July, 1911 
is shown in Fig. 7. 
This is suitable for 
train or automobile 
traveling, as the 
slanting top of the 
case, covered with 
corrugated rubber, 
makes a comforta- 
ble footstool. The 
box holds a lunch- 
eon or_ sandwich 
case, two cups, sau- 
cers, plates, knives, 
forks, spoons, nap- 
kins, and space for 
a Thermos bottle. 
It sells complete for 
$36.74. 
The wicker 
luncheon basket, 
seen in Fig. 5, holds 
a service for four 
persons, besides a 
lunch box, wicker 
cases for glasses and bottles to prevent breaking, and salt 
and pepper shakers. The price of this outfit is $24.74. 
These luxuries, however desirable, are not of course 
within the reach of every one. A fresh, clean basket, if 
daintily packed, serves the purpose at very little expense, 
a well-woven one with a durable, hinged cover, costing only 
fifty cents. Individual baskets for children’s out-of-door 
luncheons may also be purchased cheaply. Although the 
handles make the baskets much more easily carried, some 
people prefer clean pasteboard boxes. The lids of these 
are used as trays in serving the meal and the whole thing 
can be thrown away afterwards. 
For the same reason many take a table cloth of paper 
instead of linen, if it is possible to secure one large enough. 
Attractive crépe paper sets are now sold at a trifling cost, 
so that it is possible to carry out a regular color scheme of 
decoration. Whatever the table covering, by all means 
have paper napkins and plates; they are lighter, more com- 
pact, and minimize the amount to be carried home. When 
the site has been chosen for the feast, spread the cloth neatly 
on a level stretch of ground and unpack the food carefully. 
Nothing is more unappetizing than disorder, yet many pic- 
nickers after preparing a dainty meal, do not take the trouble 
to serve it attractively. 
If possible spread the table near a spring. One wise 
woman, with whom picnics are a regular occurrance, always 
carries the luncheon in a bright tin pail which is afterwards 
Ne 1 wel oe 
Fig. 5—Automobile wicker luncheon basket, equipped 
for four persons 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
Fig. 4—Nothing could be more tempting than a well-filled luncheon basket 
Fig. 
261 
used for water. If 
lemonade is to be 
made, a lemon 
squeezer is a practi- 
cal adjunct, or one 
may bring a bottle 
of strained lemon 
juice prepared and 
sweentened at 
home. For those 
who do not care for 
lemonade, the 
Thermos bottle can 
be brought into play 
for carrying any 
hot or cold drink, 
or a small alcohol 
heater can be tucked 
away for the mak- 
ing of tea. 
Often it is enjoy- 
able to bring some 
things separately 
and mix out of 
doors just before serving. Many dainties otherwise im- 
possible to carry can thus be served, but when hungry, im- 
patient little folks are to be considered, it is better to have 
everything already prepared. It will always save muss and 
bother to open all olive and pickle bottles at home, and un- 
less the trip is exceedingly long, to pour off the liquid be- 
fore recorking and packing. Be sure to be provided with 
druggists’ pill boxes of salt and pepper. 
Wherever held, for whatever purpose. whether the 
meal be luncheon or supper, the main interest of the picnic 
centers around the contents of the luncheon basket. Here 
the home touch is pre-eminently to be desired. Wholesome 
materials in savory combinations daintily served are the 
prime essentials for a successful picnic. 
Sandwiches are the staple of picnic diet, but their range 
is almost limitless. White, graham, whole wheat, rye or 
Boston brown bread, plain or toasted, may be used 
separately or in combination, while rolls, buns and biscuits 
and saltine or other crackers, vary the foundation still 
further. Picnic biscuits are not known so widely as they 
deserve to be. They are made of biscuit dough (preferably 
sour milk and soda biscuits) rolled to a quarter-inch or less 
in thickness, buttered, then covered with a second layer of 
dough and baked in a quick oven. When done they split 
apart easily for filling. They may be cut sguare to facili- 
tate packing, if space is very precious. In preparing sand- 
wiches, always cut the bread very thin and trim off the crusts; 
6—Tea and luncheon outfit 
opened up ready for use 
Fig. 7—Footstool luncheon kit with 
complete service for four 
