The Washington times., 1909-04-12
Annual Egg Rolling on the
White House Lawn Most
Fun of All.
EVERYBODY THERE
TO SEE THE SPORT
Marine Band on Hard With Best
Music-Ideal Day Adds to
Occasion.

Even that peculiar but accomplished
lady, the hen-and-a-half who performed
the miraculous feat Of laying an egg
and a half in a minute and a half or
some such time, would feel like
feathered Johnny Hayes in a Marathon,
If she stTutted over to the South end
of the White House grounds tonight
and looked over the lawn where all day
long thousands OF children were among
those present at the Easter Monday
egg-rolling-
There must be at least ten thousano
eggs. or ten thousand red and blue and
green and white things that once were
eggs, lying about the short-cropped
grass under the low-branched shrubs
and trees and floating about in the
fountain basin. Ten thousand eggs is.
Of course. a very modest estimate, be-
cause there must have been at least
that many children, young persons.
middle aged persons ana old people who
wandered into the grounds this morn
ing TO participate in a Washington fes-
tival which is inferior :n fame only TO
Inauguration and the opening Of a new
Congress Since every person. young.
old, middle aged OF just toddling, had
several eggs and since most of them
can easily see that even if the said
accomplished hen were to count care
fully it world take her a very long
time and the ten thousand mark might
quickly be passed
Try the Eggs.
Most OF the eggs stayed right in the
White House grounds. It doesn't take
long for a strong young person, bent
upof, enjoying life and Easter Monday
egg-roIlina 70 the limit to break two
eggs or four or a dozen. If the eggs
are at hand. and IL the young person
has some one or something 10 throw at
The majority OF the young persons
did not come down to the egG rolling
Uitil 10 O'Clock or later, and those who
couldn't get away from business or
social duties in the morning were not
present until this afternoon, when. in
addition 10 the spirited pleS 5ures Of
egg-roliing. playing baseball with
oranges, lemons, eggs, or anything else
round, the young persons had ample
opportunity TO listen TO some fine music
Apparently the boys and girls Of
Washington did not reed tc be told
this morning that the egg-rolling was
| on" BY 10 o'clock the policemen at
the east gate to the south end OF the
grounds were besieged by urcnins ac-
coppanied by parents, little sister. big
SlSk@Es bEOAntFns ana some uE just a
basket Of eggs and their owl nerve.
All Got In.
Tne former had no trouble in getting
within, where the green grass, the
splashiDg fountain, and the neat grav-
elled walks all beckoEed and told Of
sport to come. The last named, the
uTchins with only eggs and nerve, had
work getting in. If they did not look
like proper and quail fed rollers, but
most Of them who really wanted to get
in could later be found rolling eggs
with the best.
The egg-roiling itself was a go-as-
you-please affair. with no prizes only
those OF good health ard a happy lit
tie picnic in the most famous grounds
in the country. II was not confined 10
any particular part Of the White House
grounds, except. OF course, 1t was not
permitted in front. But I'm the rear.
from the base Of the big white building
itself 10 the iron fence that separates
the grounds from the Enipse. there was
"A wide eXpanse OF green, short-cropped
lawn over any part Of which anyone
could roll an egg.
The crowd was gOod-natured, happy
under the mild April sun, and the short
grass with but a bit OF dew on II, Of
| fered an inviting resting place where
mothers could sit and roll eggs to lit
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