Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 March 1894 — EASTER MONDAY EGG ROLLING. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

EASTER MONDAY EGG ROLLING.

A Custom Which Is Peculiar to the White House. Egg rolling on Easter Monday Is a custom which is peculiar to Washington,’ D. C. No one appears to know its origin, but every Easter Monday, within the memory of the oldest inhabitant, hundreds, and now even thousands, of children have gathered in the “White House lot,” the grounds south of the President’s house, bringing baskets of gayly colored eggs and spending the day rolling them down

the sides of the green knolls and 1 B slopes. The day has gradually : ped into an almost universal holidav. The White House grounds are given up to the children from dawn to dark. Fathers, mothers, sisters, aunts, and cousins come to look on, and it is indeed a beautiful sight to watch them as they come from all directions, from near and from far; even before sunrise many may be seen waiting at the closed gates; at 8 o’clock these are opened wide, and the eager children, dressed In holiday attire, flock in, each one carrying a basket or box of colored, hard-boiled eggs. There is no distinction; all classes and conditions are equally welcome. There is no limit to age; the child who can scai cely walk alone and the girl and boy of 1G are alike welcome. Many of the wee tots are accompanied by colored nurses, who, if we can judge by their dusky faces all aglow with smiles, expect to enjoy the pleasures of the day quite as much as the children. Some very elegant carriages are driven to the grounds; in fact, before noon there is a long line of them, and the drivers wait for hours while the little people enjoy the sport. There is a certain way of rolling the eggs, and the tradition is that those who roll the greatest number without ' breaking any are to be the most successful in life. It is interesting to watch the young folks whili they engage in this game, all seeming to fully appreciate the honor of playing hen. They are truly the happiest or children as their merry laugh and joyful exclamations ring and. echo throughout the entire domain; nothing rude or discourteous is heard or seen to mar the innocent, festivities. The inclosed grounds consist about twenty acres, handsomely laid out, containing .fountains and many ornamental Shrubs and Epees, all kerp't in perfect order. The White House is situaled upon a little rise of ground admirably adapted for this recreation of egg-roll-ing. When the sport ceases the lawn is covered with broken egg shells of various colors. At 1 o’clock the children partake of their luncheons, which consist largely of cold-boiled eggs. At 2 o’clock.the President has a reception for them; he always stands at the door leading from the east room into the large hall, and as they pass through he smiles, sneaks a word of we'come to all, and shakes hands with as many as possible; since there are hundreds passing through, it Is quite pardonable if a few are overlooked. This is the only dav during the whole year thi-t the little folk are given free access to the White House and its grounds, and they heartily enjoy the privilege.

EASTER EGG ROLLING AT THE WHITE HOUSE