The Snowflake herald., 1922-04-14
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early possible. They gather in crowds outside
the tall iron fence that encloses the White House
grounds, and when the gates are thrown open at
exactly nine a. m, they flock in pell-mell and dis
tribute themselves in gladstone squads the
grass-covered hillocks. No time is lost the sport
beginning at once, and it is in fast and furi
Gus progress, the greensward speckled with eggs
of rainbow hues and the echoes of merry childish
voices gladdening the spring time air.
All the children their best Clothes which
are destined to be sadly mussed and more or less
torn before the day is over, yet thoroughly dem
ocratic spirit reigns, the youngsters being of all
classes. The fashionable northwestern section Of
the city is largely represented well as the
monalty, and there is not any distinction of
color, the small black urchn joining in the play
with the aristocratic offspring of cabinet mem
Der.
Some of the children make races with their
eggs, starting them simultaneously from the top
Of a hillock, with the understanding that the one
to reach the bottom first is the winner If it is
for fair the egg of the loser passes into the pos
session of the successful contestant Another way
is to roll egg down hill, to be received at the
bottom on the point of second egg, if the thing
is properly done, and failure in this OBJ
ject gives rise to much merriment Or again
two children may roll their eggs toward each 9TH
er on flat piece of ground, and when they have
met the one cracked is lost.
picking eggs is a form of the sport peculiar
to the boys, requiring it does some degree of
expertness, while having about it the thrilling sug
gestion of gamble. One boy holds an egg in his
fist to expose the smallest possible bit of the
point and this is attacked by the point of another
boys egg, a series of taps deciding which is the
harder of the two. First it is point to point then
butt to butt, and then finally "sders" the upshot
of the affair being transfer of the cracked egg
to the owner of the that remains unbroken.
Now and then along comes knowing youth with
wisdom beyond his years, and guinea hens egg
which, inasmuch it Is much harder than any
hens egg is a sure winner. But it is a green
youngster that does not know enough to be on
his guard against egg that has speckles on it.
even though it be artfully explained to him that it
was laid by a speckled hen. Occasionally china
egg is similarly worked ringer"
When the eggs are rolled down hill it is custom
ary for the owners to roll after them-a perform
ance somewhat calculated to njure clothes and in
cdentally liable to result in the smashing of the
eggs. But this latter is matter of no great i'm
portance inasmuch broken egg is something
to be Immediately eaten, and the devouring of it
is a pleasant incident. Necessarily the eggs are
all hard boiled, and therefore in condition for off
hand consumption.
At twelve o'clock it is time for lunch, and then
mamma or nurse spreads delightful meal on the
greensward-a feast, which, owing to the joyful
circumstances, is vastly appetizing than the
most elaborate banquet at home could be- Eggs
is proper furnish the piece de resistance usual
ly but there is milk in bottles for the very small
tots, for children of all ages present and MANY
of them even come in baby carriages being not
yet old enough to walk Outside the grounds are
many hucksters with goat wagons and donkey
carts, who have for sale plentiful supplies of can
dy, peanuts, pies, apples and oranges On the
whole it is somewhat like circus
To make things altogether joyful the marine
band, which is the Presidents own troop of musi-
clans, usually plays for the benefit of the little
ones, being stationed on platform near by
Between a. m. and l .. m no grown-ups are
admitted unless accompanied by children Siren
uous effort is necessary to prevent children from
hiring out to adults who wish to see the sport but
are minus the necessary youngster. Every year
lads hire out to outsiders at % cents each and
pass them through the gates.