Homer guardian., 1889-05-31
The Picnic on the Railroad.
EDITORS GUARDIAE-

AS announced through your col
umns OF the last issue a Picnic was
given the school children of Homer,
Athens and Gibbs on Webbs Greek,
two miles south of Athens, where
the railroad crosses said creek, last
Saturday the 25th inst. and a larger
crowd of pleasure seekers VIC have
never before witnessed at an occa-
sion of this kind in Claiborne par
ish; nor do we remember to have
ever seen a crowd of such magni-
tude so generally satisfied with the
recreation and pleasures of the day.
Maj. Beardslcy had announced
through the columns of the GUAR
DIAN and JOURNAL that the train
would leave here at s 0 clock a. m.
but as early as $3.50 a. m. gay
groups were seen emerging from
every quarter of the town, and,
with faces bcaming with anticipat-
ed pleasure, hurryingS upon light
and elastic footsteps in the direc-
ton of the depot. The train back
ed up to the platform and the doors
were thrown open at 1880; then a
scramble for seats began-seats for
a crowd Of at least 250people, COM
posed Of rollicking school children,
fond parents and teachers, hand
some young ladies', gallant young
men, a small sprinkling of old
bachelors and few of those nece3-
sary evils in all social circles
dudes::- The one passenger coach
was crowdedin a trice- crowded till
standing room was going at a pre-
MUM, then a freight car and two
flats, which were provided with
very comfortable seats, were soon
filled and the train moved away at
a rapid speed which soon drew us
up at the Athens depot, where
quite crowd was waiting to come
aboard. As stated above the train
was already crowded, but Mr.. Jno.
Allen, the clever and affable con-
ductor, managed to get them on
the cars and wedged together on
seats III q mysterious manner,
which suggested to the writer that
he had, at some past stage of life,
undergone some experience in the
business of sar(ine packing. A
short run of two miles landed us
at the Picnic ground on the south
bank of Webb's Greek. The crowd
began to disperse in every direc-
ton; some to stroll through the
dense forest with sketch book and
pencil in hand; others to lounge
upon the we'll arranged seats be-
meath the green and massive foliage
of giant hickory and oaks, talking
of-we know not what; others to
try what effect their coaxing pow
ers woulG have upon the tinny fam
lily to leave the bed of the stream
and come ashore to add to the fes-
tivities of the day; and still others
(who were the wiser portion of the
crowD to look after The numerous
baskets, boxes, &C., which were
taken from a SPECIAL car on our ar
rival at the grounds.
The train returned from Gibbs
about 1880 a. m, bringing a large
addition to the already large num-
Der Of pleasure seekers, also the
Gibbs String Band. After that the
dancing began and, although Old
Sols warm rays were penetrating
through the dense foliage overhead,
making folders of stand linnen col
lars and knocking the kinks out of
bangs, there was no cessation or
rest for the trippers Of light fantas-
tic toes, except for dinner, until
our departure for home.
At noon dinner, the most impor-
tant feature Of the occasion, was
announced, and for the next hour
all were tironged around the long
table which literally loaded with
the choicest of edibles-edibles that
could not fail to satisfy the most
epicurean taste in existence-edi-
bles that the good house. wives of
Claiborne parish are famous for pro-
ducing, the bountifulness of which
can be imagined when we say that
this crowd of fully 400 people had
their appetite fully appeased and
left enough good, wholesome and
dainty food to feed public gather
ing at an Agricultural Experimen-
tai Station.
In the afternoon an election for
Queen of May was called for, the
to be selected from and
elected by the school children. The
ballots were cast, the result an
nounced and Miss Bette Kelly, one
of Homer's little fair haired beau
ties declared election, and to Henry