Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-09
H 0 USE OLD HINT S

Picnic days according to the calendar and
the hoosier poet are here and every bit
OF gypsy blood-and who denies having
few drops, at least-calls for surcease of
labor and a "gittin' out to rest"
Not picnic. ant please you-which dear
old Josiah Allen so aptly dubs pleasure
exertion"-when one spends the night put
ting up the lunch and watching the clock,
antedates the lark in rising, emulates
steam engine in doing up the morning
Chores" dresses UP in "Spandy'' raiment.
walks a mile through the blazing sun,
loaded down with baskets. pals and bot
ties, Joins a crowd of perspiring excursion
lists similarly afflicted and jostled and
squeezed, trod on and reviled, passes an
apparently endless day, chasing up the
children and listening to the braying of
the band, and the creaking of the merry
go-round
From all such picnics. Good Lord, de-
liver us!'
The ideal picnic, verbum sap. leaves one
rested, refreshed, vitalized ready for a
new turn at the wheel of action. To feel
Its good effects, one must not go to it
worn to frazzle'' in Its preparation. 1t
must not involve SO much of exertion dur
ing its progress to bring back an ache
every time you look at 1t in retrospect.
The picnic that leaves the good taste In
the mouth, is the one where you don't
work at nothin' else"
The objective point decided upon, let the
hours not be too long. An all-day picnic,
when there are little ones is WEAKNESS
to the flesh of both children and care
takers.
Don't wear your best clothes. Don't take
your best dishes. Don't plan refreshments
that will be difficult to carry and difficult
to serve. Don't take too many sweets
It's the substantials that count. Danish
care. Danish fastidiousness. Make up
your mind to the peck of dirt with fair
sprinkling of chronological specimens
thrown in-then git out and rest"
Upon the housekeeper who believes in
Ruskin's dictum You are to see that
faces the onus of the picnic Father is
good to row, to drive, to bring the water
and make the fire. If so be fire is in the
program, but you can't count on him for
much else. The children are all willing lit
tie handmaids to Ceres, especially before
hand, but IL is mother who must represent
the Goddess of Plenty. Yet with tact and
forethought her duties need not be too ar
duous. If the picnic involves but a single
meal. that is as easy as jumping over a
fence"-in fact, much easier for mother. If
1t resolves itself into an all-day affair or
camping, that requires more thought.
An excellent jelled meat for picn!cs or
camp is this old-fashioned standby of our
grandmothers. Get four pigs feet with
legs to the first joint and boil in Dot of
water without salt until the bones fall out.
Take the meat from the liquor, strain and
set away to cool. In other kettle have a
shank Of beef sawed and cut Boil this in
unsalted water until very tender. Remove
the meat and set the liquor away to cool.
The next morning remove the fat from both
liquors, cut the meat In small bits add the
liquor the pigs feet were cooked in the
beef liquor be utilized in SOUP, salt,
pepper and spice to taste heat and pour
nDl6G har1aN
ry to say that this meat should be pre-
pared at home. the day before using.
In California where every family turns
its face to woods or mountain for at least
q part of the summer, camp equipage is
as much a part of the household furnish
Ing as that required for the parlor spare
bed room There is the pile of soft old
quilts. the camp stove, light sheetiron
affair, with two or four griddles. and a good
oven, that can be lifted from pillar to post,
and Dan to Beersheba with the grea test
of ease. There are the camp skillets and
coffee pot, the tnpa!ls and the wash bowl.
the plates and cups of Russian agate camp
chairs. If one is Sybaritc in their tastes,
and occasionally and always acceptably-a
high chair. TO tie baby in. If the outing in
cludes a long wagon journey an extension
on the back of the wagon serves s table
until permanent camp is pitched. when one
is Knocked together of boards or saplings.
Old clothes are laid aside for this occasion
sweaters. outing flannel shirts and over
alls for the boys and men, with toboggan
caps or Tams for the children who are apt
to take cold to wear at night. For the tiny
girls there are also overalls, most ike the
boys, and sweaters, while mother rejoices
in u short denim skirt, shirt waists and cap
or cowboy hat. Among the constants"
which every camper of experience lays in,
are beans. bacon, onions. tapioca dried
aprcots or peaches, tea. coffee, condensed
milk chocolate, sugar, rice, salt, smoked
beef. canned salmon, sardines, pineapple
cheese. a pail of lard and self-raising flour
Several sheets of oiled paper, which can
be procured at any confectioner's, should
form part of every camping or picnic outfit
Loaves Of bread or cake securely wrapped
in the oiled paper will keep moist and fresh
for days. This is also a good thing to re-
member during the heated term at home.
Among the sandwiches which are de-
servedly popular with outing parties are
those made Of cream cheese and olives. On
thin slices of lightly buttered rye or white
bread spread thick layer of cream cheese
= = = =