The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-17
The Season for Small Picnics and
Basket PARTIES Come. with the
Opening 81 the Parks.
ENJOYMENT Fca THE CHILDREN
THEY PROBABLY GET THE GREAT
EST GOOD osT OF NATURE.
some of the FerSure. That Help to
Make a Day insthe Parks Pleas
antIy agreeable.


beings in all Of thiir different phases Of
character there is scarcely a better spot
in which TO pursue sthe study than in one
OF the big parks a the citys outskirts.
Last week markedA the beginning OF the
small picnic or sbasket party season.
the first stretch z. warm weather this
spring bringing sout many holiday
makers DESTROYS of }spending idle after
noon away from tho noisy city. There were
parties of school Children, with teacher
and no LUNCH" moshers and fathers with
three four chiltiren, all Juggling more
lunch than they cSuld possibly consume
before nightfaI; pafs of lovers with neat
ly tied-up pasteboaEi boxes. no doubt con-
tanning lettuce sandwiches. sugarksses
and pickles, and occasionally a solitary
person sitting near She paths or driveways
Willing away the time in 'loafing and in
yiting the SOUL" as the poet Walt Whit
man would have SAT-.
Just now the paris and the country sur
rounding them havt reached their highest
stage of beauty. Nhe grass is long and
vividly green, while the forest trees have
put forth their tendl rest shades in feathery
leaves which do nott as yet completely hide
the soft brown of TIE trunks and branches.
The banks of the streams are carpeted
with yellow, white and purple violets and
here and there stands the low dogwood tree
in perfect shower II beautiful white bios
SONS.
When the discerning observer dsmounts
from the trolley cat at the park entrance
he is surprised to f3d that so many people,
who have come for i'm outing, seem TO pos
sess no more love for nature at her best
than to sit down OF the benches that bor-
der the loop of the lear tracks and remain
there for hours at "a time. These are the
sort of fresh-air-see2ers who prefer watch
ing the people wiso journey out TO the
parks on the cars ithan to feasting their
eyes upon the lights and shadows OF the
woods and stream. In every gathering OF
human beings there are always some per-
sons who have NJ faculty for amusing
themselves. but mutt be amused py others.
The lovers, of coursfe, disappear Immediate
ly. There is no Rpecial desire on their
part to linger abtut the park entrance
watching for familfr faces. They wander
far away, oblivious; of time and surround
iags. and pick thei5 way back through the
woods again in the dusky twilight. guided
by some kind CupTi who is the dog that
leads this sort of bssnd folk home.
CROWD OF CHILDREN.
There is always a crowd Of children who
have come out to TIE park for the express
purpose Of riding In the merry go-round.
while seasick mothers sit by and watch
them with express bns Of mixed JOY and
woe fitting over tseir faces. In children
this love Of whirlins, round and round TO the
tune of once-polsular song. ground out
laboriously by a vfather-beaten mechanic
cal organ, may be attributed to immaturity,
for childish natures are ever craving
sations of this sor1. But how is one to
account for the delight many '.grown-ups''
take in mounting fantastical wooden
monster and being lent on a circular jour-
ney for five minutet more with a musi-
cal accompaniment s0f Josephine, My Jo."
minus several meatures, which were left
out because they were too difficult. of exc
cution for the poor5 old organ? Sometimes
you will run across zone of these overenthu-
siastic grown-ups lei Inning helplessly against
tree staring into 5pace. 1t is best not to
pay any attention 20 the grown-up under
these circumstancesi Your sympathy would
be wasted, for he :ioes not care for your
companionship- Hd wants to be left all
alone for few moments more. There are
times when ii is downright cruelty to i'm
pose ones presence upon a fellow being.
Like Dolly Vardens In the opera of that
name, this grown-4p has something the
matter with him irAide"-only Il isn't love
that is causing the ,commotion.
The observer wills note that the band OF
children ''out with teacher is a weIl-be-
haved company of youngsters and quite
different from the tfoupe Of impudent inno-
cents that are visiting the park without an
adult commander. y'ho dash madly up hill
and down. shriekirs and screaming. calling
out sarcastic little references TO the per-
sonal appearance 81 the people they meet.
and finging banana skins and empty paper
bags wherever they go. But. although one
may admire teachers orderly band. one cam
not help but feel sorry for teacher herself.
who never gets a chance to enjoy the after
noon, but must listen TO the never-ceasing
prattle of all her pupils. while being COM
PEELED to support, With no show OF favor
itism at least three little girls on each side
of her as they hang lovingly on her arms
Besides these living membranes. clinging
like barnacles to a ship. she must carry any
number OF coats aid capes, and is expected
to take care of enormous punches of Covers
that have been gathered by the entire band
and lovingly presented to her. The school,
room itself could not furnish her with an
afternoon of harder work.
AS Teacher anG her devoted followers
disappear. the Observers attention IS drawn
TO party of five that has just arrived on
the scene The newcomers belong TO the
domestic branch OF pienickers. The sweet
faced woman is thy mother of the boy and
the girl. csf5s tell at a glance. The
short. young woman Is fond aunt and the
kindy-eyed young man is doubtless a
friend OF the familT who can get an after
noon away from Hork when he wants Il.
All Of them are carrying big baskets full
of all sorts OF coed things 10 eat These
people know just what they have come
out 10 the park fer. and just where they
are going. 1t is w,rth the observers time
TO follow party like this. and he trudges
along at distance behind
These happy hol.iay-makers stroll TO the
boathouse and prepare TO engage boat
a most difficult thing TO do. for both chi.-
dren want 10 do tn, rowing. OF course. while
the young man adfises that he b allowed
10 attend to thi& important feature for