The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-03-29

| %2pVHRU dignitaries who reside al III ss.s
| w WV seat of government III # E$$
| as Uncle Sans official
guests 1t is not only Easter Sunday III # SSS
that is an event in the calendar OF Nl}%s% SsS|
offcialdom, but likewise Easter Mon N.Y. ISL
day (Which is a great day n.Wash- 81
ington) and the whole Easter week. NM A$
However, this. whole interval may, in W@S
effect, be considered as Easter. NM
From the standpoint of officaldom WWM
the first significance of Easter is the M
| religious one. For, be it known, mos NJ
of our officials-that is, our national y
oficials-are very conscientious
church goers Whether they are Off
Gals because they are church goers, or wheth-
er they 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
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 large pro-
portion of the children of our public men at
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
his old home town, and in the case of the
young men and young women there 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 small army
tha
habitations of offcialdom for the Easter vaca-
tion," and usually they bring with them as
many school chums parents can arrange to
entertain, for Washington at Easter Is
proverbially one of the most fascinating places In
/ America and offers no 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
a round Of social festivities including an Easter
week dance for not only the 'house party" at the
Presidential Mansion, but the whole body of Eas
ter reunoners in oficialdom.
| A third Significance that attaches to Easter II
ofRcialdom is it's function the inaugural OF the
spring social season. In the old days tine sea
son" in Washington meant from the first day o
|
Uncle Sam became Of a world power ant
his capital reflected his new Importance there wal
added each year the little season which ex
tended from the converting of Congress In Decem
her until the New Year. Latterly there has beel
vet another development and we have the sprin
season lin many respects the most enjoyable o
ain which opens on Easter and extends unit
warm weather sets in During Lent social actN
fly is virtually suspended, for even the hostesse
who are not so devout as to have heed for Tn
religious Significance of the forty days welcom
the interval as rest period" Easter, therefore
finds the leaders of officaldom restored in spiri
and ready for a new round of activity.
But. as has been said on Easter morning a
ofBciaIdom goes to church and for the going find
plentv of spectators inasmuch as Washington
elwavs tbronged with tourists at Easter, and sue
of them as are disappointed in the effort to gal
admission to the crowded churches throng I'd
approaches to view the passing show. The lar
est tbrongs are usually to be fOdnd in the neig
borhood of the Unitarian church. of which Pres
, dent Taft is member, although in simple truth
must be admitted that President Taft is the on
} attraction here for not many other public men
prominence happen to worship at the san
= church as the President. But 1t is the Presidel
] that the Easter throng wants to see and the
block the sidewalks about the church until aft
his biR motor car has whirled up to the cul
= and the President has disappeared into Il
l. church. After the service there is somewhat
d repetition Of the scene, but the crowd is not
r large. because it is etiquette for the President
y he allowed to make his exit ere the rest OF Il
congregation leave their seats and he is we'll {
d his way TO the White House ere most of the pc
l. pie emerge from the church
Many spectators who are more interested
y observing how officials class observe East
z than they are In the personality Of the Preside