The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1890-07-11
THE PICNIC AT PkYioR.s grows.

THE PICNIC AT PKYOR'S GROVE.
The absorbing topic of conversation
in our "set' for week or two prior
to the Fourth was the alliance picnic
at Pryor's grove. / can describe .sour
setn in no more comprehensive terms
than those of the old Irish lady. who,
walking along the dusty highway once
upon time thus soliloquiZed; swell
now I'm one diyii OF set, amt Ii'
That pretty accurately describes sour
set, ar at least Mr.. Editor you would
think so were You subjected to any
thing like an intimate acquaintance
with them for ever so brief period.
For two days preceding the eventful
occasion everything around our ranch
was bluster and confusion, and when
at last the ga-lorious day arrived, with
all preparations made for a start at
$3.50 il. M, the bright sun was decking
the eastern horizon before we could
get Mr.. II. out of bed. In the Language
of the ancient classics, '.that man
makes me exceedingly tired" The
orive out WAS exceedingly pleasant,
the green grass and beautiful wild
flowers waving beneath the pressure
of the gentle hreeze were esoul-inspiring,
while the bracing morning air brought
forcibly to mind the tabled stories of
the health-giving climate of fair Italy.
In rapturous delight vaguely limited
my inspiration to Mr.. H., and was
utterly disgusted to hear him reply
that all that was necessary to COM
plete the picture was bottle of iced
beer and link of 'sboglona" sausage.
To such serene heights had my soul
arisen. and such was the rude dashing
of my poetic imaginations to earth
| that don't know, nor care, whether
[ have spelled bologna right or not.
Arrived at the grounds we found
some two thousand two hundred and
ninety-nine patriotic citizens there to
greet and welcome us. and it Was only
by strategy that we succeeded in pre-
venting public demonstrations it
seemed for while, but a short walk
among the swarming throng served to
convince us that our arrival caused
about as much commotion as would a
bucket of water turned into surging
river. OF course everybody was glad
to see us, for be it understood Mr..
GRAPHIC, that no where else on this
hospitable, generous and who;e-souled
people than those of Lincoln township.
lived among them for several months
and ''taught the young idea how to
shoot" and know whereof affirm; in
short, and in fact, they are my kind of
people.
We-first person plural-dined with
my good friends, Mr.. and Mrs. Gradalt
and bfr. and Mrs. Curtis, and the
stereotyped phrase that "we did ample
justice TO the occasion" exactly de-
scribes the situation. 1 should have
stated that the forenoon's exercises
consisted principally of vocal and in
strumental music, the singing was ex-
ceedingly fine, the selections were
soul-inspiring and patriotic, albeit.
they were from the alliance song book.
Do you know, Mr.. Editor, that my
sympathies are all with the farmers, L
am farmers daughter and If l sue
ceed i'll making little scheme work
which 1 am now figuring on, L shall
marry farmer soon and settle down
on a farm, but one never can tell about
these men.
After dinner the platform was clear
ed, the fiddle" strung up, and for the
remainder of the day, and probably
most of the night, those who felt so
inclined indulged in the merry dance.
Did 1 dancer well no. but using a
slang phrase, "My intentions were
good, and 1 would if l could" On
another platform, far enough away
from the dancers to escape the tur-
moil, various speakers descanted upon
the American eagle, politics and the
alliance, chief among them was Col.
David; Mr.. Young, president of the
county alliance; T. b. Manning and
one or two others whose names 1 do
not now recall. The speeches were
interspread with most excellent sing-
ing from the alliance songsters. This
reminds me that the next time go
down to Lincoln am gong to beg,
borrow, buy or steal one of those
books.
1 had some forty invitations to sup
per, but our friends Mrs. Gradalf and
Mrs. Curtis had the call and we ate
with them a second time, and at 1870
o'clock We started for Kinsley, arriv-
ing home at thirty minutes past mid
! light. To sum it all up, the picnic at
Pryor's grove double discounted any
like affair in Western Kansas, know
it did. If 1 should live a Thousand
years. which probably won't, 1 shall
spend my every Fourth of July there
if possible. LAURA.
1