The record-union., 1891-07-04

Something more than a score of hours
agone it was my privilege to witness a
novel drama. The actors in this realistic
scene had never rehearsed, yet each
moved about with great unconcern in the
sight of the spectators. Behind the scenes
the prime movers Of the affair were dis
cussing the ways and means by which to
make it a brilliant success. The morrow
was to dawn on a picnic day, an exclusive
picnic Of but two in the crowd. The
place of resort chosen was MeIitta, which
is the first station after leaving Santa
Rosa.
Said One: 'It is piece of criminal eX-
travagance. Do you know what the fare
TO Melitta is? Well, Pll tell you; it's 15
cents.''
Said Two: "Oh, well, let's not count the
cost till we get back. TO dwell on un-
pleasant things spoils the fun. Let US be
among the chosen few who can afford a
tifteen-cent picnic"
Said One, with asperity, ''Well, we are
not going to jimmy around cooking
lunch. l can tell you that right now.
We are out for day Of rest, and we
shan't stew our lives out rigging up a
lunch.'
"Naw," said Two, lazily, "stuff some
bread and butter in a newspaper, and
that is sufficient. We are not going out
there to eat"
| watched those two sail off down the
street. 1t was one matchless evening,
one of those evenings which are indigem-
Gus to Santa Rosa alone, when the streets
We're thronged with people enjoying the
open-air concert. Every fellow was out
with his best or second best girl in gala
attire, drinking in the beauties of the
lDnr tbpN tipH forever fbpco
two were intent on their own interests.
Music and laughter and gay song waited
by them on the pertumed air unhceded.
Like bees that fit from blossom to bios
som, plltering sweets from each open
Hower-cup Tor another day, so they tlut-
tered from baker to confectioner ami from
contcctioner to grocer. Like the bee, with
his load Of hOneyed treasures, who wings
his flight homeward when the shades of
evening fall, staggering under his bur-
den, so these two, who were not going
out there TO eat wcnded their way with
tagging steps. They entered a tidy little
grocery where a pyramid of daintieS and
substantials was labeled Campers Sup
plies" one hour later they emerged, or
rather two moving masses Of paper sacks.
cans, bundles, and even pitchers and
bottles.
Said Two: "Too bad that store is on the
10 o'clock circuit. Ii the light hadn't
=
olives. l ann afraid now we haven't
enough
Act !, scene /, met the delighted eyes of
those who were abroad at an early hour
The foot-lights were kindled by mighty
hand, the hand in whose palm we all are
gathered. At His wish the sun appeared
lie kissed the baby hill-topS gently, he
flung his warm beams down their sides,
and over the sleeping city spread a man
tie Of glory, dispclling the night mists.
The party of two assembled at the depot
and made arrangements TO have an extra
car attached to carry the lunch. The To-
comotiVe stands fretting impatiently,
anxious TO start on its long journey look
ing glad as the sunshine sparkles on its
polished sides. Who can say it does not
look like IL had a soul? Verify it almost
speaks, saying: "Oh, hurry up, bows.
let's 60" There was one particular pas
senger that morning who was
ton some miles away. His name
was-but that is telling. 1t rhymes with
'tinsel' nicely, but there is 30 tinsel or
goldleaf about him; he is pure gold. He
had business there. The new Home for
Predetermined Children is there, too.
What his business was we shall never
know. Suffice it to say, he did not tarry
long. His eye caught on the basket Of
lunch. 1t was big, homely basket, sug-
gestiVe of doughnuts and good things
generally, and he told himself that he had
additional business at Melitta at noon
time.
You are dropped off at Melitta before
you realize you are aboard. Whizz
Past hop fields that look like a mann
moth spider web, the white cords
stretched from pole to pole, and just a
suggestion of the green, creeping vines:
past hay fields where the haycocks are
distributed in orderly rows. / painted a
hay field once, by the way. 1t was
beautiful thing. So all my friends said,
yet one suggested that / daub in some in
sccts and call it cluster of bee hives,
which | did. Then another wanted me
TO cut il in two, which l did. and the last
half, containing the sea of uncut. yellow
grain with gorgeous sunset at the west.
he said would pass for plate of buttered
mullins with sorghum accompaniment,
or the countenance OF dead or diving
jaundiced Chinaman. Cross my heart
and hope to die if i ever paint another
hayipg scene.
Melitta was designed especially for
picnickers; there is no doubt about it.
1t is the most delightful retreat ON hot
day one has only to enter the heavy
shades to forget the flight of time and
the flight OF the mercury up the face of
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