Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-31
THE FESTAL HOLIDAY
THOUSANDS RsvEL IN THE SPORTS
PERFECT EASTEf-MoNDAY.
Children Play Games, Men and Boys Go
Fishing. and All Have Good Time
Many Celebrations.

II was q perfect discretionary and
thousands found pleasure in the sports of
the festal holiday.
The face Of the sun was unclouded and
the great orb's countenance was wreathed
in smiles indicating how happy it was to
greet the inhabitants of the mundane
ball on the joyous anniversary.
Sunday had boen bright, beautiful day,
and yesterday was its exact counterpart,
except that the atmosphere was rather
more balmy and offered most cordial In
vitation to the juveniles 10 venture out.
They accepted willingly and with great
unanimity.
The public schools were closed, many
workshops were not in operation. there
was not the usual activity in business, and
rs result tho streets, parks, and electric
cars and other public carriers of precious
freight were crowded from morning until
night.
Perhaps not since Christmas owe have so
many ladies been seen on Broad street IN
the forenoon. The rich and the poor. the
proud and the lowly. the elegantly-attired
mistress of the house Of luxury and the
| neatly dressed wife or daughter of tho
honest man Of labor all mingled in the
beamed with cheerfulness and JOY.
The tastefully-arrsnged 'show-wiDdows,
especially those of the mIlliner, proved
sources Of endless attraction for ladies who
fingered and admired.
HUNDREDS OF HAPPY CHILDREN.
And the children In particular-how
happy they were Before the grown folks
were awake well, the little ones were up
and hustling around, determined to make
the most of their Easter vacation. one half
of which Fridays storm had practically
robbed them of.
Their smiling faces abounded on every
hind, and long before the usual school
time they could be seen making their way
10 the various parks. In this direction the
Capitol Square seemed to be the choice,
although the Old and New reservoirs,
Monroe, Libby Hill, Chimborazo. and Gam
ble's Hill were not neglected.
The beautiful slope Just south OF the
Capitol building was especially favored
and hundreds thronged there all day. the
girls being largely in the majority. Egg
hunting, egg-rolling, and other innocent
pastimes were INDUCED in and they had a
splendid time.
WENT A-F1sHING.
A great many of the boys. not to be re-
creant TO the inbred traditions, hunted up
their poles and lines and HE'D them to the
river. Their efforts could hardly be called
successful, and from an inspection OF the
homeward-bound youngsters there seemed
TO be great many more boys than fish.
Many of those VINO went out in boats gave
up angling as a fruitlessj job and amused
themselves in rowing up and down the
river. For obvious reasons there seemed
to be much more pleasure in pulling"
up than down. Blistered hands this morn
ing will tell the tale.
There was, however, one advantage in
fishing Yesterday. 10 was that those who
were indlscreet enough to step into the
water did not get their feet much wetter
than those who stood on " dry" land.
Men and women by the hundred also
whiled away the spring hours on the river
bank or on some OF the rocks and islands in
the james. Mayo's bridge and the island
were especially popular places.
THEY CAME TO TOWN.
From early morning the streets were
crowded by men, women, and children on
holiday bent. Among the throng were
many strange faces, the owners Of which
had determined TO have lively day in the
city ana had come in from the surround
ing country. In most instances they were
IN pairs and seemed TO be ecstatically To-
norant of the fact that they were not the
sole occupants OF the streets.
JOAN AND DARBY WERE HAPPY.
Hundreds of fond parents with their lit
tie ones on the way TO some of the hume
rous Easter festivals were also out, and
every one was SO happy 1t looked as though
Christmas eve had come on March 30th
this year.
THOUSANDS GO RIDING.
The street-cars did an immense business,
especially the Union Passenger railway.
This line carried large numbers to Twenty
sixth and Z streets. whence the train for
Seven Pines took them to the famous bat;
tle-field, which during the day was visited
by hundreds. The other lines also had their
share OF patronage.
One of the noticeable features of the
street-railway traffic was the large number
of babies and happy mothers transported.
In many instances the fathers were along
and spoke of their tender solicitude more
plainly than words, This is my first"
Most of the little infants were good (babies
always arel, but when one OF them so far
forgot itself as to cry the facetious wag,
who so often amuses himself by remark
ing. Put that baby out of the window "
would have found his dudeship III pre-
carious situation.
EASTER EGG-HUST.
A number of celebrations were held yes
terday afternoon by different church and
Sunday. school societies, but perhaps none
of them were more enjoyable than the
Easter egg-hunt given in the parlors of the
Broad-Street Methodist church by the
Young Ladies' Aid Society. The patron
age was quite liberal. The rooms were
very Hastily dressed and their appearance
reflected credit upon the committee in
charge.
the Photographic concert by Professor
Winter, which was greatly enjoyed.
are given by the young ladies to charitable