Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-03
GRANGERg DAY.
THE ANNUAL PICNIC AT BEECH'S
GROVE YESTERDAY.
An Oid-Time Re-Union Of City and
Country People-The
Races.

xviii it rain to-day"
The question was asked yesterday morn
ing by hundreds of anxious people as they
arose and looked at the dark and threaten
ing clouds that were rolling up from the
south. 1t was the day set for the Changers
picnic, an annual event which is hailed
with joy by thousands of people in Sacra-
mento county. On this one day in the
year the people of the city and the county
come together at Beechs Grove, throw
aside all formality and enjoy themselves to
their hearts content. 1t is great day for
all classes. The city merchant takes the
opportunity to meet his country custom
ers on their own ground and show his ap-
probation of their open-handed hospitality
by leaving his business to spend few
hours in their society. The politician
never fails to put in an appearance and
make himself solid with the men who con-
troll the delegations in the county Conyen-
tons. The big hearted grangers and their
hospitable wives and daughters come from
all parts of the county, laden with such
hampers full of turkeys, chickens, pies,
cakes and such wonders in culinary skill
as makes the mouth water to look upon.
No one from the city can go hungry if they
can find him, for they ALWAYS bring
enough of these good things to feed an
army.
1t was no wonder that early-risers viewed
the threatening sky with alarm, for up
to o'clock it looked as if the day
might be marred by heavy showers. That
the people were not easily frightened, how
ever, was evident on every side Every
livery team in the city had been engaged,
and soon carriages, buggies, hacks, four
in-hands and all sorts of conveyances,
filled with happy people, were leaving the
city by the Freeport and Riverside roads.
The little steamer Thomas DIVER, with
seventy-five passengers, and the Canvas
back, with twenty five, made the trip to
the grounds by the river. Those who went
by the Freeport road found il yery dirty.
The strong south wind blew the dust raised
by the innumerable vehicles straight in the
faces of the pleasure-seekers, but when
they reached the grove they laughed about
It, and no one grumbled. A great many,
however, who had gone by the Freeport
road returned by the Riverside, which was
great improvement, though it was not as
free from dust as it might have been.
AT THE GROVE
The scene was as delightful as the magma
ton can paint. All was life and hustle.
Under the shadows of the great oaks. as
far as the eye could reach, groups of people
were spreading out tempting viands upon
snowy cloths. Hundreds of vehicles stood
around, and horses were tied to fences and
trees in all directions. At the dancing
platform the First Artillery Band was rem
derlng inspiring music, to which the young
people We're tripping with unusual vigor,
Tor while the clouds had vanished and the
sun shone brightly on the scene, there was
strong breeze blowing, and it was a de-
hghtful day for out door dancing. The
large platform was crowded with dancers
all day, and the band and its leader, C. A.
Neale, came IN for many compliments
rom both city and country people. At II
O'Clock there was an intermission for one
hour. and the dancers scattered to the diff
ferent "lay-outs" and gave their attention
to the good things prepared by their
seniors.
AT no other picnic of the year can there
be found such profusion of edibles as at
the Changers picnic. The farmers wives
are justly proud of their cooking and are
always pleased to see their city friends en-
JOY the product of their skill. The gran
gers themselves 90 about among the crowd
and capture everyone who can be found
who has not banqueted. There were sew
eral thousand people in the grove and no
one was allowed to go hungry.
THE RACES
Are always feature of the Changers holi-
day, and are keenly enjoyed. The contests
OF yesterday were engaged in by a large
number of competitors, and were exceed
ingly Interesting. The judges of the races
were u. g. McMullin and William Robin
SOD; starting judges. John Reece and Mel
son Wilcox; patrol judge, Rock Hunt;
officer OF the course, Captain Ben Cham
bers; Commander, John Reith.
The winners Of the prizes were as fol-
lows
Race for boys under eight years-Bertie
Greer, 81; Howard MAY, so cents
Boys under ten-A. J. Hitler, 81; r.
Iltherington, 80 cents.
Girls under eight-May Myers, ST. Eddie
Girls under twelve-May Heith, 81; Elite
Gosling, so cents.
Boys upder fourteen-Matt Bronner 81;
Harry Williams 30 cents.
Boys under eighteen-George Vasselo 81;
e. Hevener, 81.
Girls under sixteen = Kittie Witteu-
brock, 81; Josie Myers, 81.
Egg race for ladies-Josie Myers, s.; Eva
Harlow, 81.
Married ladies' race-Mrs Theresa Nc
Glouchlan, So; Mrs. Ne,tie Jackson, 81 So
Unmarried ladies' race-Dicey Harlow,
81; Josie Myers. 81
Free for ali-R. VI. Hester, S..
Sack rsce-J. Harlow, SO; = Boyne, 50.
Free for all, for . Vigor OF Life prize
?. NJ Clark, first, and J. C. McGlouchlan.
second.
Free for all over sixty years. same prizes
H. Boyne, first, and +. Heyener, second
Free for all over forty-G W. Harlow,
REcoRD-UNIoN one year; West Simons,
WEEKLY UNION one year.
Free for all over sixty. NJ. Harlow,
Daily Bee one year; L. ]. Harrigan, U'eeklg
Bee one year.
Everything passed off pleasantly and to
the entire satisfaction of all who attended.
The committee in charge of the affair de-
serve great credit for the manner in which
every detail was looked after, but it is COM
posed of men who are too modest to have
their names printed on the programmes,
and no one could find out just who was en-
titled TO the credit.