The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-07-27
AN AL FREsCo PICNIC.

shore sighed as abe read letter from
home telling her of the gay times tho
stay-at-home picknickers were having
in town.
Then these festive affairs were or.
gsuized 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 lun-
cheon had become an unnecessary func-
ton at his place. as the guests all took
themselves off with the entire contents
of his larder packed in hampers and
boxes about the time of day usually
devoted to the deieuner.
Some of these uo-to-date picnics
given within the last few weeks have
been marvels of lavish expenditure and
eccentricity. Coaches have carried the
party to their destination, while q
whole stage full of servants went along
to prepare the feast and wait upon the
guests. When the woodland retreat
was reached some adventurous young
matron of the smart set would astonish
the assembled guests by removing her
shoes and stockings and wading in
brook with feet of true Trilby perfec-
ton.
The caterpillars and ambitious bugs
which we have grown TO associate with
picnics are not TO be found at these fin
de steele junketings. Rugs and mar
quee tents are brought along and spread
upon the grass. Wine bottles are
placed in ice-pscked coolers, and frozen
fruits and creams are protected from
the heat amid branches and vines Of
green. At some distant spot fire is
built and kettle boiled in gypsy style.
SO that cup of tea may be made for
anyone wishing it.
The menus served at some Of these
''picnics" are finer than anything seen
a. the swagger luncheons of the win
ter The fact that they have become
fad with the smart" people which
often means the eccentric rich, makes
n large outlay of money a natural con-
sequence. 1t is at an unconventional
entertainment Of the sort that the
average man feels happiest, and IL his
wife is foremost in getting up one Of
these suburban parties he foots the
bills with far more grace than for 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,
disdaiping 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. II men are invited, they bring
bottled claret and white wines. also
providing iced tea and coffee for the
young ladies.
When the chosen spot is reached the
men of the party do the carrying ami
arranging of camp stools, putting up
OF tents. and all work of this kind
Then the girls spread the cloth. get
out the wooden pie plates that serve as
dishes, mix the salad dressing and slice
the cake il a caterpillar CT two drops
upon the improvised table. why II only
makes more fan for the guests.
Perhaps one reason why the picnic -
snnh q faso<itA divozxian with .a...-