The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-08-17
Amusements for Picuics.

during these days or plcnlcs anC
barbacues when the pleasure seekers
are at loss to know what to do with
themselves; when they sit around in
buggies and whip the tops from grass
and weeds or squat at the roots Of
oaks and dig holes in the sand; when
they walk to the we'll or spring and
drink water whether they want it OF
not and march back again wondering
if it is not the longest day since Josh
ua made the sun stand still, on such
occasions it would not be amiss tc
have some kind of entertainment tc
while away the time. Here is a clip
ping from G. S. A. in the Adversine
World, giving few ways to interest 6
party of picnicers:
For the first, the requisites are an
elevated platform not less than l2 fee,
square, large red apple, half a dozen
pairs of roller skates and half a dozen
boys (contestants.) An upright scant.
ing is erected at each of two opposite
sides of the platform to the height of
at least 12 feet, and a horizontal cross.
piece affixed to the tops thereof. A
stout hempen twine is passed through
the core Of the apple and knotted, and
the apple is then suspended from the
crosspiece so that it hangs at about
the level of a boys nose-nOt his
mouth. The contestants are mounted
on skates, their hands tied behind
their backs, and the prize goes to the
boy who first succeeds in getting a
bite out of the apple. 1t may be we'll
to surround the platform with low
railing to keep the kids from tumbling
off.
Perhaps the foregoing doesn't sound
funny in the reading, but in practice
it is about as funny contest as can be
imagined.
The other contest is an obstacle race.
in which every contestant must pass
under, over, through, around, across,
or between such hindrances and diff
culties as may be devised. These him
ORANGES may be of any nature short
of insuperable obstacles. Several are
suggested here
From a high "trestle" like those
used by carpenters suspend small,
stout barrel minus both heads, in such
way that it will swing freely in all
directions. 1t should be at q height
about midway between the waist and
shoulders of the average man. Each
racer must 90 through the barrel
1t is well to have about two of these.
fix a plank about a foot wide and
two inches thick about eight or nine
inches from the ground, so firmly thai
it cannot be raised up when the con
testants try to crawl under it.
With each enc resting on a trestle
five or six feet high, place a slender
sapling lepgthwise of the course, anc
require each contestant to "coon" tn,
length of it-and the longer the better
If it sways and bends, that helps tn,
sport.
Set up two parallel 2x4's narrow
edge up. on posts three or four fee
high, and not more than ten inches
apart. Place croquet balls at inter
walls along these rail, opposite eacl
other. The contestants must pass be
tween the rails without knocking of
any of the balls. IfaDy are knocked
off, the knocker must replace then
and start through again.
A high-barred gate may be erected
the bars Of which are round ant
smooth and turn readily in thei
sockets in the side piece. The gat
ought to be at least eight feet high
The racers must climb up one sid
and down the other.
AS the promoter gets to studying tn
matter, other ingenious obstacles will
occur to him, and the race may b
made to provide an Immense lot G
amusement for large crowd.