Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-21

shiny redness, and in Immediately white
and stiff pinnfores that will be sadly discol-
ored and limp before the day is donol Tots
in matched dresses and little pink toes peoping
through their shoes, but happy as chipmunks
on an autumn dayi Pickaninny tots, with
faces M blnck as Michigan soil, hopping aud
skipping with understandable geel Smuich
faced totsl Garterlcss tots, with Stockings
hanging down. But all Of them dein1ously
happy tots
it is Easter Monday in Washington, and
the children arc on their way to the White
House grounds to spend the day.
The children Of Washington have m
genuinely enjoyable time on Easter honc
than during all Of the Christmas hohda.
They look forward TO it as the greatest event
of the wear. True, during the Christmas
season they arc given any amount CT plum
pudding, mince pic, turkey aud pink aud
yellow candy, but the close Of the festivities
usually finds them in a condition OF satiated
disgust and they secretly wish the thing were
over.
Easter Monday does not consist IN tho
munching OF indigestiblcs. II Is simply
grand romp on tho undulating lawns sur
rounding the mansion Of the nations presi-
dent
Washington Is always beautiful in the
Easter season. Tho rains of the carly spring
have ceased, and tree and flower have sud-
denly burst into bloom. Tho air Is filed with
the perfume Of the hyacinths That arc 50
plentiful In the parks, and the lilacs, dande-
lions and snowballs insert their rich colorS in
the most radiant spring kaleidoscope % DO
sean in the United States Tho grounds sur
rounding the White HOUSE are beautiful in
design and coloring, and the spectacle Of
Thousands Of children dancing over them,
batbed in the warm light of tho spring sun, il
one Of exquisite picturequsneSS The groups
Of toddlers extend as farover as tho Washing
ton monument which looks like a gigantic
marble finger pointing into spaEe. Most Of
the children are with tho parents or nurses,
but il requires tho most careful watching TO
keep the young ones from getting lost in tho
ever moving crowd. The children, most Of
whom are provided with little fancy basket
of variously colored eggs, roll them down the
slopes Of tho many mounds on the grounds,
and when they are broken they distribute
them among the numerous ragged bOotblacls
and homeless urchins who stand around end
eat an enormous number Of eggs without
turning hair.
In this common playground al distinctions
Of race, color and previous and present con
dition are razed to the earth. Tho before
mentioned aifiuent tots will roll and romp
and crack eggs With the contingent from
Toddledom In Swampdoodle (onc Of wash
iugtons rough SPOTS, and before tho Day is
over their mothers are talking coniidentiaiy
together, comparing the various points Of
their progeny.
The lady OF tho White House usually min
giles with the children for an hour or so on
Easter Monday. Nellie Arthur, tho dsugh-
ter Of the late ex-President Arthur, used to
take part in the egg rolling games herself.
Mrs Cleveland always mnde 1t point to bs
among tine children on the White Lot on
Easter Monday, and would amnse them and
coddle and coax them with a skill that was
tho admiration Of all tho newspaper CORE
spoudents in Washington.
The spectacle OF this most beautiful Of
White House mistresssS carrying a little
ragged girl on her shoulders, or taking a
bunch Of violets from her dress 10 givo 20 a
little boy who asked for them, would mako
striking enough pictures to hang on the walls
Of the executive mansion When Gen Grant
was president 10 used 10 stroll out 10 a bench
In the White Lot, where he would sit, putting
at a cigar and watching the antics Of the
children Tho fun Is kept up without cessa-
ton from early morning until darkness be-
gins TO fall, when the children, thoroughly
played ont, but with n healthy glow in their
checks are marched of to hons and 10 bed.
1t takes some days for the gardeners of tho
IA la Cf a1rtr
shells
1t is not In tho White Lot alone that these
Easter egg rollings take place, but in all Of the
larger parks of tho city. The spacious grounds
surrounding tbs Capitol used 70 be a great
place for tao children, but the great marble
terrace which is now being completed has
spoiled the hill for egg rolling.
CLARENCE /. CULLEN.