The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1905-05-18

| 1Hc young girls anu the young
officers formed little groups apart from
there elders, and paid little attention
to the scene on the lawn. The elders
chatted and at times came to the edge
OF the balcony and looked upon the
scene before them as though it was
fete gotten up for their especial benefit.
A small crowd of the people on the
grounds gathered at the rail at the
loot OF the portico, and capped up at
the hostess and her friends, as though
they were there for show, and they
meant to see how they looked, dressed
and acted.
In former times there was not quite
such a display upon the portico of the
official family, although it has always
been the custom for the President and
his family, if at home, to come out
and remain few minutes as though
to welcome his guests, but never be-
fore has there been such show made;
so many elegantly gowned ladies; so
much gold lace of the army and navy;
SO representative group of our aristoc-
racy.
| The President breaches a Simple
life' but his deciples are not among
his own set. He instructs the mothers
OF the nation in their duties, advocates
the family and encourages the mothers
In strict adherence to their duties
to their little ones; now, had he been
at home on last Easter Monday, and
standing on the Portico of the White
House looked down upon the thousand
little ones playing so merrily and
peacefully on his lawn, and seen the
hundreds of young mothers-for the
sport was for the little ones, and the
women gathered there were mainly
young mOthers-would he have stood
calmly by while, acting under the
instruction of Col. BromwelPs who
with his wife was among the invited
guests with Mrs. Roosevelt on the
portico, the police cleared the grounds
at one O'Clock of all present; locked
the gates and turned away all corners
OF the afternoon, while the Marine
Band played to the invited guests and
the general public mingled with the
overflow on the White House lot, out
side the provided grounds.
Once or twice before, an effort has
been made to break up this beautiful
and harmless custom, by refusing the
little ones admission to the grounds,
but this has always created so much
unpleasant criticism and comment,
that those in authority have always
been forced to submit to the demands
of the people that no liberties be taken
with custom so dear to all Washing
tOnians; but never before does the
writer recall, where, without notice
having been given, the woman and
children were driven from the grounds
in the middle of the day.
The only excuse that Col. Cromwell,
who is superintendent of public
grounds, has to give is, that the
thousands of little feet and hundreds
OF big ones, ruin the tender young
grass (for week perhaps;) and the
egg shells and papers and other things
causes considerable expense to put the
grounds in order again.
The Government gives away yearly
millions and millions of packets of
grass seed; it appropriates immense
sums to improve (?) this far from
simple establishment, yet it cannot
stand the strain of a few hundred
dollars for extra cleaning after enter
tanning the citizens on the lawn of the
White House for day though fetes for
the entertainment of their friends is
no unusual occurrence.
AS far as we have any record of the
history of the White House these
grounds have survived this one days
outing of the people of Washington;
but further and further are the people
being excluded from this old Mansion,
and soon, if things continue as they
are now, the populace will never get
more than a glimpse through the
high iron fence of their old beloved
home of the Presidents.