St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1904-04-13
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
IFrom our regular correspondent


Ega Rolling ai fhe White House-Rus-
sian Oak Planted in White House
Grsunds-senator snaeos's Trial-The
Constitutional Congress Cavalry
Drills.
Easter Sunday was pleasant day
and universally observed in the various
churches by appropriate music and a
great abundance of ported palms, ferns
and lilies adorned the pulpits and plat
forms.
For weeks past the children OF the city
had anticipated Easter Monday with
much pleasure. for upon that day the
White House grounds are thrown open
to them to romp and play and roll eggs
down the billy erninences in the rear of
the buildings. At an early hour in the
morning many children under the charge
of their parents or nurses. with baskets
filed with bright-colored eggs, found
their way to the grass lawns and en-
ioyed themselves. You would see black
and white, little dots and larger chill
were open to the public later in the at
ternoon, when the Marine Band dis
coursed music and at 4 p. m. President
Roosevelt and attendants appeared on
the south piazza and bowed and bowed
to the assembled company, greatly to
the delight of all. Soon Mrs. Roosevelt,
dressed in light blue silk, appeared with
some of the cabinet ladies and the chill
dren of the President and their friends.
One dressed in continental costume, like
a little George Washington, pleased the
children, and some boys thought that
they looked as if they wished they could
come down and roll eggs also. 1t was
large democratic crowd.
Many strangers are now in the city
from all parts of the United States, for
it is a favorite time for excursions before
Congress adjourns, so the strangers
were delighted to see the President and
family. The entrances to the grounds
had an unusual number of policemen in
attendance, and one said he estimated
that there had been about $4,000 there
during the day. We have not enjoyed so
delightful an Easter Monday for years,
for we have often had storms and the
grounds would be so drenched that the
children could not observe the day
there. Crocuses are now appearing in
the flower beds of the parks, and the
showers are making the grass grow and
look bright and green.
Years ago Charles Sumner sent the
Gar of Russia some acorns from fine
oak tree which hangs over Washington's
tomb at Mount Vernon. They were
planted in the grounds of Peterhof pal
ace in st. Petersburg and one grew to
be majestic oak. Secretary Hitchcock,
in 1898, when there picked up handful
of acorns and planted them in his home
in Missouri, and one of these saplings
was planted in the White House grounds
by the President lately.
This is great time now for petitions
and requests for vegetable and flower
seeds. Senators and Congressman are
allowed II, 500 packages-5OO packages
of flower seeds. You know these latter
by the lavender labels. Although there
have been protests made against such
lavish distribution, Congressman like to
remember their constituents, especially
the farmers, who carry votes. In the
Agricultural Department buildings you
see bags of potatoes and all kinds of
vegetables for distribution. Nearly
$4,000 is allowed, I heard, each ses-
sion for an appropriation for this pur-
pose by Congress.
1t is reported that the investigation of
Senator Shoots right to a seat in con-
gress will be continued this month
Pres. Smith was allowed to return home
to attend to his business and a cartoon
in one of the newspapers represented his
five wives and 40 children all assembled
r at the station ready to give him an en-
brace of welcome. 1t is claimed that he
has Fl boys and p girls.
The question of city gardening has
been agitated to quite degree. It has
been suggested that poor people would
be glad to raise vegetables and flowers
on vacant city lots to sell and also it
would teach them to be industrious.
Mr. Sanborn. superintendent of parks
for the District, had raised on the Po-
tomac flats, 20 years ago, some buck
wheat, small vegetables and sunfowers
and found the ground was fertile.
The Festival of Nations. which was
given here was great success. 1t was
held here for the benefit of the Junior
Republic. Mrs. (Senator) Fairbanks is
president of the society. The ball rooms
at Ranschers were given for the occasion
for two days and many fancy articles
and flowers also. Some of the foreign
diplomats took part and helped in the
foreign booths. There was a German
garden, Turkish room, North Pole booth,
Japanese, Scandinavian, Chinese and
French. The guests were asked to write
their names with pen that belonged to
the president and the ink that came from
Ex-Speaker Reeds ink bottle.
The government Snnnl1eS each