May Day (1866)
According to previous notice, the school children met at the tanyard-spring, on Tuesday last, and enjoyed themselves finely. That enterprising and affable gentleman, Mr. Paul T. JONES, on whose grounds the picnic was held, had prepared an impromptu table, and added no little to the many good things that had been placed upon it from the baskets of the little pleasure-seekers. About one hundred persons were present, and during the time that we were there, we saw no face that did not wear a smile. The children were happy because everything combined to make them so; the young ladies in attendance were happy or ought to have been, and we believe they were – for there were some of the noble and true on the ground; and the elder ones were happy because every one else was. Indeed, it was a happy affair, and will long be remembered by the little bright-eyed classmates as the wander on through their respective fields in the unknown future. When dinner was over, some of the children, who had straggled up to an eminence near by, and who from their elevated position, commanded a full view of the road leading into town, discovered a three-mule wagon approaching, “crammed chuck full” of musical instruments, and gentlemen who had a strong aversion to walking. “It’s the Philharmonics” Its the Philharmonics!” shouted a host of silvery voices; “Oh, now for a dance!” “Where’ll we have it?” “Up at the house on the hill,” was the pleasing answer; and away many of the ladies too, leaving ye local standing solitary and alone on the banks of the miniature lake, seriously inclined to forsake the rough and monotonous realities of this wicked world, and jump right into – not into the lake – didn’t have any such foolish idea – but plunge right into the midst of the happy throng, who were “tripping the light fantastic toe,” and feel as in days of yore, when were, too, knew naught of the busy cares of this life. But we soon found good company, and whiled away the evening as happily as circumstances would allow. All finally began exhibiting evidences of fatigue, and the party returned, all delighted with the pleasures of the day.
The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.), 05 May 1866, Page 3. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.