The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-17
THE ANNUAL EGG ROLLING.
/. Great Throng of Children Enjos

GrPnf ThronE of Children Enjoy
the sport on the White Lot.
A vast army Of egg rollers, composed Of
the small children OF Washington, otticercd
by their parents and guardians, took the
field early yesterday morning and dehiing
through the passes invested every inch
and corner Of the White Lot. The van Of he
army appeared at the gates Of the White
lot at an early hour and forced the passes
at the first charge without the loss of a
single egg. The complement of the army
continued to arrive by detachments at
every hour Of the day and long line Oi
infantry filed through the gates in con-
tinuous stream. The uniforms Of the egg
rollers was as yari-col0red as their ammu-
milton.
Each detachment on its arrival pitched
its kraeI and taking a commanding posi-
tiou on the summit of some unoccupied
kopje the rank and file prepared for the
bombardment This bombardment. in the
vernacular of their own manual Of arms,
is known as egg rolling.
By right of precedent and time -honored
custom on Easter Monday the White Lot
is surrendered to the large army OF small
inyaders-the children of Washington-tor
their annual egg rolling More than
ever before the children swarmed yester-
day to the White House lawn to avail
themselves Of their privilege. With bas-
kets Of many-colOred eggs juvenile WASH
ington began to assemble on the lawn at
an early hour, and before noon mad gdth-
cred in such force that there was hardly
more than standing room for later comels-
Tb. little ones found their way to he
a. mounds hIFl are
i'm the grounds. and. setting themselves
al once to their game, started their eggs
rolling down hill. On every slope the
bright cOlOred eggs were seen rolling end
over end some times wrecked on the way,
and sometimes escaping destruction IN the
descent The little ones, wild with the
froIic rush to recover their eggs and start
the rolling anew. So the sport continued
through the day varied with egg picking
and such original ideas as the JuVeulIe
mind can create Egg picking is a game
in which the egg roller is well versed. IT
consists in the endeavor of one youngster
IN break with an egg the shell Of another
egg the property Of playmate, or, per
hans. OF an unknown gamester. The re
ward Of success is the transfer of the egg
to the possession of the picker. while
failure means the forfeit Of one Of his
own eggs. The artful ones introduce
china eggs to insure against picking
Down on their knees. rolling heels over
head clean and dirty, well dressed and
ragged black and white the children were
everywhere exercising their privilege. and
eDioyiug unrestraiued the liberties OF the
day.
At . o'clock the lawn was one great
. Laieidoscope. with full $4,000 gayly clad,
. continually moving, persons. children ana
elders. The lawn itself by this time, was
half grass and half yellow yoll Of broken
egps On which the foot slipped uncom-
fortably.
The Marine Band. under the leadership
of Lieutenant Santelmann, started in To
discourse music for the little ones at about
. o'clock. ana games for a time we're sus-
peuded. while the children listened oi
danced on the lawn with uncertain infan-
tile steps.
During an iutermissiCn Of the music
r President and Mrs. Mckinley issued from
the White House, and from the balcony
greeted the multitude with bows Mrs
Mckinley waved her handkerchief to the
children The President and his wife
stood and watched the little ones Tor q
few moments and then retired.
All DAY long the building which is usei
nv the police for lost children was be
siered by anxious mothers and nurses
whose relief was plainly manifested II
the Identification of some stray
The grounds were opened until o'clock
when the command to disperse was given
and reluctantly obeyed by the tired dirty
egg-s,ained urchins, who still were no
content to find their holiday over.