Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-04-04
= Germany's Easter Canes.


In Germany it is the oster base
easter rabbit who gives the Easter
eggs and all the goodies found in the
Easter nest The nests are made in
various ways: sometimes out OF twigs
interviewer with ivies and those pecu-
liar gilt and silver leaves. laces and
flowers one sees nowhere else but in
Germany. Again. pretty nest shaped
basket is chosen. This, lined with
bright coored silk or cambria and the
outside decorated with paper flowers,
wreaths and bows of ribbon, bits OF
lace and many shining ornaments,
makes very attractive looking nest
for the Easter rabbit.
Inside are goodly number Of eggs
of different colors, also small sugar or
cake rabbits, chocolate lambs, mice
and chickens; CONNECTIONS OF every
queer sort; cakes baked in the shape
of pompous looking soldiers, sailors
or wood choppers; cake women with
funny poke bonnets or caps; sugar
children with all sorts Of odd or fanci.
full dresses; toy animals, fat little
pigs, and plump biddie hens with their
broods Of tiny Easter chicks--all
more or less deliberately decorated
with spice, seeds and fine sugar drops,
nuts, etc. Playing marbles of every
delightful color, size and variety, are
a part of the nests treasures also
books, games and toys, If the nest
happens to be large enough to hold
all.
The eggs are first boiled half hour
or more to make them very hard,
then they are dropped into solution
of cochneal dye, a strong dye giving
deep red color, weaker solution
pink or light red. Blue, yellow, orange
and green in different shades are also
colored by using simply dye stuffs
we'll heated. Sometimes the eggs arc
painted in pretty fancifu designs
specially suited to please the chill
dren.
Early On Easter morning the chill.
dren start on their hunt for the Easter
uest They frolic through the house.
peeping under sofas, chairs, tables
and in odd corners: They scamper
up stairs and down; then out into the
garden they rush among hedges and
grasses, climbing trees, fences and
walls in their eager search.
The child who finds it first cries
Oster Hase, oster base" Then al
the children flock to the spot, eager
81, h..
cunning rabbit that sits upon 1t.
The finder is privileged to take the
nest from It's hiding place and to dis
tribute It's contents among the other
children Everything Is labeled with
the name of the child for whom the
gift is intended, so the division is al
ways amicable. Next to Christmas
ana New Years, Easter Is the most
delightful holiday of the whole year
for the children.
The German children have many
unique games which belong exclusive
ly to Easter. Among them is a game
VI marbles played thus: The Easter
eggs are cut off squarely, perhaps
one.third of the distance from the
broad end They are then set up, say
three or four feet from the wall and
in triangle positions, Three or four
may be set at once. Sides are chosen
II there are more than two players.
Then the children roll their marbles
with n def thuu against the wall or
base board If in the rebound
marble touches one or more of tho
eggs the same become the property OF
the side TO which the marble belongs
Then the opposite side must set up"
and the game is only won when all
the eggs are captured by one side
Candy animals and cake people who
are able To stand alone are often vic.
Tins In this war of marbles.