Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-04
PLEASURES OF SPRING.
when Society VIII Look for Pastime Out of
Doors.

FLEASOhES OF SRhlN6s
when Society VIII Look for P.stime Out of
Doors.
JAUNTs ABOUT WASHINGTON WHICH ARE ENJOY
ABLE AND FAsHIoNABLE-A TALE OF PICNIC
AT GREAT FALLs-HoRsEBAcK TRIPS FROM
ALEXANDRIA TO MT. VERNON.
EURs AND MUFFS AND WARM TAILOR
Il made jackets or light colors and Easter
hats-which do you prefer? This year Easter
was perfect day, but weather is not as certain
as taxes and sometimes Easter in the District
of Columbia is far from pleasant. When it
rains the new hat must wait or get wet
Several years ago there was Washington
girl who wore her Easter hat on Easter Sunday
in spite of the weather. That year on Easter
it rained, hailed and showed 1t was cold,
soaking wet, slippery, everything that is dis
agreeable, but still this girl would wear her new
hat to church. Up the aisle Of the church to
the front pew, where she sat, she bore her
glorious Easter hat. The weather was so bad
that many good Christians stayed at home, and
there were not more than hundred people in
church and they all had on their oldest clothes.
Alone and conspicuous shone out the bright
colors OF the hat but that wasn't all, for it had
got soaked with water and the colors had run,
and down the face of the silly girl were three
distinct broad streaks. One was Of brilliant
vermilion, another was Of sky blue and the
third was OF dirty green. She sat through the
service and supposed that everybody was star
ing at her, because Of admiration Cor the bon
net, but when she got home and looked in her
mirror she saw the real state Of the case. She
learned lesson and ever since then has been
careful not to wear new bonnets in the rain,
and, moreover, she is more careful now in Sc
lectlnQ the trimmings for her hat
There was no risk in wearing bright colors
on Easter hats this year and the bright coun-
tenances Of the young people showed that
they were all glad that the gay season had re-
turned. Lent has gone, the winter season is
dead, the second season has begun. Each year
In Washington it lasts longer than it did the
year before, and this is it should be, for this
| ID the pleasantest season of ALL There is more
variety to the form of entertainment than
there can be in winter and there is more free
dom, too. When the doors and windows are
open, as they will be soon, and when the bal
comics are in use there is not much room for
stiffness and formality. Another great point
in favor of the gayety Of spring and early sum-
mer is that it may take place out of doors and
gives health as well as pleasure to those who
participate in it. and for parties of this kind
there are few cities SO well adapted Wash
lngton. Let us take u glance at the form that
these parties will be apt to take.
PLEASANT PICNIC GROUND.
One Of the most beautiful and romantic spots
in the United States is the Great Falls of the
Potomac, seventeen miles away from the CITY,
but reached without much difficulty by the fine
smooth road that runs by the river and crosses
the wonderful Cabin John bridge, revealing at
every turn new snatches OF matchless scenery To
have picnics at the falls has always been favor
lite sport during Washington second season.
Some people like to carry baskets and camp out
for day, but many of our rich and fashion
able residents don't run things on such a sim
pie basis. They prefer to carry a small army
OF servants and a provision train and to have a
feast on the rocks with the dashing water roar
ing beneath. These all-day excursions are great
fun, married only by an occasional misunder-
standing among young men who get jealous.
There was an instance OF this not long ago that
il worth relating.
party went up to the falls and in it was
certain girl whose natural attractions are en-
HANGED by the fact that she has handsome
fortune. Among the men were her two par
ticular adorers-one a gallant officer in the pay
corps Of the army, the other a clerk in one Of
the departments. Relations between them
were somewhat strained, but on this occasion
they appeared to be friendly enough and were
observed to take drink Of settler and whisky
together. blinking glasses and grinning at one
another good naturally. But both glasses
were put down rather hastily as the young
lady IN question passed them on her way to a
further investigation of the rocks. The sight
was an interesting one. First went the girl,
jumping from rock to rock as lightly as a spar
row, the water dashing and boiling around her,
for she was fast getting well out toward the
middle OF the stream; next came the paymas-
ter, striding heavily along, for he is large and
awkward, his arms outsrretched and looking
anything but happy; behind him came the
clerk, skipping pretty gracefully. for he is of
slender build and light on his feet from much
dancing. The thing was clearly race and the
mischievous girl looked behind and seemed to
enjoy it, Sne bounded Oh and reached a rock
where her position was anything but secure
one, but when the paymaster reached the rock,
which she had just vacated, he crouched there
heipiessly. holding to the rugged surface
with his hands and knees a ludicrous picture
OF gallant man III a very ungallant position.
In an instant the clerk had leaped past him
and was on the further rock by the girls side,
and there was only room for the two The
clerk had won the race. He told some one of
the conversation that occurred between him
and the girl he had been chasing, a coversa-
ton that was carried on at disadvantage be-
cause OF the laundering roar of the waters.
Isn't this gloriOusI shrieked the lady.
Grand howled the clerk, and the pay
master has got left. H-O-o-r-o-a-r!"
What yelled the lady.
Il can't hear a word you say" beloved the
man. But it probably was a satisfaction to
him to be 30 near her.
ON HORSEBACK TO MOUNT VERNON
Another nne expedition and more common
one than the journey to Great Falls is the
Mount Vernon party. By taking the ferry to
Alexandra one can ride or drive down and the
route Is most captivating one. Nor is the
ride a disagreeably long ole, not being more
than seven miles each way. To 20 in this way
has always been popular with the Washing
tonians who ride horseback. The only trouble
Is that considerable preparation is necessary,
especially in The matter OF the feast, and an ex-
petition OF this kind is tame affair if no feast
Ii provided. To ride seven miles and then lind
nothing to eat and drink il too much To
carry provision wagon in the wake of the
party and to have an accident happen to it is
still worse. Last year about this time there
was party that went to Mount Vernon ON
horseback and the horse attached to the wagon
that held the lunch TOOK fright and ran away.
and his route could be traced by the broken
champagne bottles and salads and sandwiches
that were strewn along the road for several
miles. But there is comparatively little dam
ger OF mishap il you go aown to Gen. WASH
lngton place by water, and this is the more
usual way. These parties cannot very well be
failures. The guests can be trusted to take
care OF themselves and to enjoy themselves.
IN OLD VIRGINIA.
There is new party for the spring that has
recently come into fashion and that shows signs
OF increasing popularity. 1t consists simply in
Q tour OF observation among the quaint old
hamlets across the river Manv of the rich