The Washington times., 1902-04-01
Children Overrun White
House Grounds Win
Sun Smiles.
HUNDREDS WERE ON HAND
President Roosevelt's Heirs Early on the
Scene-Retire When Crowd Crows
Small Boy and His Playmates Enthl-
siastic-Music by Marine Band.

In spite Of yesterdays lowering skies
and chill winds. younger Washington en-
Enthusiastically observed its annual egg
rolling day in the grounds back Of the
White House. Children Of every class and
condition were there; from the street
Arab to the small scious of the house Of
Roosevelt
The Roosevelt children were out en- the
lawn early in the day. but they did not
remain long. President and Mrs. Roose-
welt, with a few invited guests. appeared
on the porch Of the White House in the
afternoon and witnessed the scene fer a
short time.
When the gates were opened at 10
O'Clock the children were few in number,
being deferred by the little furry OF snow
which fell about that time.
Sun Came to Cheer.
When the sun finally made its appear
ance. the youngsters came by the hun
dred, bringing with them baskets CT gaiiy-
colored eggs. Later in the day the grown
folks began to arrive in throngs and by
the time that the Marine Band inaugu-
rated its concert. late in the afternoon.
the walks and grounds were so crowded
that the romping space OF the children
was very limited
All the shrubbery and flower plats in
the grounds had been carefully fenced in
by the White House gardeners to save
them from the feet of the enthusiastic
eSg-rollers. There was an extra force
Of policemen about the grounds. but they
found little to do, except make sure that
no one fell into the basin of the fountain
The ubiquitous urchin who throws
Things was much in evidence. Indeed.
among the boys there was more egg
throwing than egg rolling done. several
spring suits suffering thereby The little
girls who confined themselves to tossing
the gorgeously colored playthings down
the slopes seemed to have Just as good
a time. however, as their more strenuous
brothers.
Fun Egg Picking.
Perhaps the boys who had the jolliest
time were the ones with eggs boiled to
an adamantine hardness, engaged in the
ancient sport Of egg picking" A good
buster" would often win for its owner a
dozen or more of the softer kind. each
one with neat little place crushed in
on the small end.
While the little folks romped and played
the older inhabitants OF the Capital City
stood around in sympathetic groups and
recalled their own egg-rolling days.
The fame of the cFE-ruiiing sport on
Easter Monday has spread throughout the
length and breadth of the land, and all
the tourists who are in Washington at the
time make it point to be present. A
party of a couple of hundred teachers
from the Buckeye State who are doing
the Capital this week were present at the
fete yesterday.
Not What It Was.
Through the practice OF the adult popu-
1ation of the town crowding into the
grounds on Easter Monday the festival
has in its latter years lost much of its
distinctive quality as a children's day and
has taken on The air OF a musical con-
cert and promenade.
The programme rendered by the Marine
Band had been selected by Lieutenant
Santelmann. the director with the view
OF pleasing the children. 1t was as fol-
lows: March, Mother Goose" Sousa:
overture, Foster Children" Lindpainter;
poipourri, 'Soldatcske,' SeidenglanZ;
waltz, "Hansel and Gretel." HumDerdinck;
selection, "Florodora," Stuart; lullaby
'Rock-a-bye Baby Canning: caprice
Hearts Message Santelmann; patriotic
hymn, Hail Columbia. Fyles
Gardeners Must Work.
The grounds. after the sport was over
looked as If they had been swept by
storm which precipitated egg shells and
yolks instead of hail or rain. The birds
of the vicinity are making merry with
the remnants. II will take several days
for the gardeners TO restore the grounds
10 an ordinary decree Of cleanliness