Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-08-28
HARVEST HOME.

An ominous sky aud lowering clouds
greeted the gaze of the prospective pic
nicker" when he arose last Thursday
morning and cast a glance at the wealth
er indications to, if possible, satisfy him
self that the day would be fair. An early
morning shower was but the forewarn-
ing of the condition of later hours, and
doubtless many wished it had rained long
enough then to keep them at home for the
day. Notwithstanding the threatening as
spect people came from far away as well
as near by and by 10 o'clock the gathering
at the grove augured well for an i'm
mense crowd should Jupiter Pluvius,
yielding to the supplicatiOns of the
many, restrain his threatening storm
cloud. But old Jove had seen too m any
picnics to be tOyed with, and took too
great delight in behOlding sagging bon
nets, bedraggled skirts, and dripping
garments in general, and about ii o'clock
the signal was given, and JOye let her go.
People who could, sought refuge in car
riages and all covered vehicles, and those
who could not, shielded themselves with
gOssamers, rubber coats and umbrellas,
while others stood under trees and took
it. The water worked its way through
their shoes, and trickled down their
backs, but still the weather-wise looked
at the clouds and predicted that the
shower" would soon cease. To an un-
prejudiced person, who stood in the rain
for one and half hours the shower" got
very mOnotOnOus. Wet feet, damp
clothes and hunger did not combine to
produce agreeable reflections on The state
of the weather and seat calm resigna-
tiOn on lofty throne. Once thoroughly
imbued with the spirit of the act it rain
ed and rained and rained, and would not
let up until late in the afternoon. After
every one was well soaked, it was decid
ed to buck against the rain just little,
and carry out part of the programme.
The Businessburgh Band, under the
leadership of Prof. Stahl, diScOursed
some music, after which Col Poorman
spoke for twenty or thirty minutes, his
subject being Farm Depression" The
Colonel's address was an able effort and
thoroughly prepared, and is published in
full on the first page of this paper. After
Col. POorman had concluded, Prof. Stahl
made few entertaining remarks, ,cOmpar
ing the farming class of this country
with the agricultural classes in the
"Fatherland." With some vocal music
the exercises closed, and people started
for home. Many stopped in town and
ate their dinners in the Court House,
and seemed to enjoy it as much as if
eaten in the woods. Even with the.rain
people seemed to be in good humor, and
not disposed to rail largely at the wealth
er. "Ras" Wilson was detained at home,
and Hon. Charles W. Baker did not come,
but the people came for picnic, and
even without many speakers, had the
day been favorable, the occasion would
have been a great success. No one can
control the weather, and in view of this,
composure was the most philosophical
method of enduring it. While the picnic
was hardly success, still those who were
there will perhaps remember it as long
as they would, had they enjoyed it i'm
mensely, but with slightly different feel
ings. The picnic is over, and people
must satisfy themselves with imagining
what very nice time they would have
had, and in looking forward to some SIM
liar occasion in the future, when the gods
of the weather will deal more propiti-
Ously.