The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-05-19


its up hill and down dale
@ stretches of velvety lawns,
its curvihg paths through aud under
the tardily leatng shrubbery and
trees, its squirting fountains aud arti.
fetal ponds: with the stately old
white mansion-world famous as the
white HOuse"-lor a background,
1anked on either hand by the massive
granite structures of the Treasury aud
the State, War and Navy buildings;
and an outlook southwark over the
wide open fields about the base OF tho
great sky-scraping shaft OF the Wash
lngton Monument, tho shining surface
of the Potomac River and beyond to
the blue-wooded Virginia hills that
meet the sky-such is the free-to-all
playground of thousands of boys ami
girls of "all kinds and conditions"
every Easter Monday.
From early morning, says the
Washington Pathfinder, the little
Easter folks begin to pour in past the
policeman AMI tho candy and peanut
vendors Mt the iron goteways They
all carry baskets and bright hued eggs,
besides their lunches, and are soon
racing about after The pretty oyals as
they roll down the hillocks, or engage
in the somewhat exciting egg picking
contests.
"Got nig?" is tho stock query of
the urchins as they cross each others
paths. And if the one addressed sig
mites his willingness to "plck" in
stnntly group forms while the pick
ers' cautiously test each others eggs
by tapping the ends of the shell on
their front teeth. Then the pick ee
holds his egg tenderly enclosed in one
hand with the sharp ends surface ex-
posed, whereupon tine picker strikes
this spot with the small end of his
egg.
One or the other egg cracks. But
the contest is not yet over. The pick
ee at once becomes the picker. With
the butt of his egg he in turn attacks
the butt of his former assailant's egg.
If one egg then has both ends "busted"
it is duly handed over to augment the
hoard of the stronger eggs owner.
But if each has n cracked end then
it is 'breakeven" and the rubber" Is
played off by the collision of the sides
chance is there, as it is in almost
everything, and egg picking might be
Objectionable on that ground. But
there is an art in Judging the strength
of an eggs shell that would seem TO
bring III the saving grace OF skill. The
loser has to bear the good-natured
leers OF the on-lookers. And so the
groups break and reform.
Before long the ground Is strewn
with broken shells and their white and
yellow hard-boiled contents, for the
little mischief makers can not refrain
from hard throws, and high throws
and throws "all the way, " as the base
bail catcher shouts to the fielder. All
the other lively games such as tag,
rope-Jumping, hide aud seek, and 50
on came in for a share OF attention.
Many years ago Some original chill.
dren conceived the idea of rolling
eggs down the grassy slopes of the
Capitol grounds. And oddly, even so
august person rs the President OF
the United States recognized these
efforts to invent an excuse for an ex-
ira holiday. So, through tho Sup
erintendent of Public Works and
Grounds, he had portion Of the Cap.
ltol terraces set aside for the use of
the deyotees OF this new custom. Year
after year, on Easter Monday the
children assembled in the shadow OF
the great dome, probably never think.
ing that they were tossing about that
triumph OF architecture in embryo
until, in 1875, Congress passed law
torbidding the use OF the Capitol
grounds.
But the sport was not killed, be
cause vacant lots and suburban hills
became makeshIfts until young hearts
were gladdenel two years later by tho
announcement that the White House
grounds were to he given MP to ceg.
rolling, and 10y OF ioysl' the red
coated Marine Bond was to be in at.
tendance. Mrs. Hayes, the wife Of
President Hayes, was the good fairy"
who in 1877 suggested to her husband
the beauty o. having the children of
| tho city at an annual spring lawn
/ party in tho White House grounds.
Since then the Presidents back yard
has been the Mecca OF juvenile Wash
ingtOn every Easter Monday.
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