Year: 1860

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 GIVEN BY THE YOUNG LADIES OF THE DIES ARC FEMALE ACADEMY.

 MR EDITOR: We have no disposition to excite your envy, but give you credit for gen. erosity enough to be glad at the good fortune of others, and therefore it is that we essay to write to you of the festivities of the 11th inst, the occasion of which was picnic given by the young ladies of our fourishing Academy, under the superintendence of Miss Black.

 By some unaccountabe arrangement the young ladies all proceeded to the place of rendezvous alone, on the morning in question, and left us poor gallant CD knights to plod our way alone but when we arrived at the " Grove" we came to the conclusion that the arrangement must have been for the effect. for 1t is difficult to imagine more pleasing sight, to an admirer of the beautiful and more especially to bachelor-than that which met our view a little after crossing the creek, on the western outskirts of our town.

 It was bright, warm spring morning. and the heat and dust had produced no very pleas- ing effect upon our feelings but when that E IT. presented itself, it was to us like green oasis in the desert, and we forgot the inconve- niences of the walk in contemplating the view before us. The Grove is lovely spot at any time, with its waving canopy of rich foliage and it's velvety carpet of green, extending to the brink of our own romantic little stream of White River, dancing by in it's sparkling purity and rpling beauty but graced by that group of arid nymphs, who seemed to partake of the freshness and beauty with which spring had clothed the mute beauties of the woods, 1t seemed that nature, in an artistic combina- tion, had thrown forth all of her brightest colors upon the canvas at once = for we will class these ladies fair among the beauties of nature and not the excellencies of art. Not only that group of little girls, who were en- toying their innocent sports on the river's brink, but also that other company of mai dens, "now woman grown ;'' for if there is one attraction which shines above the many others which the Des Arc ladies possess, it is that artlessness of manner which is woman's brightest attraction, and like other bright jewels most seldom found at the present day.

 Variety was the order of the day. Now we would enjoy s'sweet converse" with the young ladies, in which they would evince the cul- ture bestowed upon their minds by their &C., complished preceptress-both those who are still under her control and those who have game of "grab" would give variety to the now the "lads and lasses'' would display their grace at ssprsoner's | base;' now nice little boat, bearing the | euphonious title of ss Buck Snort" would be seen gliding across the clear water, with sails | all spread, to the wild wood, on the opposite bank on one of which trips gallant knight, looking into the clear stream, became charmed with the reflection of sweet face in the water, forgetting that the original was by his side, and did not discover his mistake until he had displayed his gallantry at the expense of his |" Sunday clothes." Ever and anon the woods would be filled with the melody of the i' Watcher," or some other plaintive song, from a chorus of sweet voices in the grove. And thus the hours glided so swiftly by that we were surprised when they called us to the ample board, grooming with the good things of the season, which was superintended by several of the kind ladies of our town, whose presence added both dignity and pleasure to the days entertainment.

 And so it passed from thence till evening, | when, as facetious friend remarked, we gathered into our baskets more loaves and fishes than we had at first, and left the beauti- ful Grove, around which shall ever finger many pleasing association, and perhaps to some many a tender one, which it would not be best for us to mention here; for several times during the day did the melody of the birds, in distant part of the Grove, attract some admiring couple, and perhaps they heard soft melodies which TO ear but their own was to hear. But we will not intrnde further, but will close by wishing to one and all many returns of such plesant pic-nics.