Judsonia weekly advance., 1922-04-06
9 ATRTIS +Azyo

early as possible. They gather in crowds outside
the tall iron fence that encloses the White House
grounds and when the gates thrown open, at
exactly nine a. m. they flock in pemell and dis
tribute themselves In gladstone squads over the
grass-covered hlocks. 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 their best clothes, which
are destined to be sadly mussed and more or less
torn before the day Is over, yet thoroughly DEM
ocratc spirit reignS, the youngsters being of all
classes. The fashionable northwestern section of
the city Is largely represented, well the COM
monalty, and there is not 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 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 an egg down hill to be received at the
bottom the point of second egg, if the thing
is properly done, and failure success in this OBJ
ject gives rise to much merrment. Or, again.
two children may roll their eggs toward each 9TH
flat piece Of ground, and when they have
met the cracked Is lost.
picking eggs is form OF the sport peculiar
to the boys requiring 1t does some degree of
expertness while having about it the thrilling sug-
gestion Of a 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. series of taps deciding which is the
harder of the two. First it 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 a knowing youth, with
wisdom beyond his years. and guinea hens egg
al io 1nI
hens egg is sure winner. But 1t is a green
youngster that does not know enough to be on
his guard against an egg that has speckes on It,
though it be artfully explained to him that 1t
was laid by speckled hen. Occasionally china
egg Is similarly worked a ringer"
When the eggs are rolled down hill, 1t is custom.
airy for the owners to roll after them--a perform
ance somewhat calculated to injure clothes and in.
cdcntally liable to result in the smashing of the
eggs But this latter is matter of great I'M
portance inasmuch broken egg Is something
TO be Immediately eaten, and the devOuring of 1t
is 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 nurse spreads delightful meal on the
greenswurd-a feast, which, owing to the joyful
circumstances is vastly more appetzing than the
most elaborate banquet AT home could be. Eggs
as is proper furnish the piece de resistance usual
Iy but there Is milk in bottles for the very small
tots for children of all ages are present and many
of them come in baby carriages, being not
yet old enough 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 II Is somewhat like circus.
To make things altust Their joyful, the marine
band. which is the Presidents troop of must.
clans, usually play. for the benefit of the little
ones being stationed platform near by.
Betwe cen . Il. and | D. grown-ups are
admitted unless accompanied by children, Siren
uous effort is necessary to prevent children from
hiring out to uultj' who wish to the sport but
are minus the ned ssnly youngster. Every year
lads hire out outsiders ut % cents each and
pnss them through the gnies