The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-08-11
HOW TO ENJOY A PICNIC.
Selection of the Grounds-Things
Essential to Its Success.

can be hired by the day, and IN which
city people are mainly dependent for
occasions of this sort. Such grounds
are worse than stupid. Their beauty,
if they ever possessed any, is spoiled
by a lot Of weather-beaten wooden
tables, with benches built rigidly
along each side; the turf is trampled
and covered with the remains of yes
terday's picnic, as it will be tomorrow
by today's and altogether they are di-
lapidated and cheap-looking grounds.
The successful getter-up of picnics
shows originality in selecting places
from year to year He tries to find a
spot with some newer or more attrac-
tive feature than those of last years
grounds. He is careful about several
things. First. that there shall be good
water within reach; second, that
shelter is easily accessible in case OF u
sudden shower; third, that there are
no mosquitoes-if he happily lives
where such a spot can be found. One
attractive feature of a good place Is
vicinity to a brook, or perhaps some
larger stream. where the picnickers
can row. battle and swim.
The second thing which will insure
a good time is a congenial company.
Invite only those who know each
other, or, at least, not any o
strangers than you can make ac-
quainted with the rest during the
day. Tact and easy manners are as
indispensable to the host and hostess
at a picnic as to those who entertain
their friends indoors, and they should
see that no one remains long alone or
u~noceupied.
1t is a poor idea that the principal
feature of a picnic is the lunch. III
so, why have it out Of doors? One
can eat just as heartily. and with far
more comfort in the house. The chief
pleasure Of a picnic ought to be the
enjoyment of a day with ones friends
near the heart of nature-the rest and
refreshment which comes from an ex-
change of the house fer the open air
on a perfect day Ii You believe this,
do not load up hampers and wagons
with all the delicacies of the season,
with china and silver and glass, ana
food to be cooked on the grounds.
Do not initiate the old ladies whom
every one has cen at picnics, who
produce from their baskets canned
goods, corn, potatoes, bottles of tea
and milk, also coffee to be freshly
made, and pressing some unfortunate
but good natured man into the ser
vice of building a fire among a heap
of stones, proceed to get up a regular
cooked meal.
A simple lunch of sandwiches, cake,
buns, fruit, sardines, salmon or any
easily transportable things will salts
fy the most fastidious and do away
with the need of all dishes except
wooden plates dixie those on which
butter is sold and freshly gathered
leaves. japanese napkins are as good
as linen ones for picnics and far less
trouble. II ice cream be ordered hire
plates and spoons with it. Tasteful
arrangement of a plain lunch will
make it very tempting. OF course
the properly rustic way of providing
for a table is TO spread the cloth over
some large flat rock. But, unfortu-
nately, large flat rocks are not as plen-
tiful everywhere as they are in sto-
ries. There may be many rocks OF
the right size, but to find a fiat one is
the difficulty.
A tablecloth spread on the ground
Is subject TO visits from ants and spi-
ders, not to speak of grasshoppers and
toads. II the table be high there will
be NJ way to seat guests. Why not
take long clean boards and a few
heavy blocks of wood with which to
construct a temporary table, raised
just far enough from the ground that
all can sit comfortably around it on
the grass? The boards can be carried
in the wagon which takes the eatables
or ever with the guests, ~iftheyride / n
primitive fashion in plain vehicles.
Over the boards spread a fresh table
cloth Or two, and although the beauty
of the rustic table cannot depend on
its dishes or napery, there is all nature
to choose from for decorating it. A
trail OF fine vines around the edge
may be matched by the leaves of wild
grapevines or any large plant, which
will serve for plates. The wooden
platters may also be eircled by vines.
A little bunch of wild flowers and
leaves can be laid by each plate, scat
tered among the centre dishes and
placed about the piles of fruit.
When all are seated u little sur
prise may be given the guests by re-
quest that each shall give q quotation
about flowers or pay a~forfeit. IL, in
the judgement of the host, this affords
lOO lllblc ldllluh6 lOI his Tlcf1QS
memories, he may ask for any senti-
ments about nature, including, of
course all growing things. The re-
deeming of forfeits after dinner will
begin the games, and this brings me
to the fourth essential to be produced
at a picnic-the amusement of the
company.
II the ground is suitable tennis or
eroquet sets may be carried, but IL
the place of rendezvous is on the pic
turesque order there will hardly be
level or smooth space sufficient for
them. Quoits, or the lighter game of
ring-toss, can be played almost any
where, also the present favorite beam
bag. Grace hoops, too, can be enjoy
ed out-of-doors, and | imagine that a
donkey party would enliyen any
company when those blindfolded
have all outdoors in which to find the
tailless animal. The sheet of muslin
on which the figure of the donkey is
printed may be pinned on a tree trunk.
Instead of the regular prizes, decora-
tions of leaves can be given-a wreath,
representing the laurels of y~ictors, for
the first prize a shoulder-sash of
leaves for the second, and a green let
ter b, pinned on the breast, the award
to the bloody" AS TO the other out
door games, books on the subject are
full of good suggestions, and the wise
entertainer viii fortify himself with a
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