The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-13
THE SOLDIER BOYS PICNIC.
GHyS Association Entertain the Company
Yesterday.
LHOT DINNER AND A PLEASANT TINE.
rarget Practice, Quoits and otter Ganes-A
Rapid Transit System-Sergeant Pitt
Acted Successfully as Cook.

A happy throng gathered under the oaks OF
Tree Hill yesterday. and the giants OF the
forest looked down as though in enjoyment.
Even when il rained they helped 10y stretch
INC out their arms and catching the drops,
,od many a soldier had them to thank last
o,oninc for the dry condition of his trousers.
The occasion was picnic rendered the
Cravs Company A by the Grays' Associa-
40, or veteran members Of the company, and
otqo'clock the oaks began their smiling on
the happy scene. These trees add great
,.oautv 70 Tree Hill. for they are perhaps the
'or.est and most graceful oaks about Rich
- They have witnessed much. and stand
- ike sentinels on their high eminence they
hsce seen battles both on land and water.
Yesterday they caught for the nOnce another
,'mrse of sodiery. and the crack of mus
-, brought back 70 their memories many
ines that made the seven-days fight one of
- fercest struggles of the civil war. The
s"i;,arv present yesterday. however, were
,.nareA,l and made no fierce attack, save at
igrch ana dinner time. The views from Tree
I1il are also excellent the distant view Of
richmond being q beautiful birds eye glance
TIKI START.
. The Association and the company assembled
=. tIe Recimcntal aTmory at o'clock in the
,,',r,,nr and 10 drum and bugles marched
- seventh and Main streets. At that point
s.rse' ears we're taken. and when the ter
aims was reached transfer was made 10
..r,.rs aud other vehicles.
"eserly Two hundred were in the party and
,,,.bursts of enthusiasm as the wagons logged
siono the country road gave all present a
forernnner Of the Bedlam-like ideas that per-
,o1ed the minds OF many of the soldier boys.
The soldiers on reaching the grounds at once
BEGAN target practicing, while the veterans
lus,ei themselves with preparations for
the feeding of their guests. Some of the
men soon began 70 play quolts, and in this
Colonel A. l.. Philips distinguished himself
lie proved 70 be the champion of the crowd
and vas honored as such the balance of the
dnv. Major Travers Daniel also pitched q
game but drew out before he could make his
reputation. His victory, said one, may have
been the result of luck but Mr.. Daniel was of
the opinion that he played the game scientih-
caIy
MAJOR Charles p. Bigger and Mr.. Hardy
vie made delicious cOncOctOns, politely
caledlemonade and claret punch respectively,
while Mr.. Cyrus Bossieaux admirably cut up
massive pie of bread with a patent bread
cutter All he had TO do was to shove the
cutter ike lack-plane
President Joseph G. DickersOn was con-
Gnually on the go" seeing that all guests
Gray Bossieaux received vociferous applause
ior his admirable rendition Of In Days of
Old"
LUNCH SERVED.
About noon lunch was announced. and it
nade a happy break IN the proceedings
Everybody had an appatite and everybody
ate and the chefs de cuisine seemed 10 know
exactly what was suitable as it was a splendid
lunch With glass of Anheuser from Mr.
\ q n
joyed the repast with relish, and the veterans
then began their Encyclopedias. Some Of
them unfortunately. missed the target alto
gether, but AS a whole surprisingly goodshots
were made.
Just as this was finished the gentle patter Of
rain made every one seek shelter III the
Stearns' homesteaS and whist, songs Jokes
and war "reminiscences held sway. The rain
poured in perfect torrents. the thunder was
deafenng and the lightning terrifying. but
happily the house was not occupied and the
soldiers were allowed to do as they pleased,
while the veterans looked on with amusement
and laughter
About 3 o'clock dinner was served, and this
was the surprise Of the day. for it Is very, very
seldom that at a picnc dinner is served hot
and in courses But that IS Just what was
done yesterday. When dinner was announced
the whole company was formed and marched
single HE 10 q tremendous long ldDle III me
area under the portico of the house. Be
fore each man was plate. soup plate.
knife and fork. etc, and the space
after the men marched 10 the table did not
admit of walters serving them. Accordingly
n rapid transit system was required. Just at
the end where the fourth estate people were
was the "carving-room. snd from this room
came the eatables. The first OF the menu
was Brunswick stew. right of the
FIRE. and TO serve it the soup-plates
aad TO be gotten 10 the carving room" and
for fifteen minutes there was a continual line
OF plates full OF stew going down the table
and empty plates coming up on the other
side. When the hot fried chicken was served
the same process was gone through with. for
men had the plates again: but when ice cream
was sent down. fortunately for those near the
end several men took two saucers OF the cool
ing compound.
The cooking was under the supervision of
Sergeant Pitt, one Of the veterans, and 1t was
said by all that the dinner was one of the
most delightful ever eaten Everything was
served in the greatest profusion, and the I'M
written law was to eat all you can and en-
JOY yourself"
After dinner baseball and other games
were played. and about o'clock the party
returned TO Richmond. All enjoyed them
selves despite the rain, and rated the oc-
casion one worthy IN every respect OF the
grand old Grays' Association.
THE TINES reporter is indebted 10 Messrs.
George ". Libby Joseph c. Dickerson aud