The herald., 1895-07-14
oNon MORE rnn prorro.

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Society Girls Revive the ola-rash
aoned Country Feast,
This II the style cf invitation kha4 4,
going about nowadays. Ns studied
informality is one Of IL distinguish
characteristicsi
my Dear Miss Blanlks
I'VE are going to have . FOLLY fftt1e
picnic party out Of town next rhursdas
afternoon. Our destination Is to be a
secret until we start, but we ara 70
meet at Miss C-'s house at 1 O'CLOCK.
Wear an old gown. for we expect to
knock about among the trees and
rocks, and all that sort of thing. We
shall depend on you for some lettuce
sandwiches, which you can arrange to
have sent from the station from which
we are to start, I believe. Send me a
line to say If we can hope for you. There
are lot Of nice men coming, and I
am to chaperon the party. Yours low
ingly, ALICE BLANK"
1t is fact that the picnic of our
childhood is experiencing q revival. 1t
Is reappearing in an tdealized form, but
picnic still. 1t has become the fashion
to organize parties for these informal
5aunts into the woods or by some quiet
river or lakeside, where tablecloths are
spread upon the grass and luncheon
served In the most charming al fresco
manner. with the blue sky for a cano-
py and the Summer breezes making
music sweeter than that Of all the
Hungarian orchestras Of the season.
1t Is said that the modern picnic was
organized, by 4 lively little society
in town after her return from Europe
and before her departure for the family
palace at Newport. She found that all
the nice men were in town. and q few
OF the most entertaining women could
be brought In by telegraph from the
seaside. 1t was impossible for her to
that her drawing-rooms were swathed
In ghostly Holland draperies.
Therefore she thought Of picnic in
the suburbs, with the coolest and
daint1est OF dishes served in gipsy fash
lon on the grass. The year before she
had given fete on the roof Of her
town house in midsummer for a
an even more original idea.
The hrst picnic proved such an un-
success that society fol- |
lowed suit, and the woman ltixuriating
at 50 day hotel at the seashore |
sighed as she read a letter from home |
at-home picnickers were having in |
town
Then these festive affairs were Or
ganized at the hotels and farmhouses,
and since the advent of July they have |
been the rage. so much so that the pro-
prietor OF one very well-known hostelry
was heard to say last week that lunch
con had become an unnecessary func-
tion at his place, as the guests all |
took themselves off with the entire |
contents Of his larder packed in ham, |
pers and boxes about the time Of day
Given within the last few weeks nave
been marvels of lavish expenditure
ried the party to their destination.
while a whole stage full Of servants
went along to prepare the feast ana
wait upon the guests. When the
woodland retreat was reached some
young matron OF the
smart set would astonish the assem-.
bled guests by removing her shoes ana
stockings and wading IN brook with
feet Of true Trilby perfection.
The caterpillars and ambitious bugs
which we have grown to associate W1tn
picnics are not to be found at these
fin de steele junketings: Rugs ana
marquee tents are brought along and
are placed In ice-packed coolers. and
frozen fruits and creams are protected
from the heat amid branches and vines
Of green. At some distant spot q nre ~
built and a kettle boiled in gipsy style,
so that a cup Of tea may be made Tor
any one wishing 1t.
The menus served at some or these
"pionics" are finer than anything seen
at the swagger luncheons Of the Win
ter. Tho fact that they have become
q fad with the smart" people, which
often means the eccentric rich, makes
a large outlay of money natural con-
sequence. It is at an unconventional
entertainment of the sort that the
average man feels happiest, and II his
wife Is foremost In getting up one OF
these suburban parties he foots the
Winter events which are followed by
such overwhelming statements from
the caterer, the florist and the wine
merchant.
But the society girls picnic, although
very smart function indeed, is more
in the line Of the old-fashioned picnic.
Frequently the girls meet at one house
and then start Off IN trains or street
cars for the scene of their merry max
ing. Often they are laden with boxes.
disdaining the aid of servants for the
trip. The girls Of the party arrange
between themselves to divide the lunch
con into parts, each girl providing one.
Then, if men are invited, they bring
bottled claret and white wines. also
providing iced tea and coffee Tor the
young ladies.