Smyrna times., 1891-07-29
Thursday at Woodland Reach.

A larger part of Smyrna spent
Thursday last at the bay side. Locally
it was the occasion of the annual pic
mic of the Methodist Sunday School,
and proved to be the day selected also
by the Sunday Schools of Friendship
Church aud Walkers School House, in
Blackbir Hundred, and also those of
CheswOld, KentOn and Clayton. This
took in not only Smyrna, but most of
the contiguous country and made,
with the eXcursiOnists on the boat, a
large COncOurse eff people, some four
thousand or more. There were All
vehicles by actual count, including the
large wagons that came filled with
children, not including those that were
coming and going during the day. The
cars rsn two trips down and up, and
| the steamer was we'll loaded with city
| friends to meet their Country cousins"
| This was in fact an important feature
of the day with many at both ends of
the line. The previous Wednesday
was considered the biggest day" that
| Woodland Beach had ever had, when
| there were three boat excursions, but
this fairly divided the honor with il,
some thinking the crowd one day and
some the other, the largest, but Mr..
Campbell, the proprietor, thought
Thursday had the most people on the
beach.
1t partoOk, in every way, the nature
of gala dGy,-every body could find
something to amuse or entertain. A
large number enjoyed a dip in the salt
water. The nerry-go-round never
ceased its eternal whirl amid the
strains of steam stirring music only to
put off and take on load of animated
riders. The sWitch-back was patron.
lied with the same Zest, the eXhilera.
ton of its rapid ascent and descent be-
ing especially enjoyed by the young
sters, though large number of the
older people also took ride for the
novelty of the thing. Then, there
were the swings. ball tossing, and fin.
ally the ball room for such as preferred
a warm waltz to other modes of diver
sion. The pavilion, built out over the
water, was a faVOrte place of rest to
those who were weary, or cOntempla-
tive of the swelling tides as the crafts
that plOwed through the deep waters
to near or foreign parts carrying oil
! bringing the luXuries or necessities o
life.
, The day was rarely refreshing.
stiff breeze came up the bay that WA
q exhilarating to all who put themselves
in it, and not lost to those who sOugh
q the leeward side of the hotel to b,
! quiet lockers on at the continually
: changing faces and grOupes. A shove
of rain fell shortly after one O'Clock
q but its only effect was to drive the peO
!. pie under cover fifteen or twenty min
utes.
Ice cream had been provided il
: seeming abundance by the schools fo
the children and teachers, which wa
!, served in the afternoon. But, after all
b the greatest thing of picnic day lik
this is the picnic basket. It is loade
in quantity and variety as is no othe
basket, and enjoyed in the same pre-
portion. In the mean time host CamI
Ie BELLS cooks were Kept busy preparin
r fish, oysters &C., for those who hadn'
j. picnic basket, or who wanted
,e change from its dainties. There WASH
G. a single marring incident the Who'll
" day, that the writer knows Of, which
le saying good deal for the good Ordt
D, and behavior of so large a crowd.