Show A WINTER PICNIC IN ARIZONA on the 3rd ard of february bros geo gadard and karl 0 maeser visited mesa in the interest of church school ac boole sunday schools and improve ment after a number of very beij joy able aud meet lugs inga we decided to have a picnic ex before they left that they might h have ato an 0 opportunity port unity to the scenery and climate of our beloved arizona which we consider co a choice anti and a favored land accordingly by 9 a m on the aith of february dary the streets were sistar with vehicles well loaded with people cfall of all ages prepares pre parea to turn their backs upon jeaa for a daya outing we traveled to in a northeasterly direction for about ton ten miles when we topped at the toot of a knoll or small mountain finding the he starry flag already unfurled by those who had bad preceded us after pleasant conversation we were favored with musical selections ions by be abe mesa choir chair and also by the mesa brass band Bitin lunches were spread upon the grass grams of which all partook with relish that being finished we were called upon to pass a certain point in turn that we might be numbered the fhe result showing about souls there there were seventy two vehicles and a number of horseback riders we then climbed the mountain from tie top of which we obtained a splendid view of the country fur for miles around A few miles to the north we saw mcdowell moun mountain tafil and tu to the southeast superstition mountains where our famous gold mines are located at our feet the landscape as an far as we could see was level and dotted over with giant or sentinel cactus this land when irrigated and put under cultivation will be as good agricultural and fruit land as any in the world when there were about of us on the mountain our stake president christened it the goddard maeser bettein butt but tein in honor of our distinguished visitors the christening was sane atoned by three rousing cheers from the assembled company after which brother goddard favored us with bis big song beet beat crop prot prof masser maeser was made wiser by witban with an arizona debolle pronounced aboya a species of and be decided to keep his hands bands oft off them hereafter when we descended to the camping ground sixteen little girls performed the doll drill and we were again entertained with music and remarks from our oar visiting brethren who are thoroughly delighted with our country and our climate we then voted the picnic a grand success and starts i for home no doubt it will seem strange to our friends in the north and east to hear bear of an outdoor picnic at this season of the year and they would be still more surprised if they could have been with us to see for von there were calico dresses dreams sun bon bonhote bonne note tf boys in their shirt sleeves and bables babies and 11 little t girls girle without any wraps while spreading lunch many of us wished we had bad brought parasols to shield us from the be bet rays of the sun but in the enjoyment of the lu in nob nab we soon forgot the discomfort of toe the hot sunshine and enjoyed ourselves to the ut most throughout the day our meetings day and eveni evening were held bola in a thin frame building without fires arco and all were comfortably warm the attendance was wan at least a thousand souls at each of five mett logo inge there were goot gentlemen lemed and ladies indies with us who were not or our faith and they were very attentive and a spirit of peace and harmony prevailed in out our when brother goddard at length called fur for a vote from those who would try to abstain from round dancing it was very generally responded to we feel that we have been richly blessed by their visit and that our have been fed with the bread of life the word of wisdom was preached to us and accepted by most of us and it was a noticeable fact that at our picnic oi of more than half bait a thousand souls snore here was not a abiff of tobacco smoke a drop of liquor need nor a word of profanity norbina occurred to mar the happiness bapp inesM of the oc occasion caston A SMITH |