Arizona republican., 1893-12-24
A Tucson Picnic.

Miss Julia Street, who has been visit
ing in Tucson for the past week, was
given most enjoyable picnic on Thurs
day by Judge and Mrs. Barnes, whose
guest she is. The objective point of the
picnic was the beautiful woods below
the old San Xavier mission. The spe-
cial feature OF the picnic was that it
was run on Judge Barnes patent pro-
cess. that is, it was beefsteak picnic,
conducted solely by the gentlemen of
the party, who were especially selected
on account of their esta blished reputa-
ton as cooks. 1t is an attractive part
of the programme that no ladies are al
lowed in the kitchen while the gentle
men are covering themselves with Gull
nary distinction. Neither are they al
lowed to offer any suggestions or criti-
cisms, but are strictly required to par
take of all the delicious viands set be-
fore them by the male "connoisseurs de
cuisine" The tableware consists Who'll
ly of the honest American industrial
products, tin and iron. A dozen beef
steaks were broiled to a state of pertec-
tian and put in the horse pail carefully
covered, to digest the butter and other
condiments, the pail sitting on two and
a half pounds of refined mesquite ashes,
piled on four sides la pyramid.
simultaneously with this accomplish
ment at the hands of Messrs. Barnes and
Johnson, Messrs. Tenney and DAILY
were successfully preparing cream pota-
toes, fried potatoes, boiled potatoes.
baked potatoes and Saratoga chips, over
fire of eight minutes standing reduced
to hazel nut coal, with a small draft
of air from the surface of Papago creek,
scented with lavender water, and al
lowed to pass three inches over the sur
face of the potatoes. The delicious
murphys were carefully seasoned by
the adroit performers. AS the last rays
of the sun threw cooling shadow over
the cooks red faces. Coffee was in
trusted to the skill of Cal. Martin, who
elected the highest praise for his COM
plete success in producing an elixir that
wreathed the faces of the lady guests
with bright smiles, and warmed their
hearts with cOntentment. Chilli sauce,
and such Chill sauce, was the result of
the com bined efforts OF the staff. By
the way, speaking of this Chill sauce,
recalls to my mind the fact that at this
stage OF the business there was strong
suspicion of feminine interference, but
the disorder was promptly quelled from
the kitchen, and in so decided a man
ner that future indiscretions were fore
stalled. That Chill sauce, covering the
delectable mushrooms, would have
drawn the Mexican savant from the
wilds of Topalo bampo across the desert
wastes to our camping ground, had even
suspicion of it's presence leaked out,
but the greatest secrecy was observed,
and the Chill sauce was served amidst
great eclat.
Some little misunderstanding &C.
cured in the precincts of the
kitchen between the potato and meat
cooks. on account OF the liberal use of
salt by the potato cooks, but the plaus-
IDLE explanation of Messrs. Tenney and
DAILY tended to quiet the feeling that
was engendered, and the meat experts
overlooked the matter good naturally.
The table looked beautiful, the guests
being waited upon by hired slaves, and
the Papago string quartette PLAYED
"Garry Owen" throughout the entire
meal. At the head of the table Judge
Street presided with marked ability,
and it was generally remarked by those
who were acquainted with the fact that
the judge sought our genial climate on
account of weak lungs that he had
relapsed into sad case of consumption
in its last stages.
The fair sex were a unit in pronounc-
ing the repast the best cooked meal they
had sat down to in years. The crown
ing feature being an able effort of Judge
Barnes on charlotte russo, a Tucson
COW being driven to the camp for the
,cream-chewed sugar cane being intro
Fduced into this delicious desert for the
first time by the judge. Beer was
served cold "a la tosse" with every
course. The beer was good.