Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-04-10


WI their families and includ WIZ
NA ing, OF course, the foreign WI
&APyfAH dignltaries who reside at
WV our seat Of government
as Uncle Sans offlcia
guests II Is not only Easter Sunday I'LL
that Is an event In the calendar OF I'LL
ofhcaldom, but likewise Easter Mon M
day (Which is a great day in Wash.
ington) and the whole Easter week W
However, this whole interval may, in
effect be considered as Easter. NM
From the standpoint Of ofncaldom M
the first significance of Easter is the III
religious one. For be it known mos. "
OF our oflclas-that is our national
oflcias-are very conscientious
church goers. Whether they are Off.
Gals because they are church goers. or wheth-
er they are church goers because they are
Federal officials may be a mooted question.
hut the fact remains that the average public
servant during his incumbency of Office IN
the city on the Potomac is faithful in attend
ance at divine worship. And even the excep-
lions who are "backsliders" at other seasons
OF the year strain a point to be among those
present" on the joyous Easter morn
The second significance of Easter in official
dom is as a day of family reunions second
only to Christmas In the eagerness with which
1t Is anticipated The opportunity for such
reunions arises from the fact that large pro-
portion of the children of our public men at
tend public or private schools elsewhere than
In Washington, even though their parents may
maintain home at the capital Sometimes it
Is matter Of sentiment that makes an official
DESTROYS of having his children educated in
MS old home town, and in the case of the
young men and young women there are the
college magnets-Vassar and Wellesley and
the rest for the girls, and Yale, Harvard. Cor
nell and others for the boys.
It thus happens that there is a small army
OF sons and daughters to come home to the
habitations Of oficialdom for the Easter vaca-
tion,' and usually they bring with them as
many school chums as parents can arrange to
entertain for Washington at Easter is
proverbially one Of the most fascinating places
America and offers no end of opportunities fl
good times for young people. During the Ia
administration the White House has taken esp
cial cognizance of this Easter Homecoming GU
tom, for the junior Tafts have been among tho
exiles who have made the Easter pigrimag
bringing with them school friends. According
Mrs. Taft has always made it point to arranj
round Of social festivities including an East
week dance for not only the "house party" at Il
Presidential Mansion, but the whole body of Ea
ter reupioners in officiadom.
A third Significance that attaches to Easter
ofhcialdom is its function as the inaugural of Il
spring social season In the old days "the sc
son" in Washington meant from the first day
January to the beginning of Lent Then
Uncle Sam became more of a world power al
his capital reflected his new Importance there W
added each year the little season" which
tended from the converting of Congress in Dece
Der until the New Year Latterly there has be
yet another development and we have the spri
season Tin many respects the most enjoyable
alb which opens on Easter and extends un
warm weather sets in. During Lent social act
ity is virtually suspended, for even the hostess
who are not so devout as to have heed for
religious significance of the forty days welcol
the interval as a rest period" Easter thereto
finds the leaders of oficialdom restored in spi
and ready for new round of activity,
But, as has been said, on Easter morning
oficlaldom goes to church and for the going fin
plenty of spectators lnasmuch as Washington
always thronged with tourists at Easter and su
Of them are disappointed in the effort to G;
admission to the crowded churches throng
approaches to view the passing show. The la
est throngs are usually to be found in the neil
borhood Of the Unitarian church, of which Pre-
dent Taft is a member, although in simple truth
must be admitted that President Taft is the oil
attraction here. for not many other public men
prominence happen to worship at the sa
church as the President But it is the Presd,
that the Easter throng wants to see and Il
block the sidewalks about the church until af
his big motor car has whirled up to the CT
and the President has disappeared into
church After the service there is somewhat
a repetition of the scene but the crowd is not
large, because it is etiquette for the President
be allowed to make his exit ere the rest of
congregation leave their seats and ne is well
his way to the White House ere most of the p
pie emerge from the church
Many spectators who are more interested
observing how officials as a class observe Eas
ths-A1 ~ are in the personality of the Presid