The evening times., 1900-04-16

The small boy Of the District his sister,
and his relatives, but chiefly the small
( boy. took possession of the White House
| lawn this morning and since O'Clock has
/ held high revelry and rolled Easter eggs
/ into the very cog wheels OF the machinery
I Of Government. There were some y 600 Of
/ him and mis- sister and his relatives. and
J they exercised the prerogative bestowed
I by the First Congress of Easter Rabbits.
1 which unanimously adopted a resolution
/ directing the Presidents OF the United
/ States for all time to come to permit the
! children of the Capital, and their friends,
! to make merry on the grounds surround
J ing the Executive Mansion. on Easter
! Monday of each year. The constitutional
/ ~ OF the above resolution las never been
/ questioned by any resident Of the White
/ Horre and all loyal youngsters took ad-
/ vantage Of the day.
II would seem as though the prosperity
/ throughout the country had reached the
/ younger generation. for never before at
| the annual osgroIliug was such a wonder
/ ful collection Of eggs gotten together. The
0
( nothing in comparison with the hues.
shades, and coloring displayed on the little
| oval shells and not a boy or girl was with
! out share Time was when under less
/ prosperous administrations. the more rag
! ged Of these annual gatherings played the
social highwayman and swooping down up
ON the eggs Of Others made merry in OBJ
I all had a quota. nor crayed the property OF
I Others.
The clouds of the early morning de-
! iaycd the gathering Cf the youngsters
I sOmeU hat but by 10 O'Clock they te.al to
] pour IN from every section OF the city. and
| camped upon the tops OF the highes
| mounds where the positions for bomtard-
meut we're excellent. Re-euforcemerts be
| gan 90 arrive rapidly. white black AID
! yellow, and each newcomer carried fresh
ammunition Some had baskets pi "a high
with eggs OF every color; some were con-
tent with few plain white articles. car
RED IN paper bags. whit whole locks q
picanninnies came armed with single egg
OF rather doubtful appearance. The sly
youngster was content 10 cram a cro.Fery
egg into his pocket and like pirate went
from group 20 group leaving sorrCx and
devastation iu. his wake
By noon the bombardmcut was in full
swing and the pretty grounds presented an
animated appearance. The fresh green Of
the lawns was visible only in dots and
/ suechs, while children Of all sizes and
ages Earbed in as many Color5 and man
ners as went into the tailoring Of Jo-
seph. coat. rOmped and ran and wres;Ied
. in great glCC. The higher knobs we're
solid masses OF suuirmiug Youngsters and
the descent Of an egg was the signal FOR q
I general charge. in which he egg was pIac-
Cd hors du combat. Bul the hens Of the
District have not been selfish OF late and
3 there were plenty more cOlOred ovaIs 10
/ reoiaCed those crushed. So it went hour
after hour. with the fun waxing warmer
and more furious.
some Of the more precoci0us among the
rollers played at being Beers and English
soldiers. the Beers being granted the
. privilege Of Squattiug on the tops OF the
small EopJes. while the British formed a
ring az the foot Of the mounds. This would
have proved splendid fun had it not been
discovered that the ammunition rolled at
/ me British was never returned and the
Bc7r5 finally retredted minus several bas-
. keuuls of shells which the cruel British
/ retained as coDtraband OF war. Those
composing the English forces then charged d
into the western side OF the grounds. re-
l served mainly by the coi0red children and
played al capturing Eilpinos. The angry
Tagals resented the charge and drove the
enemy back with heavy losses OF ammuni-
ton
Early in tue afternoon The genial
warmth brought the older folk 10 the scene
and by O'Clock the great CXpange OF
lawns was massed with gayly dressed folk
/ OF all ages aud conditions. The egg-roII-
! ing had ceased with the destruction Of the
shells and after a basket lunch under the
! trees and on the grass. the children eager
" awaited the arrival Of the Marine Band
which always adds to the pleasure OF the
day Shortly after J o'clock the President
with Mrs. Mckinley and several OF the Ia
dies OF th" Cabinet appeared upon the por-
tico al the rear of the White House 70 wit
ness the gathering.
| This was the igual for a general salute
Of cheers. applause, and waving Of hand
/ keTchiefs aui ColOred ribbons Ii wgs a
pretty scene, and resembled more tnsu an
acre Of animated Colors After a general
promenade around the walks on the part
OF the fair maids and their ga,lants ard a
spell Of cleaning up on the part Of careful
mothers and excited nurses. d general hunt
for the usual batch Of lost children was
begun. When these had been restored by
the watchful policemen. quiet reigued for
I a time. and the Marine Band b-gau a
! splendid programme OF music, which viii
/ last until nearly o'clock. The tired and
happy youngsters will then be trundl.
| slowly home. with regrets for the fun
/ which had passed and with new exDccta-
tatioEs for the day one year hence.
| Major Sylvester. Chief of Police was at
! the White Lot all OF the morning. per-
soaally experimenting the rolling and
! caring for the needs of anxious mothers
and inquisitive youngsters. A detail Of DO
Ice from the Third precinct did coed work
and obtained rare assortment Of lost
children, which were returned to the ir
: families.
A DINNER TABLE DISPUTE.