PIC-NICING.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XX, Issue 1415, 24 December 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

PIC-NICING.

While our Rinfolk in the old land are gathered around blazing fires, secure from the sleet and snow and bitter cold of tbe season thereaway, we rejoice in a bright sun and clear blue vault overhead. Naturally, the picnic suggests itself to merrymakers rather than indoor festivities, and without question it is tbe best way to pass the Christmas holidays. But in pic-nicinsr people axe apt to overdo the thing. They make a labor of a pleasure. Instead of proceeding easily and even lazily, they fuss and bother so much that they are pretty well tired out before they start. This accounts for the many sour faces one often sees among " merrymakers" returning from a pic-nic outing. A pic nic should not be a matter involving hard work. You should go about it quiet'y, making your preparations without any flurry or excitement and proceeding to the site selected coolly and easily. Never get hot or flushed over such a matter, or your pleasure is done before you commence.

Don't take a cart-load of prov'sions with you. A few cold chickens, a tongue, or a little ham, some cheese, and crackers, plenty of salad, and sandwiches are the best. Cool drinks are a primary necessity, and if you can manage it have some iced creams. But don't take pies and pudding, and such like. Somebody is bound to sit on them, or the ants take possession, or a centipede will be found coiled around the upper crust. It is a mistake to suppose that pic-nicing means an extraordinary opportunity for over-eating. A pic-nic means enjoyment of fresh air, the contemplation of nature, flirtation, popping the question, dancing, and a heapiof matters of an zestbetic or romantic order Elderly folk ought not to go picn icing, and it is just because they do that bhe tradition exists that the pic-nic means a bie feast.

Keep cool above all things ; don't camp on a bull-ant's nest ; look out for Snakes and such like ; be sure that you don't sit down on damp grass ; don't eat over much, and be as sentimental as you please. Byron and Tennyson ought to be around at every intelligent pic-nic. Have some music, but bar the terrible concertina. That dreadful instrument has long been given over to the spirits and the Salvation Army. Have a few good microscopes with you. They afford an excellent excuse for wandering far afield in search of natural curiosities. These expeditions, it is needless to say, should be conducted by pairs — one gentleman and one lady. Any more damp the scientific enthusiasm which should animate the explorers. So spend your pic-nic that yon are able to return home as- bright, as cheerful, as untired, and happier still than when you set forth. A pic-nic conducted on the lines set forth should naturally affect the marriage statistics and contribute to the happiness of many, and the general prosperity of the community at large.— we have spoken.