The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1912-03-29

as Uncle sam Ofnclal
guests. 1t is not only Easter Sunday III %%##$$%
that is an event in the calendar OF Ml#|$
of1cialdom, but likewise Easter Mon. WS%%s%S
day (Which is a great day in Wash. Ws
ington) and the whole Easter week W#
However this whole interval may In WSM@NN&
effect, be considered as Easter WS
From the standpoint of oficiaid1m W
the first significance of Easter is the nv
religious one. For, be it known, mos:
OF our offcials-that is our national
omcials-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
Feoeral othclals may be a mooted question
out 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 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 a 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
hldlnldIu d uOIue at the capital. Sometimes II
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 armv
OF sons and daughters to come home to the
habitatfons of officialdom for the Easter yacs
hon," and usually they bring with them az
many scnool chums as parents can arrange to
entertain. for Washington at Easter 10
proverbially one Of the most fascinating places
America and offers no end of opportunities Z
good times for young people During the ia
administration the White House has taken esr
cial cognizance Of this Easter homecoming ri
tom, for the junior Tafts have been among tho
eXiles who have made the Easter pilgrimas
bringing with them school friends According
Mrs. Tart has always made 1t a point to ABRAMS
a round of social festivities including an East
week dance for not only the house party" at IL
Presidential Mansion, but the whole body of Fa
ter reunioners in officialdom
A third significance that attaches to Easter
oficfaldom 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
d
his capital reflected his new importance there We
added each year the little season" which e
tended from the converting of Congress in Deceu
Der until the New Year Lattery there has bee
yet another development and we have the sTHin
season Tin many respects the most enjoyable
ALL which opens on Easter and extends unit
warm weather sets in. During Lent, social acti
ity is virtually suspended, for even the hostesse
who are not devout to have heed for tn
tot, 81, -
the interval as a rest period" Easter, therefor
finds the leaders of oficialdom restored in spir
and ready for round of activity.
But as has been said. on Easter morning a
officialdom goes to church and for the going find
plenty of spectators. inasmuch as Washington
always thronged with tourists at Easter and sue
Of them as are disappointed in the effort to gal
admission to the crowded churches throng tn
approaches to view the passing show. The larl
est throngs are usually to be found in the neigl
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 {
prominence happen to worship at the sam
church as the President. But 1t is the Presiden
that the Easter throng wants to and the
block the sidewalks about the church until afte
his big motor car has whrled up to the cur
and the President has disappeared into tn
church. After the service there is somewhat
a repetition of the scene. but the crowd is not s
large, because 1t is etiquette for the President
be allowed to make his exit ere the rest of tn
congregation leave their seats and he is we'll o
his way to the White House ere most OF the pee
pie emerge from the church
Many spectators who are more interested I
observing how officials as a class observe Easte
than they in the personality of the Presiden