St. John's Church Picnic.

Bruce Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 774, 4 February 1876, Page 6

St. John's Church Picnic.

♦ The annual picnic in connection with St. John's Church, Milton, took place on Tuesday last, and passed off very successfully, the weather being fine, and the attendance large. For many years past, the picnic has been held at " The Grove," the property of Mr George Jones, and a more beautiful spot could scarcely be found in the district. This lovely little valley, carpeted with fresh green turf, and surrounded by a dense and pretty bush, affording shelter to all who did not care to remain exposed to the sun's rays, must have had a charm for all who were present. Upon one or two occasions the success of the picnic has been marred by bad weather, but a more pleasant day than Tuesday la.°t could scarcely have been desired for a gathering of this kind. The Milton brass band was in attendance, and contributed materially to the enjoyment of all. The departure of the band from the township was the signal for the public to wend their way to The Grove,'and at about halfpast three o'clock there were about one hundred and fifty persons on the ground, including the ladies who had charge of the tables— Mesdameß Hoffey, Twiss, A. Jones, R. W. Capstick, Huggins, Wells, and Grey. It had been announced that tea would be ready by four o'clock, and at about this time a stream of new arrivals began to pour in, until there could not have been less than three hundred present, including a host of children. A. number [of boys and a few •' children of larger growth " played football, and though the game was scarcely suited to the occasion —considering the number of ladies and children present- no damage was done, and those who played the part of lookers-on had many an opportunity for a hearty laugh. Some of the crockery had a narrow escape from demolition once or twice when the football went in , the direction of the tables, and the fair attendants must" have had their nerves severely tried upon these occasions. When tea time arrived, oceans of this .refreshing and harmless beverage, and piles of sandwiches,. cakes, and other delicacies were quickly disposed of,: most ef the ladiea taking their refreshments in the shade afforded by the bush, the gentlemen acting as waiters. After tea, som,e more football; was indulged in, a large, number accepted: Mr George Jones' invitation ito ramble, through his large fruit garden, while a few attempted a dance on the green to th> music of the Milton brass band, Danoibg on the; grass on the slope of a hill aeemeditb /be, ratherhard work, and it ; waSinot kept up with any> spirit.; i ■■ Kiss-in,-. the^ring, . appeared to be a game that found favor with i a' few; and** th* fyn we&fc on,<oifo oHwP^Wi^

TonVl^ing * citizens^ of mature .age-reappeared, to, become youthful, and frisky agaiuat the i touch of a handkerchief: , thro wn by ; some, blushing , damsel, who : generaily turned out to be rather fleet; ' pi? foot. On the whole, 1 the picnic was a very .successful affair,,, and one noticeable thing' -wtw ! the ; gbod nature that' seemed to possess everybody. There ' \vefe no" cliq[uea ; but 1 , on Ithe contrary/ everybody to be on the 'Wat and most intimate termswith everybody else. In fact; it ..was ' ajmosj; tojicHing to observe the kindly feeling that promoted I ''iliose'-wfe^.^y' I J. u ?! l ly', :^^ m ' ty belong; the .aristocratic, ; section .: of .i our little community to descend from their pinnacle of,; intense respectability for. the purpose of promoting ■ the " happineaa of their j faimbier fellow creatures. To' drop from the sublime to the practical, we may state that the proceeds amounted to £23 125, and that this sum will go to the church funds. Votes of thanks were paßsed to ! the ladies who Bupplied the tables, to the members of the Milton braes band for their attendance, and to Mr George Jones for the use of his ground. . , .