The Green Forest tribune., 1912-03-29

oa our of1cials-fthat is our national N dS eials-are e livery conscientious
 #-reh go@1s Whether they are off
 2l8> because they are church goers. or wheth- CT they are church goers because they are Federal officials may be 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 Nanee at divine worship. And even the excep- tionS who are "baeksliders" at other seasons otsfhe year strain point to be among those
 esent' on the joyous Easter morn.
 The second significance of Easter in official dom is a day of family reunions second only to Christmas in the eagerness with which it 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 hone at the capital. Sometimes it lis a matter of sentiment that makes an official AdesiroD of having his children educated in his old home town, and in the case of the
 2lfng men and young women there are the college magnets-Vassar and Wellesley and the rest for rhe girls, and Yale Harvard Cor nell and others for the boys.
 It thus happens that there is a small army }f sons and daughters to come home to the tabitations of oficialdom for the Easter vaea-
 ion," and usually they bring with them as many school chums as parents can arrange to entertain, for Washington at Easter is proyerbially of the most fascinating places in America and offers end of opportunities for good times for young people. During the Taft administration the White House has taken espe. cial cognizance of this Easter homecoming GUS tom, for the junior Tafts have been among those exiles who have made the Easter pilgrimage, bringing with them school friends Accordingly Mrs. Taft has always made it point to arrange round of social festivities including an Easter Te<k dance for not only the house party" at the st esidential Mansion, but the whole body of Eas-
 reunioners in oficialdom.
 thjgd significance that attaches to Easter in ofHcialdom is it's function the inaugural of the bring social season. In the old days the sea ,on" in Washington meant from the first day Of January to the beginning of Lent. Then as Uncle Sam became of a world power and his capital reflected his new importance there was added each year the little season. which ex- ended from the converting of Congress in Decem-
 er until the New Year. Lattery there has been
 another development and we have the spring
 eason tin many respects the most enjoyable of
 } which opens Easter and extends until
 trm weather sets in During Lent, social actv-
 is virtually suspended for even the hostesses sS wffo are not devout to have heed for the religious significance of the forty days welcome the interval as rest period" Easter, therefore finds the leaders of offcialdom restored in spirit { ard ready for new round of activity.
 (< But, as has been said on Easter morning all OfhclaidOm goes 10 cnurcn ana TOT the gong nndS plenty of spectators inasmuch as Washington is always thronged with tourists at Easter, and such of chem as are disappointed in the effort to gain Admission to the crowded churches throng the approaches to view the passing show. The larg est throngs usually to be found in the neigh borhood of the Unitarian church, of which Pres dent Taft is member, although in simple truth it must be admitted that President Taft is the only attraction here for not many other public men of prominence happen to worship at the same church as the President But it is the President that the Easter throng wants to and they block the sidewalks about the church until after his big motor has whirled up to the curb and the President has disappeared into the church After the service there is somewhat of a repetition of the scene, but the crowd Is not sc large because 1t Is etiquette for the President to be allowed to make his exit the rest of the congregation leave their seats and he is well on his way to the White House most of the peo pie emerge from the church.
 Many spectators who more interested in observing how officials class observe Easter than they are in the personality of the President