The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1922-04-12

early as 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 n. M, they flock In pell-mell and dis
tribute themselves In gladstone squads over the
grass-covered hlllocks. No time is lost, the sport
beginning at once, and soon 1t 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 wear their best clothes, which
are destined to be sadly mussed and more or less
torn before the day is over, yet a thoroughly DEM
ocratic spirit reigns, the youngsters being of all
classes. The fashionable northwestern section Of
the city Is largely represented, as well as the COM
monalty. and there is not even any distinction of
color, the small black urchin Joining In the play
with the aristocratic offspring of a cabinet men,
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 1t is
'for fair the egg of the loser passes into the pos
session of the successful contestant. Another way
Is to roll an egg down hill, to be received at the
bottom on the point of n second egg, If the thing
is properly done, and failure or success In this OBJ
ject gives rise to much merrlment. Or, again,
two children may roll their eggs toward each 9TH
er on a fiat piece of ground, and when they have
met the one cracked Is lost.
picking eggs Is a form of the sport peculiar
~ tHt DDNbi tIdiilh 10 IL docS Sblut uPETte OF
experiences, while having about 1t the thrilling sug-
Gestion of a gamble. One boy holds an egg in his
fist, so as to expose the smallest possible bit of the
point, and this is attacked by the point of another
boys egg, n series of taps deciding which Is the
harder of the two. First 1t is point to point, then
butt to butt, and then finally "siders," the upshot
of the affair being a transfer of the cracked egg
to the owner Of the one that remains unbroken.
Now and then along comes n knowing youth, with
wisdom beyond his years, and a guinea hens egg,
which, inasmuch as 1t 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 an egg that has speckles on 1t,
even though 1t be artfully explained to him that II
was laid by a speckled hen. Occasionally a china
egg Is similarly worked as a ringer"
When the eggs are rolled down hill, it is custom
airy for the owners to roll after them-a perform
ance somewhat calculated to injure clothes and in
cidentally liable TO result In the smashing Of the
eggs. But this latter is a matter of no great i'm
portance, inasmuch as n broken egg Is something
to be Immediately eaten, and the devouring of 1t
is a pleasant incident. Necessarily the eggs are
all hard boiled, and, therefore in condition for off
hand consumption.
At twelve o'clock 1t is time for lunch, and then
mamma or nurse spreads a delightful meal on the
greensward-a feast, which, owing to the joyful
circumstances, is vastly more appetizing than the
most elaborate banquet ut home could be. Eggs,
as is proper, furnish the piece de resistance usual
~, but there Is milk in bottles for the very small
tots, for children of all ages are present, and many
of them even come in baby carriages, being not
yet old enough to walk. outside the grounds are
many hncksters 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 a circus.
To make things altogether joyful, the marine
band, which Is the Presidents own troop Of must
clans, usually plays for the benefit of the little
ones, being stationed on a platform near by.
Between 8 II. IN. and l p. 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 mt % cents each and
pass them through the gates.