Article #179 - Pic Nicks

              Oct. 25 1853

Friend Editress ---   I send the

following for Jo[u]rnal

                        “Pic Nicks”

            The season for “pic Nicks” is passed, & they have flourished plenteously. The opinion of many has been given to the world upon the subject, & many of those opinions have been decidedly down upon “pic nicks.” Some have said nasty things about them. Tis strange people will gossip so much about things which, to say it in plain English, are none of their business. Yet they do, do it. And some of those gossippers have had the effrontery to say around among the neighborhood, that the highly respectable pic nicks of Chester Co. (many of them at least) were attended with shaving saloons, retiring rooms &c, back behind the curtain, now this has been said with a significant wink, as if they meant something. What! Do you dare to cast any imputation upon the Chester Co Pic nicks, got up by the Upper ??Sendom? Who would venture such a thing -- not I No! I would not do it for the world; for did not a good many go to them, that think themselves somebody; & think I would dare say anything uncongenial to their lofty taste. Oh, no! you would not catch me at it. I know which side of my bread is butter. But still it is pertinaciously whispered round by those said gossipers, that all who went behind the curtain come back remarkably garrulous; and then how handsome they could talk to the ladies, and some wickedly said that many got boozy back there during shaving operations. What a funny shaving time there must have been. I do wonder what kind of Soap they must have used. Perhaps it was tinctured with punch essence says one. And another says they did not go back there to get

shaved at all -- they only went for brandy. Another says he saw the bottles & give one a kick, & the brandy run out. If I were one who attended those pick nicks, I would repel such insinuations with my hair standing indignantly on end. What! have Brandy at a pic nic! Why ‘tis a lie bill [libel?] upon every one that was at them. Now Mrs. Editress having told you what monstrous things have been said about the pic nics -- I hope some body will come out & retrieve the fair fame of Chester Co. pic nicks, for Oh horrible I do not beleive [sic] all those ugly tales are true that are told about them. Can they be? Oh no -- Then come out pic nick lover & tell us the truth about the case. We will wait with all patience to hear you speak

                                    A Friend for the

                                    Welfare of the Chester Co.

                                    Temperance Pic nicks