The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1889-06-06
LOngfellOw Literary Circle.
JOHNSON CRY, Tenn, }
June 8, 1889. {

u""hcu pIiShe anu eleaT' tnerepy Biau-
dening the hearts OF about thirty
young ladies and gentlemen Of John.
son City, who for some days past had
been anxiously scanning the clouds
and asking every one they met (whom
they deemed at all weather.wise)
whether they thought it would rain on
Wednesday or not, all deyoutly hoping
for a pleasant day.
The occasion Of all this anxiety was
the fact that the Longfellow Literary
Circle expected to close an interesting
and profitable seasons work, and OF
course all were anxious for a good day
that we might add to long list OF
pleasant evenings a whole day Of en-
jOyment.
The Longfellow Literary Circle was
organized in January, and since that
time has met once Il week, with few
exceptions, ut the houses OF the differ
ent members, and passed an hour or
two each evening in the study OF some
OF Americas and England's most noted
authors and although the members
labored under many difficulties, chief
among which was the lack of suitable
books and magazines for study and
reference, much good was done, which
demonstrated the fact that johnson
City has many young people OF literary
tastes who are anxious for improve
ment. They feel the need Of public
library and are looking forward with
the fond hope that the day is not far
distant when that hope will be real
lied.
AS many OF our most prominent
citizens expected to leave the city for
the summer months, it was thought
best to discontinue the circle for the
summer and close with a picnic and
social
In accordance with this decision, on
the morning Of the Goth ult,, four large
hacks were provided to take the party,
lunch, &C., to Austin Springs. At an
early honr the gentlemen OF the party
were on hand and started the hacks
for heyoung ladies, and, as Mrs. STRAIT
ton and Mrs. Crandall had promised
the anxious mothers to 60 along as
chaperones and see that no harm be-
fell the young folks, no objection was
made, and soon the hacks were filled
with as jolly crowd of young folks as
one is often permitted to see.
The day was all we could have asked.
All nature seemed glad.
The scenery along the road was
grand. On every hilltop one would
hear EXPLANATIONS OF delight break
from the lips of some one who had the
eye to see and soul to enjoy the work
OF the Great Artist, who paints upon
a canvas so wonderful and SO varied
pictures that can move the hardest
heart.
After pleasant ride of an hour and
a half, we reached Austin Springs, a
beautiful place on the banks OF. the
Watauga river. Soon a number OF
| hammocks we're swinging in the
breeze, and every one proceeded to
enjoy him or herself as their tastes die
tated. Some preferred to enjoy the
hammocks; others gathered flowers
and ferns along the river bank. Still
others went boating, and one party,
who had provided themselves with
bait, determined to try their skill with
the finny tribe. Several choice spots
were selected, where all were sure the
fish would bite. One after another
were tried, but even the prettiest girls
failed to get more than nibble. Oh
course the boys said the girls talked toe
much, and the girls said the boys did
not know how to fish; and they evil
IDENTIFY had good ground for such an
assertion, for one young gentleman
when asked by young lady to bait
her hook, burst into tears aud said he
did not know how. a
So we gave it up and determined tC
drown our disappointment in din
ner Now OF all the delightful parts
of day in the woods dinner is thu
most delightful, and this enc was nj
exception. 1t would have been suffi
cient to drown any sorrow and make
glad the heart OF the most fastidioul
epicure. We could not undertake II
described They had everything al
they had was splendid and in abun
dance. Could you have seen some o
the gentlemen eat you would have i'm
agined they had not had square mea
in six months. No evidence was lack
ing to prove that the ladies knew hov
to preside in the kitchen as we'll a
parlor. After the dinner was fully at
y tended to the party assembled, and on,
l. of the members photographed tn,
group. All then separated for a quie
afternoon. Boats, hammocks anC