Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-31
MANAGING A, PICNIC.
Mrs. Sherwood's Directions for a
Pleasant Day in the Woods.
CONTENTS OF THE BIG BASKETS,
A Delicious Sandwich and a Drink Fit for
Sweltering Gods.
POETRY THAT GOES WITH AMOUNTING

WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPATCH.1
Come hither, come hither, the broom was IN
blossom all over yon rise;
There went wild murmur Of brown bees
ABOUT it with songs from the wood.
we shall never be younger, o Lowell let us
forth, for the world meath our eyes
Aye! the world is made young, cen as we,
and right fair is her youth, apd right
good.
Appetites flourish in the free air of hills
and meadows, and after drinking in the
ozone of the sea one feels like drinking
something else. There is very good story
of reverend bishop, who, with a friend,
went afshing, like Peter, and, being very
thirsty, he essayed to draw the cork of a
elaret bottle; but in his zeal he struck his
bottle against stone, and the claret oozed
out to refresh the thirsty earth instead Of
that precious porcelain of human clay of
which the bishop was made
His remark was, to his friend: "James,
you are layman; why don't you say some
thing?"
Now. to avoid having our layman or our
reverend wish to "say something" let ustry
to suggest what they should eat and what
they should drink.
The Best Kind of Picnic.
There are many kinds of picnics. FASH
ionable ones at Newport and other watering
places, where the French walters Of the
period are told to get up repast as if at
the Casino, and there are elambakes which
are ideal; there are picnics at Lenox and at
Sharon where the hotel keeper will help to
fill the baskets. But the real picnic which
calls for talent and executive ability should
emanate from some country house where
two or three other country houses shall CO.
operate and help. Then what jolly drives
in the brake, what queer old family horses
carts and what prim pony phaetons can join
in the procession.
1t should be fine day, and the place Sc
lected a hillside with trees commanding a
fine view, that at least is recommended.
The necessity of short walk, short
scramble after leaving the horses, should
not be disregarded. The night before the
picnic, which presumably starts early, the
lady of the house should see to it that a
boiled ham of perfect flavor is in readiness,
and she may flank it with boiled tongue,
four roasted chickens, game pie, and any
amount of stale bread to cut into sand
wiches.
The Secret of the Sandwich.
Now sandwich can be at once the best
and the worst thing in the world, but to
make it the best the bread should be cut
very thin, the butter, which must be as
fresh as a cows lip, should be spread with
deft fingers, then slice of ham as thin as a
wafer, with not too much fat, must be laid
between, with soupcon of mustard, or the
prepared ham which comes in cans is excel
lent for making sandwiches. Cheese sand
wiches, substituting thin slice of Amer
icar fresh cheese for the ham, are delicious,
and some rollicking good iyers toast the
cheese.
Chicken can be eaten for itself alone, but
it should be cut into very convenient frag-
ments, judiciously salted and wrapped in a
very white napkin. The game or veal pie
must be in strong earthen dish, and hav-
ing been baked the day before, its pieces
will have amalgamated with the
crust, and it will cut into easily
handled slices. Do not forget
dozen lemons and some sugar.
Tongue, cold beef and even cold sausages
make excellent varieties of sandwich. But
to prevent their becoming the "sand which
is under your feet" cover them over night
with damp napkin.
Must Keep the Delicacies Separate.
ALI must be packed in luncheon baskets
with little twisted cornucopias holding pep
per and salt, with hard-boiled eggs, with
the patty by itself, with croquettes, if they
happen to be made, with cold fried oysters
(excellent if in batter and well drained
after cooking), no one refreshment allowed
to touch the other. If cake and pastry be
taken they should each have a separate bas-
ket. Fruit also should be carefully packed
by itself For if food gets mixed and mussy
even a mountain appetite will shun it. A
bottle of olives is welcome addition, and
pickles and other relishes may be included.
Sardines are also in order.
Now, what to drink? Cold tea and iced
coffee prepared the night before, the cream
and sugar put in Just before starting, should
be always provided. They are capital things
to climb on, to ''knit up the raveled sleeve
of care" and, if somewhat exciting to the
nerves, will be found the best thirst quench-
ers. These beverages should be carefully
bottled, firmly corked-(don't target the
plenty of tin cups, or
those strong glass beer mugs which you can
throw across the room without breaking.
Best Things in the Spirit Line.
Claret is the favorite wine for picnicers,
as being light and refreshing, Ginger ale is
excellent and cheap and compact. "Cham-
says Walter Besant in his novel,
by Celias Arbor," is a wine as Catholic as
the Alhausian creed, because it goes we'll
pate de fois gras. Some men prefer sherry
with their lunch, some take beer. If you
have room and a plentiful cellar take all
these things But tea and coffee and ginger
ale will do for anybody, anywhere.
1t has been suggested by those who have
suffered losses from mischievous friends that
a composite basket contaiding everything
should be put in each carriage, but this is
refining the matter.
Arrived at the picnic ground, the whole
force should be employed by the hostess as
an amiable body of walters. The ladies
should set the tables, the men bring water
from the spring, and the less ceremony the
better. 1t will go hard with the oldast
picnicker if at this juneture he does not re-
lapse into poetry and say:
The Proper Poetic Sentiment.
''what good things these are, and how
few know how to cultivate their senses
Wine such as this (here he drinks to the
hostess, who looks very rosy and dishevelled
after her climb, but smiling), the beauty of
women to take us out Of ourselves, such
and allow me to pause over the
game pie, an unqualified success (much en-
thusiasm) (hear hear), the view Of yonder
valley, this inspiriting air, these hard-boiled
eggs (would there had been more saltD,
these lovely Hebes and graceful Ganymedes
coffee? Yes, more coffee, thanks. Captain,
h q 10 Won ever heeu in Iovao,s