Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1903-07-31

TIME
'. III "A

Old settlers picnic at Ayerst's
grove last Saturday was grand sue
cess. The day opened rather threat
,ening, but later all clouds we're dis
PEELED, and it became one of Natures
perfect days. The early train from
this city brought large crowd from
the city. The hospitable proprietor
of the grove had everything in readi-
ness for the reception of his guests.
All day settlers young and old con-
tinued to arrive until there must
have been almost 1900 people on the
grounds No choicer location could
have been found for the picnic.
Lake ia one of tho pref
tiest bodies of fresh water in the
state. The grove is situated on one
Of it's largest and most delightful
bays, skirted with fine sandy beech,
surrounded by wealth of foliage and
woodland, 1t was to this beauty
spot that the settler, hoary with men,
cries of prehistoric North Dakota, was
invited to renew acquaintances with
his fellow emigrants to the trackless
west, and to recount the dangers, the
trials and pleasures of the epoch Of
settlement. Everyone came loaded
with baskets full of good things, OK
cept the Inter Ocean reporter, who
nevertheless did not starve as an in
vitation to dinner was not long in
forthcoming.
Mrs. Ayerst and several of the
neighbor women served dinner la
European, and it was something i'm
mense. City fed clerks, and half
starved lawyers were initiated into
the joys of epicurisln and those
who were not farmers wished them
selves so, if for nothing else but to dine
on such delicacies forever. Dancing
was kept up all day, until the small
hours of the night. The dance was
distinctively an old settlers dance,
and the old boys we,e very much in
evidence. The country swain swung
his country lass to the seductive
strains of 1.-THE Good Old Summer
Time while the first notes of "The
Irish Washerwoman' aroused the
old settler from his old settlers re-
veries, and the quadrille was on
Among the most gallant dancers OF
the floor whose presence added grace
and dignity to the erstwhl]e granary
floor, we're Mayor Morgridge, Dav'
Turner, DR.. Davenport, Wills Morse.
Bob Wilmot, the list is in
exhaustive Everyone. young and ole
Joined in the dance. and old age re
newed its youth for the afternoon at
least.
A ball game between Starkweathe,
and Devils Lake picked aggregation
had fair start. when it was discov.
cred that the teams were too evenly
matched for any sport, and the game
was abandoned at the end of the thirt
inning. Devils Lake having 7 rnn
to Starkweather g..
Postmaster Frank Maurer, of Stark
weather, was among those also pres
ent, and contributed much to the dig
nifty of the occasion. Frank came t,
the vicinity Of Starkweather when i
was young and bowling wilderness
and with characteristic pioneer energ,
set to work to build up home
Success has attended his efforts, ant
he is now one Of the most prominen
citizens of Starkweather, besides be1nf
mayor of the village.
A. NJ. Powell and family, ant
Calvin Mooers, of Keith, were anon,
the picnlckers on the grounds.
It was the most successful picni
the old settlers have yet had
Neither pains nor money we're spare,
to make it most enjoyable occasion