The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1922-04-06

early as possible. They gather In croWds outslue
the tall iron fence that encloses the White house
grounds, and when the gates are thrown opeh' at
exactly nine a. NJ, they flock in pell-mel ana us-
tribute themselves In gladstone squads over INC
grass-coyered hillocks No time Is lost, the sport
beginning at once, and soon 1t Is In fast and 1url'
GUS progress, the greensward speckled Win eggs
of rainbow hues, and the echoes Of merry chliu'sn
voices gladdening the spring time air.
All the children wear their best clothes, whlch
are destined to be sadly mussed and more OF less
torn before the day Is over yet Thoroughly oel,'
ocratic spirit reigns, the youngsters Delhs Oh al
classes The fashionable northwestern section OF
the city Is largely represented, as well as the col'
monalty. and there Is not even any dlstlnctloh Oh
color. the small black urchn joining In the play
with the aristocratc offspring Of CABINET NELL
Der.
Some of the children make races with their
ooos starting them simultaneously from the top
~ hi,lock with the understanding that the one
To reach the bottom first Is the winner. II IL ~
"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 second egg, II the thlng
is properly DONE and failure or success IN thls oD
Tort gives rise to much merriment. Or again.
two children may roll their eggs toward each oth'
or on flat piece Of ground, and when they nave
met the one cracked Is iost.
"pickng eggs" is form Of the sport peculiar
"a the hoys. requiring as it does some degree OF
oxnertness, while having about 1t the thrilling sug-
costion Of gamble. One boy holds an egg In his
<ho cra1lpct nOSSlhlp hit OF the
roint and this Is attacked by the point OF another
boy's egg, series Of taps deciding which Is tne
harder Of the two First 1t Is point to point, tnen
hutt r. butt. and then finally "siders," the upshot
~ tho affair being transfer Of the cracked egg
70 the owner of the one that remains unbfoKeh'
Now and then along comes knowing youth with
wisdom heyond his years, and guinea hens egg'
which inasmuch as it is much harder than any
hons egg Is sure winner. But it Is green
vounpster that does not know enough to be on
his pnard against an egg that has speckles on IL
oven though 1t be artfully explained to MIN that n
was laid by speckled hen. Occasionally chlna
ecp is similarly worked as ringer"
when the eggs are rolled down HILL it is custom
arv for the owners to roll after them-a perform
ance somewhat calculated to injure clothes and ID
cidentally liable to result in the smashing OF tn
eggs. But this latter Is matter OF no great In
nortance inasmuch as broken egg Is something
to be Immediately eaten, and the devouring OF
Il pleasant incident Necessarily the eggs ar
all hard boiled, and therefore In condition Tor Oh
hand consumption.
At twelve o'clock 1t Is time for lunch, and the
mamma or nurse spreads delightful meal On IN
greensvard-a feast, which, owing to the joyf'
circumstances, is vastly more appetlzing than "a
most elaborate banquet at home could be. Egg
as Is proper furnish the piece de resistance usua
" but there is milk in bottles for the very sma
tots for children Of all ages are present. ana man
Of them even come in baby carriages De'ng III
vet old enough to walk. Outside the GROUNDS a.
many hucksters with goat wagons ana donk'
carts, who have for sale plentiful supplies OF ca
dy peanuts, pies, apples and oranges VI
J whole it Is somewhat like circus.
70 make things altogether JOYFUL the marl
hand which is the Presidents own troop OF mu
clans, usually plays for the benefit Of the llt'
ones being stationed on a platform near by.
Between 8 a. m. and l p. IN. no groWWh'ups
: : admitted unless accompanied by children. Sure
) mons effort is necessary to prevent children lf'
! hiring out to adults who wish to see the sport
are minus the necessary youngster. every "
lads hire ont to outsiders at 70 cents each a
mass them through the gates