellowship, toe, is essential. A
man Or woman must be thoroughly ''club-
| bable" in order to prove valued addition
to an excursion of any sort. Those peo-
Pile whose dignity is easily rut11ed, and
who are unwilling to throw themselves
! heartily into the amusements of the mo-
| ment, are sadly out OF place at piCnics.
| Participation in the occupations and pas
| times of fun-loving young people does
| not necessarily include rOmping or bOis-
| terousness. The presence of the chap
erone, who now fortunately, almost inva-
riably, accompanies an expedition OF this
| kind, acts as a wholesome check upon
| such reckless spirits as might otherwise
| break bounds, while it does not limit the
| liberty that one feels at an uncOnyen-
tional gathering.
| The Commissary department is branch
that requires serious attention in getting
up picnic. There is hackneyed bill
Of fare apt to be followed on such Occa-
| sionS that is as monotonous and unappe-
| tiZlng to the palates OF those who parIake
of it as is the regular rotation OF boarding
| house meals to it's victims. The magma
| ton of some picnic caterers seems una
BILE to go beyond hard boiled eggs, ham
| sandwiches and weak lemonade and cake
| ad libitum.
| These form unQuestionably the simplest
| style of refreshments and the easiest to
|
| thrown away the time bestowed on more
elaborate viands if they add to the COM
! fort and enjoyment OF ones quests. Even
| on a basket picnic where the menu is
| supposed TO depend to some extent on the
| caprice OF the different contributors to
| the common stock, there are few of these
who would not be grateful for hint as
to what to provide.
Salads are always refreshing and de-
/ nj aud hn rtrNd hOYHA
| trouble. The lettuce leaves may be
| washed and separated at home and placed
in a little basket by themselves, while
| the chicken, lobster or salmon may be
| packed in a small pail, and the mayon-
| naise dressing carried in jar or wide
| mouthed bottle. Jellied chicken is readily
! prepared, and may be served from the
mold In which it was formed. Saratoga
potatoes, thin bread and butter, rolls
sandwiches made of minced sweetbreads,
sardines, boned chicken, tongue or
chopped ham, deviled eggs, the endless
| assortment of cakes, cookies and tarts
| and fruits OF many kinds offer variety
| from which one need have no difficulty in
| selecting a tempting repast. For bever-
ages iced coffee and tea, Apollinaris LEM
0nade made with plenty OF lemons and
| sugar and ginger ale cost little trouble
! and expense. If the distance is not too
| great brick-shaped mold of ice cream
may be packed in ice and stand the trans.
| fer without damage.
The chief objection raised against such
| a collection OF articles of food is the con-
dition imposed upon The party of carry
ing large number of plates, saucers,
tumbers, etc. There is an easy way out
of this difficulty, however. The light
wooden plates, costing from five to ten
| cents a dozen, NAV be purchased from
! almost any grocer, and will serve every
! purpose. Their use does away with the
! necessity of washing many dishes, as
they are BIT for but one service. Forks,
! knives and spoons occupy little room, and
| tumblers may be nested so that they can
| all be packed in basket OF medium size
The wooden plates may be employed as
platters upon which to serve nearly every
solid retreshment, except possibly salad,
and that can be brought in a dish with
out great inconvenience. Deviled eggs
are tempting, piled IN a basket edged
with fresh green leaves; and pickles,
! olives, etc, are best dispensed from the
jars in which they come. Japanese pa
| per napkins are lifting accompaniment
! to the wooden plates, aud may be dis
! posed OF in the most summary fashion
at the close Of the feast.
! A liberal supply OF wraps and rugs is
sine qua non on all outdoor excursions.
! They form comfortable seats, and the
table cloth, when spread on the grass,
| VIII lie better for having an old shawl