260 AMERICAN HOMES 
Fig. |—The sandwiches remain fresh and appetizing if wrapped 
separately 
\f— 7 
regular home meal, while the ad- 
ditional benefit to the children from 
a whole day out of doors is not to 
be estimated. 
Nor are the younger members of 
the family, although their enjoy- 
ment may be more unrestrained, 
the only ones to whom a picnic ap- 
peals. The school boys and girls, 
the grown-up daughters, even the 
mother herself, will find pleasure 
in the hours so spent. There is no 
more charming way of entertain- 
ing the members of a young girl’s 
class at school, the members of the 
older sister’s Sunday-school class, 
or the members of the mother’s 
own club. Moreover, no other 
form of entertainment admits of 
more elaboration at comparatively 
less expense; and yet, again, the 
picnic may be as simple as one 
pleases. As a social function the 
affair may be enhanced by the ad- 
dition of suitable favors, such as 
straw ‘‘farmer” hats, paper sun- 
bonnets, or baskets to hold wild 
flowers. These may be purchased 
at a cost of from five to fifteen 
cents each; may be fitted inside 
each other to facilitate carrying, 
and will weigh next to nothing. 
The small outing of congenial 
‘HE picnic season is here again, to the joy of 
the children. Many a mother who used 
to feel her heart sink when the little ones 
began teasing to take a meal out of doors 
now welcomes the chance. With a little park. 
forethought, a picnic luncheon can be ar- 
ranged so as to mean less work than the 
Picnic Parties 
By Ama Bird Stewart 
Photographs by Helen D. Van Eaton 
traction cars. 
Fig. 3—Ready for the picnic, with an individual 
basket of luncheon 
AND GARDENS 
July, 1911 
Fig. 2—-Packing the luncheon to carry successfully requires care 
and practice 
friends of the family party are no less enjoyable; in fact, the 
out-of-door luncheon deserves to be a regular proceeding. 
The place for the picnic is the first consideration. ‘The 
dweller in the city is almost always blessed with at least one 
Furthermore, one can usually find real woods— 
which are, of course, preferable—of easy access from some 
The same holds good in regard to the 
smaller towns. In the country the 
only difficulty would lie in the 
choice of a place, where so many 
are available. Oftentimes these 
little jaunts may take the form of 
excursions to some nearby point of 
interest, some literary shrine, or 
place of historic tradition. Under 
these conditions, the luncheon must 
be put up in a manner to admit of 
easy carrying. Lack of weight and 
lack of bulk are both requisites. 
Many conveniences for the out- 
of-door luncheon have now been 
put upon the market. When a suc- 
cession of such meals are planned, 
the Thermos bottle is almost a ne- 
cessity, while the tea basket fitteu 
up for the small party gives added 
pleasure in itself. This modern 
luxury, borrowed from our Eng- 
lish cousins, will be found equally 
useful in traveling, especially for 
long journeys. Such a tea and 
luncheon outfit is illustrated in Fig. 
6. It consists of an alcohol stove, 
tea kettle, creamer, sugar bowl, 
cream bottle, sandwich box, with 
two cups, saucers, spoons and nap- 
kins. Compactly fitted into a neat, 
durable case, this sells at $16.74. 
A more elaborate luncheon kit 
