Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-03-29

w WV seat of government l|I ####S==N$
as Uncle Sans official II#SsSS
guests. 1t is not only Easter Sunday (N#Z|S
that is an event in the calendar of Wls|#Ns
oficialdom, but likewise Easter Mon N
day (which is a great day in Wash WsMSS
1ngtOn} and the whole Easter week. M%S
However, this whole interval may in W\%SSN#$$$$
effect, be considered as Easter. ms
From the standpoint of officiaIdom MI
the first significance Of Easter is the nv
religious one. For, be it known, mos. y
OF ofieals-that is our national
officials-Rr 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.
but 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-
tions who are ''backsliders" at other seasons
Of the year strain 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
maintain a home at the capital. Sometimes it
is matter Of sentiment that makes an official
DESTROYS of having his children educated in
his 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.
1t thus happens that there is a small army
of sons and daughters to come home to the
hpAs4 nAsN So -sa75 e.
tioa, 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 Il
America and offers end of opportunities 70
good times for young people. During the Tai
administration the White House has taken espe
cial cognizance of this Easter homecoming Gus
tom, for the junior Tafts have been among thos
exiles who have made the Easter pilgrimage
bringing with them school friends. Accordingly
Mrs. Taft has always made it a point to arrang
round OF social festivities, including an Easte
week dance for not only the 'house party" at tn
Presidential Mansion, but the whole body of Eas
ter reunioners in oficialdom.
A third significance that attaches to Easter i
offcialdom is its function as the inaugural of tn
spring social season. In the old days ''the sea
son" in Washington meant from the first day @
January to the beginning of Lent. Then a
Uncle Sam became more of a world power an
his capital reflected his new Importance there wa
added each year the little season" which eS
tended from the converting of Congress in Decem
Der until the New Year Latterly there has BEEF
yet another development and we have the sprin
season Tin many respects the most enjoyable O
alb which opens Easter and. extends unit
warm weather sets in. During Lent, social actiy
ity is virtually suspended, for even the hostesse
who are not so devout to have heed for tn
religious significance Of the forty days wecom
the interval as "rest period" Easter, therefore
finds the leaders Of oficialdom restored in spiri
and ready for a new round of activity.
But, as has been said, on Easter morning al
offcialdom goes to church and for the going find
plenty of spectators, inasmuch as Washington i
always thronged with tourists at Easter and sue
of them as disappointed in the effort to gal
admission to the crowded churches throng tn
approaches to view the passing show The are
est throngs usually to be found in the neigh
borhood of the Unitarian church, of which Pres
dent Taft is a member although in simple truth
must be admitted that President Taft is the onl
attraction here for not many other public men O
prominence happen TO worship at the sam
church as the President But it is the Presiden
that the Easter throng wants to see and the
block the sidewalks about the church until afte
his big motor car has whirled up to the curl
and the President has disappeared into TIL
church After the service there is somewhat O
q repetition Of the scene but the crowd is not s.
large because it IS etiquette for the President Il
be allowed to make his exit ere the rest of thu
congregation leave their seats and he is we'll Oh
his way to the White House ere most of the peo
pie emerge from the church.
Many spectators who are more interested Il
observing how ofdcials as class observe caste
han they are in the personality OF the Preaden