The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-04-12

fun enjoyed BY American children
The eggs which figure so conspicu-
ously in celebrations OF the season
are really symbolic Of the new lfe
Of returning spring. and have not nee
essarily any religious significance al
all. The egg-rolling on Easter Mon
day IN the White House grounds. In
Washington began SO long ago the
origin Of the custom is now forgotten
For years il was almost national
institution: then hoodIumism crept IN.
and the increasing clement grew DIS
tasteful to some of the people VINO
had been freQuenJers Of the place
on the whole. though large numbers
90 still cling TO the traditional MORN
ing in the White House gro dnds, WIN
egg shells OF every color sprlnklea
over the grass. the greatest preslise
OF the occasion il past and gone
But the sunny South stin leads IL
is now Atlanta that boasts one OF the
clc4 crest and prettiest iroAcs ever
invented. The park conlin'Ssl2 mes
there ten years ago estdbhsheu an
Easter egg hunt for the children OF
Atlanta FOR several years the eggs
were the genuine hen frulL WITH
shells dyed IN all sorts OF gay colors.
II was a great lark for the KOS, but
the work OF cleaning up the park
afterward was teOIOus job, ana &C
casiOnaUy the dyed smells were
sucked. With unpleasant results, IN
1850 candy eggs WcIe substituted Tor
the hard-boileo k.aU ana tney prom
Use perennial popU--riY-
The morning OF Easier Saturday Is
a great time M -aJiaifJa- Grand Park
is cleared 3f ali visitors and guarded
By police while employees OF the cltS
20 all through the grounds scattering
candy eggs everywhere IN the grass
and shrubberN. Twenty thousand eggs
are thus scattered, while crowas =
children gather all around the edge OF
he mark a-duiVer with eagernesS 10
begin finding and gathering up an TINS
e,7abie wealth. The time of waiting
seems endless, for tie policemen,
though Jolly. are ineNOrable. ana not
a kid gets a premature chance Al the
fun. Then. at the appointed moment
3 band stationed ct the principal en-
trance begins TO play Dixie "a
is the signal Every boy ana girl or
he i've or six thousand starts on the
dead run. The air is full OF yeils ana
nying legs. In about ten seconus So ,.l, :
body has found the first egg; IN nait
a second more somebody else mas
found two. and the excitement grows
every instant hVelieT.
All this implies strong legs. ana oS-
casionaiiv strong arms. TO resist hiSh-
nay robbery. The babies would sland
70 chance AZ ali IN such melee In
order 70 give the very uniest Noutfgs-
ters a snare 81 the goodies a barrei
~ two OF the same eggs are located
at a certain rendezvous. where @hey
arc personally distributed TO small Try
disotlalifed for the scramble
%afurall, enough. IN the excitement
~ the hurt a good many children, 100
Young 30 Keep their bearings. get lost.
Policemen are on the lookout for al
such and take them at once 70
certain advertised meeting place
where mothers or fathers or older
sisters are directed TO look for them
The hunt is over all too soon. II IS
alnazin- row quickly 10000 scattered
candies can be found, snatched up
and put where they will do the mosi
god. or stuffed into blOuses and shirt
fronts for future enjoyment
The Droudest Of all the treasure
seekers Is he who finds one particular
egg. known by its beirs gilded- 1n'
dfscCverer Of the golden egg has thu
additional bliss OF recei ing from th'
official master Of ceremonies "A goa
bIr,essed 10 a compile ely equipped
carriage And from that day forth
unless the goat dies OF oVerpetung
his owner never lacks friends.