The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-25
AN IDEAL PICNIC
AT THE RESIDENCE OF CAPT. w.
A. COLLIER.
The knights TempIAr and Their
Families Royalty Entertained
Yesterday.

The barbecue and basket picnic,
complimentary to Knights TemplaIs
and their families, given yesterday at
the country residence OF Capt. W. A,
Collier on Union avenue, was voted
by all who were present as the most
Thoroughly enjoyable affair of the
hind they had ever attended. The
arrangements for the comfort and en-
teItainment OF the invited guests
were perfect in every detail,
while the commissary department,
under the management of Col.
Dick Msson, was bountifully pro-
vided with the best OF good things,
barbecued meats of all kinds and de.
slriptions forming the feature of the
bill of fare. The festivities began at a
very eerly hour, many OF the male
guests taking an early breakfast on
the grounds and then returning to the
city 10 bring back their families, and
the fun did not cease until the
shadows of evening began to fall.
The morning hours were spent in
diversions OF various kinds-bssebill,
croquet, football, swinging and other
forms OF amusement dear to the picnic
lovers heart being freely INDUCED in
by men and women alike, with all the
joyousness and zsst peculiar to school
days. Everybody seemed bent upon
enjoying himself to his hearts
content, aud there was an
exhilarating influence in the fresh,
pure atmosphere of the place that
lent itself kindly to such a scheme.
The spot chosen for the picnic is ad-
mirably adapted for the purpose. The
long stretch of col, gre en- sward, the
thick aud welcome shade OF countless
trees through which the sun can only
peep With 8 olen glimpses, the sweet
and invigorating breezs that pays
perpetuslly among the leaves Of tee
tall pop'a s, the wide stretch
of green lands ape that greets
the eye with refreshing novt lty
on every side all, combine to n axe the
scene of yesterdays picnic the very
spot of spots for day OF rustic en-
ioyment, where the cares and worries
OF every day life ara brushed rs de as
easily as you flick the city's dust from
your coat, alter the pleasant ride that
brings you TO Capt. Golfers place. II
was worth a days journey TO see the
spirit with which everyone paItiCi-
pated in the various sports and
psstimes that made the day
a day Ct unalloyed and glori-
GUS fun. Old and middle.aged
men laid aside their dignity for the
nonce and Tomped and shouted and
laughed snd danced and a'e and made
merry liSe lot OF school boys on a
summer vacation, while comely ma.
irons looked on with smiling ap-
proval and young girls t. ok thtir
al are, in a quiet way, of ell the fun
that was goiDg except the athletic
sports OF a man y nature.
After dinner, which it took two
hours to discuss, and which embraced
every known ( rm of barbecued meat
from bulocks to lambs, tie band
struck up tune and dancing was be-
guu. The band deserves special men,
tim. 1t was not high toned, SWELL
socie y-Mikado-musjc string band Of
fifty mus clans, but a good, old fish
toned coloIed country band, composed
OF three little fiddlts nd one big one,
a band thoroughly in harmony wi b
the scene and the occasion, and that
csuld play old.fsshioned mt lodies in
an old-fashioned way. That band was
the feature of the occasion, ard it
fitted into the surroundings as nat
urslly ss one Of the old tees that has
stood guard there for decades. And
such music as they did play the
tuuieet of old dance tunes-tures that
made the feet move by an impulse of
their own, aud made their owners
dance whether or no. The leader OF
the band, who presided at the fiddle,
YVES a jewel one Of the old time,
good humored plantation kind, who
enjoyed seeing the white folks enj y
ing 'desselves." he bad arich bass voice
that did splendid service in calling
out the figures, sid. at times, when
the dance permitted, would sing mel
~ strains from the songs that lent
their melody 10 the airs he was play
ing. 1t was good to hear bin, almost
as &c cd as taking part in the dance
and makipg the tawduJt Fly to the
music of the fiddle and the bow
Square dances we're the favcrlies, but
round dances were also INDUCED in,
but the cIowning feature Ct the
day Yves the Virginia Reel"
that ended the days entertainment
All the avail able dancing material
was pressed in,o service, even Bun
Price, the life and soul of the oc, a
sion, being consciipted unwilliDg'y,
and In spite Of repeated protests, to
Iepsat tbs tenichorean triumphs OF
esrlier yeare. Other solid cid citizens
were also called into Tequisilion, and
the Secret ry of ihs Builders,
Exchange end the Sheriff
f The county were conspicuous
for the nimbleness snd grs,e with
which they skipped through the fig
uies. 1t VISA dsncs TO be rem m
b5rsd. Young and cid to k part, the
ages OF the dincsrs ranging from SKY
to ten, while those who were to-
fatieusd by t. e days pleasure to take
active pait, stood or sat around in a
circle and enjoyed the fan. 1t was a
merry scene, thoroughly rustic In
eyery particular, and many who were
present were carried back by it to days
long gone by, when time was yo1i
and life q joyous dream, BuI
it was over at last the last