Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-28
ROLLING EGGS AT EASTER.

Originally . Scotch Custom-SOme Inter.
esting Points About 1t.
ssTHE CUSTOM OF ROLLING EGGS ON
Il Easter Monday, peculiar to this vicinity,
is of Scotch origin" said Prof. Otis T. Mason
to . STAR reporter. 1.-THE region hereabout
was originally settled by people from Scotland,
and in that country during very early times
it was the fashion at Easter to roll bannocks
down hill for fun. Bannocks are wheel-shsped
coarse cakes make of oats, and in the ancient
days they were a staple food amongScottishf folk
Subsequently the eating Of this homely fare
went out of fashion in the old country, and
eggs we're substituted for rolling purposes.
when the Scotch settled here they brought
this curious custom with them, and ii still sur
wives. Years ago, when was a boy. eggs were
rolled on Easter Monday on every sunny hill
side that was appropriate to picnicking in
Warrington and Its neighborhood. well re-
member that not only the children, but tho
older people, also joined in, the sport, and it
was quite the thing for loving couples to roll
Sometimes one would hold an egg at the bottom
of the declivity, trying to catch the others egg
upon it as the latter descended. At other
times there would be little bets made--of a
kiss, philopena, or sewe such trife-as to
whose egg would reach the bottom first. There
was more fun in it than in any thing equally
absurd and unimportant that know of.
"An these things ! myself have done once
upon . time. There was an old gentleman,
remember, who had farm some distance from
out there. at his invitation, to roll oggs being
RECALLED afterward upon fresh milk and other
dainties OF a rural nature.
CONFINED TO WHITE HOUSE GROUNDS.
But, as tho city grew, people came who had
no sympathy with such simple pastimes.
Roughs frightened the children away from the
old egg-rolling grounds, so that the hills which
in days gone by had afforded them sport were
deserted. and one pleasant spot after another
saw the Easter Monday .picnickers no more.
Half dozen years ago the rolling was only
done on Capitol Hill and in the grounds of the
Executive Mansion. Then it so CHANGED that
one year. when the Capitol Hill had been newly
sodded, the children spoiled the fresh turf and
the Senate voted that there should be no more
rolling of eggs on those premises. SO now the
fun is confined to the rear of the White House,
where next Monday. if the weather permits,
you may see the infants and their nurses dis
porting themselves merrily. President Harrison
sympathizes heartily with the egg-rolling idea,
and he sees to 1t that the Marine Band lends
its tuneful aid to the festivities. When an egg
is broken the proper thing is to eat it, with a
due seasoning OF salt and, if possible. pepper"
At this season anything that savors Of the
Easter idea is popular. In store window are
some newly Matched chicks, and some ducks az
well, taken care Of by two motherly hens in
coops, while the little ones scamper about in q
lively way and hunt for food in the sods of grass
that make an artificial run for them. Water
from mill run by clockwork flows in steady
streamlet into a pond, where the ducklings 60
swimming. There is q crowd all day long
about the window. Another crowd Is gathered
at the window Of florist on 14th street, where
a scene with children rolling eggs il shown in
flowers.