The Washington herald., 1907-04-02
CHILDREN ROLL EGGS
Crowds 0ver-rG1 the White
House Grounds.
"GROwN.UPs" WATCH SPORT
Easter Festival Of WashinEton's
Youngsters Attracts ThrOng of
pectators-weather Changes Just
in Time 10 Permit Annual Merry
Making of Tots-Concert Follows.

President Roosevelt's backyard was
transformed into an overgrown parsley
omelet yesterday. by a horde of Washing
ton youngsters, gathered in hilarious con-
course to celebrate their release from
Lenten restraint in the time-honored
fashion OF chasing hard-boiled eggs down
grassy terraces and spreading the re-
mains over the turf.
/ The weather mans crouch came near
completely upsetting the long g-eherished
plans of the little folk, who have been
keeping all local hens working overtime
for the past few weeks.
Driven eto EIiipse.
True to the schedule, the policemen sp-
pesred at o'clock. on time TO the minute
and began notifying the youngsters and
their guardians that the grounds were to
be cleared Immediately. Slowly and reluc-
tantly the little tots. one following the
other. strolled through the White House
gates ana scattered in All directions The
4 big policemen closed the gates and the
annual Easter egg-roll. under the Presi-
dents window, was at an end
! But this only aggravated the youngsters
they had had their enthusiasm in the
/ game aroused, many of whom were play
/ ing for the first time, and they didn't
want 10 90 home. So over 20 the ellipse
they went, nurses, boys and girls and all
Then the fun was continued. but Il wasn't
as much fun to all of them as it had been
just previous in the green grass of the
Presidents yard
Others went to the Zoo. where every
preparation had been made by Superin-
tendent Baker and his men 10 let the little
ones have a good time So eating the
eggs they had been rolling. viewing the
animals. and rolling other eggs and eating
still others. the afternoon was spent BY
the youngsters Of Washington, poor and
rich alike.
The brand OF atmospheric cold storage
handed out by Uncle Sammy's weather
dealers. was not appropriate for lawn pic
mics. and as a result thousands Of disap-
pointed tots We're forced 70 turn mothers
stair carpets into an impromptu White
Lot, which is a VIGOROUSLY bad thing for
both carpets and eggs. Despite the frosty
air however a goodly crowd OF grown
ups and accompanying noise were allowed
to percOiate through the gates and
spread out over the tree tipped hillOcks.
meant by the landscape gardener to give
an Alpine effect to the view from the
! back windows of the White House.
''Hire" Children 10 Get In.
It had been ruled that during the morn
/ ing session no adults should be allowed in
the grounds without children. Whether or
not this was intended as a slap at race
suicide was not divulged. but at any rate,
the regulation put a premium on the COM
modify and certain wise young business
heads exploited the childIess visitors and
made capital By hiring themselves out as
human passes To the grounds
"Ill be your little boy for a nickle.
would be the solicitation made 10 any cou-
pie or group of adults that drew near the
gateway If the offer was accepted the
professional orphan would proudly lead
his charges through the gate. receive his
fee. and return for future clients The
great majority of the grown-up visitors
who came without infant attachments
were strangers in Washington. bent on
viewing that Easter Monday egg rolling
stunt for which Washington is celebrated
thToughout the land. Such persons would
be only too glad to adapt themselves to
the conditions and accept a brief parental
Office In order 20 gain entrance 10 the
grounds. Hence the professional orphans
Teaped quite a harvest and would have
done stiu better but for the hard-hearted
Interference of the blue-coated guardians
Of the portals, who finally fell 10 the sit
uation. Sheriocked the perpetrators. and
raided the business, causing a decided
slump In the market
Proves Profitable Business.
one of the professional passports was
heard to tell a youthful acquaintance that
he had CLEANED sL4 by his mornings
laboTs.
Oats nuttin'," scornfully replied his
older friend. IF didn't have long pants
on I'd have made er whole lot more'n that.
I made over g last year
Once inside the grounds the visitors
.strolled about absorbed in the enhancing
spectacle OF some few hundred shouting
youngsters pursuing the elusive egg TO the
finish. There were eggs Of all coloTs. ages.
and conditions; hard boiled. soft boiled.
parboiled. and raw; fresh eggs. good eggs.
and just plain eggs; nice plump. firm eggs
that peeled TO snowy whiteness and
formed toothsome mouthfuls for the hun
CRY, and a horrid sort of egg that went
bang as it hit the ground and created
a small panic in it's immediate vicinity.
Picking eggs. formerly a general
pastime among Washington lads through
out the Lenten season, seemed TO be still
in favor among the larger boys and girls.
In egg picking, the challenger halls his
prospective opponent with a cry OF Got
er aig?" If the challenged party responds
I'm the affirmative they produce their
weapons, usually raw eggs with the
hardest shells obtainable I'm the home
pantry through the process of elimina-
ton, and get together. The challenged
one holds his egg In his closed fist, leav-
ing just bit OF the point OF the shell ex-
posed to the gentle tap-tapping OF his op-
ponents egg point. When one shell