The Glenwood post., 1912-03-30

guests. 1t is not only Easter Sunday lNS s
that is an event in the calendar of W\N# III A
oficialdom, but likewise Easter Mon W\$$ 4
day (Which is great day in Wash W-ssyx s xas
1ngton) and the whole Easter week. WS
However. this whole interval may, in W.#$
effect, be considered as Easter W@sA
From the standpoint of offcialdom nv
the first significance of Easter is the nv
religious one For, be 1t known mos: "
OF our oficials-that Is our national
oficials-are very conscientious
church goers. Whether they are Off
cials 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-
lions 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 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 a large pro-
portion of the children of public men at
tend public or private schools elsewhere than
In Washington, even though their parents may
maintain home at the capital. Sometimes 1t
is matter OF sentiment that makes an official
desirous 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
habtations of oficialdom for the Easter vaca.
ton" 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 II
America and offers end of opportunities fo
administration the White House has taken espe
clal cognzance 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 Accordingl,
Mrs. Taft has always made it point to arrang,
a round of social festivities including an Easte
week dance for not only the house party" at thu
Presidential Mansion. but the whole body of Eas
ter reunioners in officiaidom
third significance that attaches to Easter IL
rficialdom is its function the inaugural of tn,
spring social season. In the old days "the sea
son" in Washington meant from the first day o
January TO the beginning of Lent Then al
Uncle Sam became more of a world power ant
his capital reflected his new importance there wa.
added each year the little season" which ex
tended from the convening of Congress in Decem
Der until the New Year Latterly there has beer
yet another development and we have the sprnl
season (in many respects the most enjoyable o
alb which opens Easter and extends unit
ity is virtually suspended, for even the hostesse
who are not devout to have heed for thu
religious significance of the forty days welcome
the interval rest period" Easter. therefore
finds the leaders of offcialdom restored in spiri
and ready for new round of activity.
But has been said on Easter morning al
officialdom goes to church and for the going finds
plenty of spectators inasmuch as Washington /.
always thronged with tourists at Easter and suct
of them disappointed in the effort to gair
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 Presi
dent Taft is member although in simple truth Il
must be admitted that President Taft is the only
attraction here, for not many other public men o.
prominence happen to worship at the same
church as the President But 1t Is the Presiden
that tho Easter throng wants to see and they
block the sidewalks about the church until aftei
his big motor has whired up to the curl
and the President has disappeared into the
church After the service there Is somewhat o.
a repetition Of the scene but the crowd is not X
large, because 1t is etiquette for the President tt
be allowed to make his exit ere the rest Of the
congregation leave their seats and he is we'll or
his way to the White House most Of the pso
pie emerge from the church.
Many spectators who more Interested IL
observing how ohicials class observe Easts.
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