The National tribune., 1900-04-19

out form and void, that the egg of creation
fioated on the sea of chaos. and, after
many days of termination, love broke the
shell and became the harmonious element
which brought forth form and order.
In the olden time there was feast Of
the Teutonic Goddess Ostera Gin the An
glo-Saxon Eastre, whence naturally comes
our Easter). the Goddess of Spring, and
the Anglo-Saxon name for April was Easter
Month.
The pagan worship of Ostera was firmly
rooted in Northern Germany, and was car
ried from there into England and Scotland
by the Saxons.
The early Christians could not do better
than to change these pagan ceremonies
into religious festivals. This was easily
done with this feast, for it was joy at the
rising of the Son of Righteousness, the
resurrection of Christ.
Various ceremonies, sports and games
have been in times past indulged in and
characterized the day, and many of the
customs still prevail over the world. That
of making presents of colored eggs was
once very prevalent, eggs being considered
symbolic of the revival of nature, the
springing forth of life. The custom of
distributing Easter eggs is still observed
in different parts of England by the peas
antry.
In Scotland. where the festival has been
suppressed for centuries, the children still
roll and toss about hard-boiled colored eggs.
In Christian countries, from the fourth
century, the Church prohibited the use Of
eggs during the 40 days of Lent. 1t is told
that. as the heretical hens did not cease the
laying, large quantity of eggs accumu-
lated, and at the end Of the fast these
were usually given to the children. After
the eggs were boiled hard and dyed in va
rious hues, inscriptions and designs were
traced on them, and those thus ornamented
were exchanged, something after the fash
ion of the valentine custom.
On Easter Monday even the Clergy in
dulged in the delights Of egg rolling and
ball playing in which men, women and
children reveled. The sport ended in strik-
Eng the eggs on" against another, and the
egg that broke was won by the owner of
the one that struck it. Immediately an
other egg is pitted against the winning
egg, and so on until the last remaining
egg wins all the others which have before
won. This is termed egg picking"
1t is more than probable that the Scotch
element that first took possession of these
fair hills and beautiful valleys in the name
of George III. brought with them this time
honored custom. The same festivities pre-
vail to-day in parts Of Scotland
One Of this number was a man by the
name of Pope, whose possessions embraced
what is now Capitol Hill. He called il
Rome. A little stream that flowed at the
foot OF the hill bore the classic name OF
Tiber, and the proprietor was known as
Pope Of Rome.
Then, all Washington knows of Davy
Burns, who owned part of the widows
Mite" which Gen. Washington had to ne
gotiate for. On this purchase stands tn,
Patent Office, the Post Office, and all be
tween. His Scotch descendants are wei
known, and the Burns cottage, until a few
years ago, stood a silent witness of tn,
Easter egg rolling in the White Hous,
grounds.
This festival has been celebrated il
Washington as far back as the memory
of the oldest inhabitant," and nowher,
else has ii assumed like proportions.
Until few years ago not only was In,
south lawn OF the Presidents grounds civ
en- over TO the children for this holiday
but the Capitol grounds also We're file
with the merry egg rollers.
The early morning found the street
leading to the Capitol and White Hous
grounds filled with children vending thei
way hither, with baskets in hand file
with eggs of many colors. They came tc
gether singly and in pairs-whole familie
at times-and the sport began. A merr
group Of youngsters would set a score {
tri-colored eggs rolling zigzag down tn
terraces, and they would make the welki
ring with shouts and laughter as the rae
quickened, frequently followed by som
child rolling after, and as often overtakin
or rolling over the prismatic train, presen
ing at the foot a Joseph's coat of man
colors.
They did not turn their faces homewar
till the last rays of the setting sun tippe
the Comanche feather in the cap of Colum
bia, who had silently watched from he
high outlook happy childhood's innocen
4 revelries.
But, alas! there came day when tn
discovery was made that soft, velvet,