Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-09
ROLLING EASTER EGGS.
The Wav in Which the Washington
rows Fpioyed Eaater Monday

The Wav in Which the Washington
Roys Enjoyed Easter Monday.
WAsmNGToN, APRIL 6.-The curious
Washington custom of rolling Easter
eggs was more generally observed to-day
than ever before. Nobody knows when or
by whom the custom was introduced, but
the oldest inhabitant cannot remember
when the children of the town did not roll
eggs on Easter Monday down the slopes
of the capitol grounds, and have a high
time generally. In recent years the
long sloping hills have been broken
into terraces. and it was found
that these We're so badly trampled bv the
thousands of little feet that the sport was
forbidden on the capitol grounds. Six or
eight wears ago the children moved on the
White House and got permission to r0lN
eggs down the grassy ku0lis back of tae
mansion. The little hllocks there did
not compare with the Od-time hills down
10y the capitol, hut the boys say they have
Just as much fun. The egg-rolling has
become mere incident to most of them
and the day is enjoyed as a sort of picnic
on the grass.
This Easter Monday was a superb day.
The sun shone in an unclouded sky and
the air was soft ard balmv. The Ground
was dry, and green Velvetv turf covered
the knolls. The schools had a holiday.
and early in the morning the children,
white and black, of both sexes and OF all
ages down to the babies carried by nurs :.
began to flock to the " hte House. Lunch
baskets, bass and pockets bulged with
manY-color Il eggs. Dozens OF eggs came
to grief before they lad a chance 10
roll down hall The darkies especi-
ally could not resist the tempta-
ton 10 challenge one another en- route to
pick eggs, as they called 1t. This game
consists in sharply tapping the points
and butts OF eggs until one egg or the
other is cracked. The boy who holds the
sound egg wins the other. BY noon /. 900
boys and girls We're rolling eggs or eating
them, skipping ropes, running races. and
tumbling about on the White House
grounds. BY the middle of the afternoon
the number was doubled, and hundreds
of visitors. who had come to enjoy the
novel sight, were added 70 the multitude.
The President paused several times in
his work TO step to the library window and
ENJOY the pleasing spectacle, hut later in
the day be was compelled TO beat a re-
treat before the Juvenile army He had
gone down 10 the East room. according 10
his usual custom. tO shake hands with the
adult visitors who had come 20 pay re-
spects, when a sharp-eyed boy near the
doorway detected the movement. ~ say.
Teddy shouted the urchin % an esq
smashing companion in the distance,
"lets pay respects 90 de President"
The whole playground rose up as one
Jhoy and broke for the front door.
The room was filled to sunocation
in twinkling. The Pres dent
was dismayed for The first time az the
hand-.haking ordeal before him. lie
started in brayely and shook hundreds of
grass-stained and soilcd little fists. But
it was tir--ome work bending over SO far
ana he grew tired Before the juvenile
rear guard had got mp the front steps Mr..
Cleveland had disappeared from view.
much to the disapproyal OF the EGG rollers.
The White House grounds at dusk looked
as ~ "a drove of Texas steers had broken
into them and had seen followed by a hail
storm. But few DAYS of spring viii re-
pair the rayages, and the boys had lots of
fun.