Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-04
CH|LDREN'S GAIA DAY
Easter Egg Rolling at the
White House.
LARGE CROWD PRESENT
CUSTOM INDULGEDoIN THROUGH
OUT THE DISTRICT.
Visitors Watch Little Ones at Sport
Marine Band Concert This
Afternoon.
LARGE CROWD PRESENT.

=" hSii Oio COi StuCh HIS ilOSe dDONe lie
horizon in the east this morning and observ-
ed a cloudless sky, he smiled and has re-
manned IN happy mood throughout this en-
tire Easter Monday, to the great satisfae-
ton of thousands of little ones who have
been looking forward in happy anticipation
to the annual Easter egg rolling on the
grounds of the White House and in other
places throughout the city and District.
For days past mothers have been prepar-
ing eggs of many hues and shades for the
children to roll and PICK and break and eat
on Easter Monday, and Since early this
morning all lanes have led to the White
House grounds, which, in accordance with
the annual custom inaugurated many years
ago, were thrown open at o'clock and
given up entirely to the children and their
nurses for days romp.
Just when the custom Of rolling eggs at
Easter Logan is not definitely known, but
certain 1t Is that judging from the scenes
enacted at the White House today the chill
dren of the earlier days could not have de-
rived half the fun or pleasure out of the
sport as does the up-to-date child whose
habitat is in the capital of the nation.
Last Easter on account of the bad
weather the grounds We're not opened for
egg rolling, but the glorious weather of to-
DAY has made up for that disappointment,
and since early morning there have been
thousands of little ones, accompanied by
their parents and nurses not only rolling
eggs and rabbits but rolling themselves
down the grassy green lawns and having
the time of their hves.''
On Hand Early.
Many of the children were on hand out
side the gates long before the hour sched-
uled for the opening. They came early,
with baskets of many colors, filed with
eggs of many hues. There were blue eggs
and red eggs, orange eggs and variegated
eggs, striped eggs and plain eggs, real
eggs ana candy eggs; eggs with rabbits
in them and eggs filled with candy. In
fact If the ordinary barn yard fowl could
have seen the fanciful pictures made of
it's product they would have thrown up
their wing and cackled: What have /
come to? Can it be that these eggs were
laid In neStS?''
But eggs were not all the baskets con-
tanned. There were lunches of substan-
tails and lunches of sweets and good eS
Many of the children had come from dis
lance and had come prepared to make the
best of the one great day in the year
when the grounds of the White House were
thrown open for their sole pleasure and
they did so. Many who came as early as
0 o'clock remained until they were tired
and worn out late in the afternoon, when
for a nights rest, to dream, of the day
spent in happily rolling eggs as only Wash
ington children know how to roll them.
1t was not so. however, with all the chill
broken all their eggs. and. grown tired of
the sport, went home fora bite to eat at
noon, to return again in the afternoon to
again engage In the sport.
Crowds Come and Go.
All day long every, er,trance TO the White
House grounds was efewasd-with people
going in, many times as many entering the
grounds as those whosleft until ats O clock,
when the grounds were thrown open to the
grown folks. there was at one time hardly
room enough to move, thus proving the
wise forethought that provided that the
morning hours should be. devoted exclusive
ly to the little ones who were accompanied
by their parents or nurses. Unless grown
person was accompanied by child it was
impossible for that person to enter the
grounds until o'clock.
In accordance with his usual custom
President Roosevelt and the members of
his household are expected to view the
pleasing scene from the rear portico of the
White House during the afternoon.
1t was very noticeable fact that, al
though the White House grounds were
crowded throughout the entire day with
children of all sorts, descriptions and kinds,
the best of order prevailed, and there
was an air of happy good humor through
out the entire gathering: Children who had
many eggs gave to children that had few
eggs; children that had rabbits or goodies
or sweets shared with those that cared to
accept their hospitality. Mothers who the
DAY before ndQ not seen edCn otHeT .CUdt-
ted away in happy familiarity over the
games and pleasures of their children. Mr..
Newfather was there with his first born in
a carriage, and Mr.. Happyfamily had as
many of his little brood as possible clinging
to his hands, while the balance chung to
his coat tails.
Scene Absolutely Unique.
Egg rolling day at the White House in
variably presents a scene that is absolutely
unique. and trat OF today was no exception.
These Easter Mandoy pleasures attract
thousands of strangers who happen to be
visiting friends in the city and many from
the outside who stopping in the hotels.
This morning there was quite as large
crowd of grown folks on the outside of the
White House grounds there was on the
inside. They had come to watch the sport,
and they hung on the fence rails for hours
watching the happy frolics Of the little
ones. Then, too there were the fakirs with
their toy balloons their Dummies and candy
eggs, the popcorn man and the peanut ven
der to entice the pennies from grown-ups
and little ones alike. This, too, was
jolly crowd, in happy good humor
The Marine Band will arrive at the
grounds this afternoon at o'clock, and
give an open-air concert until o O'Clock.
A program of popular airs has been ar
ranged by Director Santelmann for the oc-
casion. Many of the children have been try
ing to save some of their eggs to roll to the !
music of the band, but it is hardly likely
that they Will De dDl6 TO 90 50 vi dCCOuut
of the vast throng of people that 1t is ex-
pected will attend the concert If prediction
may be based upon the custom of former
years. .
At any rate whether they are able to roll
more eggs or not, 1t Is safe to say that all
of the little ones and many OF the parents
and nurses will go to their homes at sun
down with the consciousness of having
spent thoroughly enjoyable day.
All egg rolling in the District is not con-
fined to the White House grounds by any
means. At the Capitol children gather i
and throughout the city wherever there is
a hillock + a vacant lot with rising ground
little ones may be seen gathered In small
bur ches rolling and picking their eggs,
while at the Zoo many have spent the en-
tire day picnic fashion. devoting part of the
time to egg rolling and a part to visiting
the animals.
In Anacostia.s5
Egg rolling was INDUCED in the Ana
costa district, where for number of years
children have assembled each Easter Mon
day for this practice. Old Fort Stanton
accommodated many, as usual. while Others
went to Congress Heights. At the former
place, according to custom, there were sew
eral eve,4ts of an amusing nature, consist
ing of games on the green, with several
base ball matches. Several hundred people
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