Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-08-28

they become the objects OF derision and
the prey of seed-ticks without giving
evidence of feeling by so much as q
single glance of uneasiness or a solitary
furtive scratch. They are happy and
that is enough for them; the world may
call them fools, and in sober moments
they are not altogether sure but what
the world was right; but what does it
matter? Anybody has right to be a
fool at a picnic, and armed by this con.
soling rejection they are armor-plated
against criticism.
The picnic, particularly the largely
attended Sunday-school or day-school
picnic, is, therefore, an admirable place
to study human nature, for there hui
man nature is found at It's ease and con-
quently off its guard. The natural
tendencies of men show themselves
| more fully than elsewhere, ana IL Is
| possible, II anywhere, at picnic to see
what man really is. There Is the
| committeeman, with his badge show
ing that he is on the committee OF
amusementsc or of lemonade. or order
OF procession, or music. or any one OF
dozen other committees to do little
things to contribute to the success Of
the picnic. He is thus a man OF i'm.
DOEbuuCe loI bilS ulllG DtlIRy dlu lS6ld
his responsibility. II marshal, he
has accoutered himself with q sash
that would make the heart Of Zula
dance with envy. II on amusements
he personally arranges the contestants
for the sack race and lays down the
rules Of the contest with
dignity that a judge of the
Derby might in vain strive to
emulate. If in charge of the
lemonade, he regards it as automatic
that the refreshing mixture would not
be properly manufactured unless he
himself squeezed the lemons, measured
the sugar, and stirred the mixture in
the barrel. He knows his business,
too. To prepare himself for this i'm.
portant function he bought barten.
der's complete guide and carefully
studied those sections which treat OF
the various varieties OF lemonade, and
is prepared to give chapter and verse
to any doubter who may suspect that
too much sugar or not enough lemons
have been employed He knows his
business, he does, and while he Is stir
ring the lemonade and exposing the
knots in his suspendors it is not safe to
meddle with him.
Not less important, however, are the
members of several other committees
who are commonly self-appointed. The
committee on swings has generally
the pleasantest job of the picnic; for,
after having, at the peril of their lives,
arranged the swing in proper place,
cut off limb or two that interfered
with the movement, and pulled the
rope up and down until the seat was
just right, ii is theirs to invite
the young ladies to be swung.
Seldom is the honor declined, for, al
though the lady properly approached
on the subject is morally certain that
she will fall out, and in addition urges
the consideration that swinging always
makes her dizzy the urgency of the
inviters prevails, and with pretty little
shrieks and squeals, and much and
careful adjustment of her drapery
about her feet, she gets herself in pc.
sition and is duly swung, amid many
protestations that she is going toe
high, and that she knew she could not
stand it. The misery Of the swinging
committee comes when stout miss
who is fond of swinging makes her ap-
pearance and stands about, with perse-
vering patience, waiting to be invited.
The slim youths manipulating the
swinging circle prolong their exertions
with the petite beauty in hand as long
as possible, keeping her going far be-
yond her own desire in the hope that
the big girl will go away. Vain is
their expectation. She has come to be
swung, and by and by it becomes i'm
possible to ignore her any longer. The
slender youths take off their coats and
settle down to the task with dumb res
ignation, all of which is needed before
ch hnna,,axc 1.
to "let the cat die"
A display cf enterprise is always
pleasing, though when the enterprise
Is misdirected it has q comical aspect
which often excites the risibilities In
no small degree. The presence Of q
considerable number Of persons as at
picnic generally attracts individuals OF
the class that lives BY providing cheap
and humble popu ar amusements. How
ever rigid the prejudices of the clergy.
men and Sunday-school superintendent
may be against the canvas screen with
the agile black head thrust through
the slit. the owner of which stands
prepared to dodge any number of base
balls thrown at his Uranium, the screen
and its appurtenances are almost sure
to appear, the loud.voiced proprietor
Justify commenting the sport to world
ly minded youth. We're there none
such In the gathering the fat man with
the loud voice and his hard-headed
dusky assistant would be forced to go
away in diggu5t, but hanging to the
skirts of every Sunday-school there are
always several young reprobates who
have no taste for Sunday-school singing,
who regard the speeches by visiting
Sunday y-school workers" as a bore, ana
who slip away to try their luck at the
darkys head. So the darky generally
has busy timo, and the fat proprietor
reaps harvest Of nickels and dimes.
Much more deprecated, however, Is
the presence of the operator who with
his rack of canes, his bundle of rings
and his keg of beer advertises his
business in a set formula of words.
Walk upnow, gents, and try your luck.
Five rings for nickel and every time
you ring cane you get glass Of beer.
Sometimes, mistaking the nature OF
the entertainment, he bobs up at
Sunday-school picnic, to the horror of
the preacher SuDerinteDdant and old