The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-12
Children of All Social Grades and All
Shades Of Color TO Enjoy Their An
nual FroIic on Monday.
CAKEwALKS, ANTICS, FIGHTS
IN WHICH THE PICKANINNIES ARE
THE MOST ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS.
Festival That Is Growing I'm Popularf-
view by President This Year.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE color line
is not drawn at the annual 'egg-rolling"
ceremony of Juvenile Washington in the
White House grounds on Easter Monday.
Social equality is forgotten for the nonce.
and the buoyant spirits OF youth find free
vent in the celebrating exercise OF chas-
ings eggs down the hills and across the
grassy lawns directly south OF the mansion
wherein reside the President and his fam
lily. The whites of the Caucasian race. the
black and tans whose forbears came from
the jungles of Africa. the yellows Of the
distant Orient and the brown-skinned
youngsters from the South American coun-
tries mix up Unfortunately in kicking
screaming. gurgling mass OF delighted and
efferveseent humanity.
While the color line is not drawn, the
coming race war is exemplified on q
small scale by the frequent spats, occa-
stoned by the purloining of an egg. the
Iuckless pickaninny watching sharply for
the .opportune moment. when 10. and be-
hold. little black form shoots out from
behind a tree. pounces upon a gayly coll
ored egg. dashes into a crowd Of darkies,
followed by a bowling white youngster,
backed up by his friends. bent on ''trot-
ting the offender If he is apprehended
The capture effected, plans are at once
made for a fight, the miniature armies line
up opposite sides. hostile moves are
made, and clash is imminent until the
guardians of the peace size I'D the situa-
ton. order is restored. and everything then
moves along serenely until another Incl
dent of a like nature is repeated in another
section Of the White Lot.
This is one of the pictures in black and
white annually presented at the EGG roll
Ing" on Easter Monday. On that day, IL
the sun shines, all roads lead to the White
Lot. During the week previous the eggs
are frescoed all colors of the rainbow,
new frocks are made, and the youngsters
Of Washington live in glowing anticipation
of the grand time in store for them. The
schools take recess, and every youngster
in town, from those who are just able to
toddle to the boy in jumpers, assemblies
In the White House grounds, and to the
gay and tuneful strains of the Marine
Band engages In the most unique juvenile
ceremony that can be witnessed in any
city in the world. Although the custom
is said to be an ancient one, IL has come
to be essentially a local institution. When
ii was imported to the national capital no
one seems to know. not even the grayest
graybeard of the Old Inhabitants Asso-
citation of the District OF Columbia.
MOTHERS ON HAND.
But the games are by no means confined
to the young in Washington. The moth
take part in them. They are wit
messed by the high and the low, the lame
and the halt. the old and the young. the
various strata of society. from the Presi-
dent Of the United States and his family
down the the humblest American SOW
ereign in the service of Uncle Sam. The
foreign diplomats take in the games. and
enjoy them, bringing along their young.
who mix up with the common American
herd and the youthful foreigners enter
into the spirit OF the occasion with the
frivolity of youth that knows no race IL
the day is fine IL brings out the largest
army of children that can be seen any,
where, and probably the best dressed. For
on that day every child is clothed In it's
best bib and tucker, and spring is formally
ushered in with gayety that is decidedly
inspiriting.
Egg rolling at the White House
grounds has been an annual affair here
for many. years. 1t was started long ago.
and so far as is known. until the past few
years, the game was confined almost ex-
clusively to the national capital. Abra-
ham Lincoln, who loved children. found
relaxation at 1t during the dark days of the
civil war, and his favorite son. Tad. was
among the liveliest and most mischievous
of the. egg rollers. President Grants chill
dred frolicked in the back yard of the
White House on Easter Monday. Chester
A Arthur. the exquisite. spent many a
pleasant hour witnessing the antics OF the
egg rollers from the back porch OF the
White House Baby Mckee, the grand
child of Benjamin Harrison. fretted when
denied the privilege OF mixing up with the
''hunch," and on one occasion at least he
was permitted to mingle with the crowds
of children in the White lot The children
of President Cleveland were too young TO
run around during their residence in the
executive mansion, and had to content
themselves with a long-range view from
the porch. President and Mrs. Mckinley
were often delighted spectators OF the egg
rolling games in the White House grounds.
and on one memorable Easter Monday the
President got much interested that he
took a short stroll through the merry
throng President Roosevelt has family
of youngsters, some or whom participated
in the scene i'm years gone by when their
father held subordinate positions in the
service OF Uncle Sam. Last year Teddy.
jr and Kermit insisted upon brief ex-
petition, and ventured to enter the com
petition.
ORIGIN MAY BE ANCIENT.
| There is great interest as TO the origin OF
| egg-rolling. Ii probably dates back 10 an
Gent times. II was introduced in this city
many. many years ago. and has become so
popular here that IL has been adopted in
several small cities In Virginia. The
origin OF the OF the egg,
symbolical OF renewed life. can be
traced back much further than the
early church. 1t has been connected with
| the customs OF the ancient Egyptians Per-
| SLAMS. Greeks and Romans. and IL Is said
that il was the practice among the Parsees
| TO distribute red eggs at their festivals.
| But as TO the practice OF egg-rolling IN
competition. there is little TO show from
whence IL came. .s
"Egg-rolling'' at the White House
! grounds on Easter Monday brings out the