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
Of Government. There were some $4,000 of
| him and his sister and his relatives, and
! they exercised the prerogative bestowed
| by the First Congress of Easter Rabbits,
! 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
! ing the Executive Mansion, on Easter
Monday of each year. The constitutional
ty of the above resolution has never been
/ questioned by any resident OF the White
! House and all loyal youngsters took ad-
vantage of the day.
It would seem as though the prosperity
throughout the country had reached the
younger generation. for never before at
the annual egg-r rolling was such wonder
full collection of eggs gotten together. The
|! rainbow and the Easter bonnet were as
nothing in comparison with the hues.
shades. and colOring displayed on the little
oval shells and not 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
scure corners of the grounds. But today
/ all had quota. nor crayed the property Of
| others.
The clouds of the early morning de-
/ layed the gathering Cf the youngsters
somewhat. but by 10 O'Clock they he al TO
pour in from every section OF the city and
camped upon the tops of the highes-
mounds. where the positions for bomtard-
ment we're excellent. Re-enforcemerts be-
gan 10 arrive rapidly. white. black, and
! yellow, and each newcomer carried fresh
ammunition. Some had baskets pi ed high
with eggs OF every color; some were con-
tent with few plain white articles. car
ried in paper bags while whole flocks q
plcanninnieS came armed with single egg
OF rather doubtful appearance. The sly
/ yOungster was content to cram cro,fery
egg into his pocket and like a pirate went
from group TO group leaving sorrCT and
! devastation in. his wake.
! BY noon the bombardmcnt was in full
swing and the pretty grounds presented an
/ animated appearance. The fresh green of
/ the lawns was visible only in dots and
speChs, while children of all sizes and
! ages garbed in as many Colors and man
ners as went into the tailoring of Jo-
seph's coat. romped and ran and wrestIed
/ in great glee. The higher knobs were
! =Oii1 masses al cuuirf1iup 10 and
/ the descent Of an egg was the signal for a
! general charge. in which the egg was plaC-
/ ed hOrs du combat. But the hens of the
/ District have not been selfish of late and
J there were plenty more COlored oyals 10
! replaced those crushed. So ii went hour
| after hour. with the fun waxing warmer
and more furious.
! Some of the more pTecocOuS among the
rollers played at being Beers and English
/ soldiers. the Beers being granted the
privilege of squatting on the tops of the
small kopjes, while the British formed
/ ring at the foot of the mounds. This would
! have proved splendid fun had il not been
! discovered that the ammunition rolled at
/ the British was never returned and the
! Boer5 finally reiterated minus several bas-
! ketiuls Of shells which the cruel British
retained as contra band of war Those
| composing the English forces then charged
: iIAV Tue stem S4At VI tue buiiJS- re-
served mainly by the colored children and
! played at capturing Filpinos. The angry
Tagals resented the charge and drove the
| enemy back with heavy losses OF ammuni-
! ton
| Early in the afternoon the genial
/ warmth brought the older folk to the scene
and by O'Clock the great cxpanse of
| lawns was massed with gayly dressed folk
| of all ages aud conditions. The egg roll
| 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 ! O'Clock the President
with Mrs. Mckinley and several OF the la
| dies of the Cabinet appeared upon the por-
! tico at the rear of the White House to wit
ness the gathering.
This was The Sgual for general salute
Of cheers. applause, and waving Of hand
kerchiefs. and coored ribbons. 1t wss a
pretty scene, and resembed more than an
acre of animated colOrs. After a general
promenade around the walks on the part
of the fair maids and their gallans, ard
spell Of clearing 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 reigned for
time, and the Marine Band bSg gan
splendid programme OF music, which will
last until nearly o'clock. The tired and
happy youngsters will then be trundls d
slowly home. with regrets for the fun
which had passed and with new eXDecta-
tations 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 inquisitve youngsters. A detail of po-
lice from the Third precinct did coed work
and obtained a rare assortment Of lost
children, which were returned TO their
families.
A DINNER TABLE DISPUTE.