YARMOUTH is not a happy place for a picnic. A picnic…
““YARMOUTH is not a happy place for a picnic. A picnic should be held among green things. Green turf is absolutely an essential. There should be trees, broken ground, small paths, thickets, and hidden recesses. There should, if possible, be rocks, old timber, moss, and brambles. There should certainly be hills and dales, – on a small scale; and above all, there should be running water. There should be no expanse. Jones should not be able to see all Greene’s movements, nor should Augusta always have her eye upon her sister Jane. But the spot chosen for Mr Cheesacre’s picnic at Yarmouth had none of the virtues above described. It was on the seashore. Nothing was visible from the site but sand and sea. There were no trees there and nothing green: – neither was there any running water. But there was a long, dry, flat strand; there was an old boat half turned over, under which it was proposed to dine; and in addition to this, benches, boards, and some amount of canvas for shelter were provided by the liberality of Mr Cheesacre. Therefore it was called Mr Cheesacre’s picnic.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The narrator describes an ideal picnic setting rich in nature, then contrasts it with a bleak seaside location, highlighting the mismatch.
In simple terms: Ideal picnic needs green, varied terrain and water; the actual site lacks these.
Key Takeaway
Choose settings that match the activity’s spirit.
Themes
nature
environment
expectation
Mood
descriptive
critical
Type
narrative
explanatory
When to use this quote
- planning events
- outdoor activities
- environmental design
Key Concepts
aesthetic
place
contrast
Questions to Reflect On
- Can a picnic succeed without nature?
- What compromises are acceptable?
A Different Perspective
Practical constraints may force suboptimal choices.