The Washington herald., 1909-04-13
THOUSANDS OF TOTS
ROMP ON WHITE LOT
Balmy Day Brings Out Rec
ord Crowd of Egg-rOllerS.
CHILDREN AT A PREMIUM
High Finance Among Youngsters
Who Do Big Business I'm Being
Adopted at So Much Per Adoption
by Adults Desiring to Witness
FuR-3O.OOO Make Merry at Zoo.

Bright skies. a gem breeze from the
outh. and a balmy spring atmosphere
aforded a setting par Excellence for the
Easter Monday egg rolling" on the rear
avn of the White House grounds, the
Grassy slopes of the geological Park. and
he velvety grounds Of the Soldiers Home
yesterday.
The White House grounds was the cen
,Sr of attraction. and. Ike a magnet.
drew a steady current OF children and
heir guardians from every section of
he city Thousands visited the grounds
during the day. and when the last happy
and tired youngster had started for home,
the usually immaculate lawns presented a
kaleidoscopic riot Of color. strewn with
vari-c .lored eggsheIls. and yellow yoIks-
Every boy and girl in Washington
-eemed 10 want to make use Of Mr..
laft's backyard for egg-rolling purposes,
md, beginning at 10 o'clock in the morn
ng. the guardians OF the sacred portals
we're besieged throughout the day by a
,lamoring throng seeking admission. At
-endsnts declared It the greatest crowd
for the occasion in years.
Demand for Children Supplied.
The price of admission for grown folks
--as one or more children. and for the
-hildren some kind Of a guardian And
his arrangement was the source OF un-
2nding perpIexity and trouble to the po-
-icemen who guarded the gates.
According to one policeman. there were
more young mothers and elder sisters
md brothers with clinging offspring than
le ever saw before at one time at pub
&c place. Children were at premium.
nd adults who failed 10 come provided
lad either to temporarily adopt a few
Youngsters OF turn back.
This condition Of affairs gave birth TO
scme frenzied finance methods among the
hundred or more tattered youngsters who
-azed w!stfully through the iron fence.
denied admission because unattended by
guardians.
Realizing the demand for small boys.
this tribe of young Americans decided 10
ne the supply. When a grown-up was
refused admission he was approached by
one Of this little army. who offered TO
5e a relative for the small sum OF 10
rents. Several youngsters did a thriv-
ing business. going in at one entrance
with adopted parents and slipping out
mother 10 look for new childless men or
women.
II took the police some time 20 become
.amiliar with such methods, but when
hey did the trade in adopted parents be-
san 20 fall of.
y Children Have Joyous Time.
Those lucky enough to get inside wit
messed a scene very much akin 10 fairy
land. The green lawns. spouting foun-
tain background Of trees. and. overshad-
owing all the bulk OF the Executive Man
sion. made rare picture. which was en-
HANGED by the myriad children playing
IN the slope, rolling eggs. playing tag.
md giving way to all the exuberant
spirits called forth by the day, the seen
cTy, and occasion.
While the older and stronger children
-aced and played, the younger ones
rolled about in the soft grass and kicked
;heir heels. and for once the dignity OF
he White House grounds was banished
The children came from every quarter
md we're Of all conditions Some poor
others rich; some accompanied by French
governesses trim in their neat uniforms
md some by wee mothers, little older
han themselves.
And there seemed to be eggs for all
Hardly a child was so poor that he or
she did not have at least one or two
eggs. and those who came unsupplied had
no difficulty in supplying themselves, for
the crowd OF juvenile merrymakers was
Z generous one
1t would take a skilled artist 10 de-
scribe the coIoring Of these eggs, for they
ranged from deiica.e purple TO fiery rad
and livid green, and were Of all sizes
and shapes. some so odd as 70 make any
self-respecting hen blush if asked 10
claim ownership OF them.
In the afternoon Mrs Taft and Miss
Helen Taft viewed the fun from the
rear veranda Of the White House. and
when the crowd spied them. the hand
clapping lasted for several seconds.
The Marine Band gave a concert from
$50 to O'Clock and the general public
was allowed In the hitherto well-guarded
grounds
At the Geological Garden similar scenes
were enacted, and Superintendent Baker
estimated that $1,000 children and guard
ians took part in or witnessed the merry
making.