Etiquette Hid During Easter Egg Roll

The usual expected decorum and etiquette expected at the White House in the Spring of 1890, was set aside – or as the article states, it was in hiding – during the children’s Easter egg roll. — Depiction of the Easter Parade of 1890.

HAPPY CHILDREN and Happy Easter 

The White House Grounds Given Over to the Little Folks.

WASHINGTON, April 7.-This was egg-rolling day, and at least 10,000 young Washingtonians, ranging from 3 to 10 years, took possession of the White House grounds and held high carnival from 10 o'clock until 5. Race lines, police lines and care lines were all obliterated, etiquette hid her face behind her veil for awhile and conventional propriety stood outside of the park and hung a sad face over the railing. But there were no sad faces inside. All was joy, gayety, laughter, music, eggs and yellow stains.

At 2 o'clock the Marine Band arrived and for two hours delighted the thousands of children and grown people with light music, familiar airs, such as "MeGinty," "Razzle-Dazzle," "Swanee River," "Where Did You Get That Hat?" and "Listen to My Tale of Woe." Meyerbeer and Thomas were cast aside for two hours of popular music and Sub Smith and Billy Rice were favorites. It was during this period that the Presidential household made its bow to the gay scene below the south portico.

All of the babies were held up to kiss their hands to their youthful countrymen below and the President smiled. Outside of the grounds half a hundred fakirs and peddlers pushed an Easter Monday trade in eggs, candy, oranges, bananas, lemonade, balloons, squawkers, ples, pickles and peanuts.

At noon the departments caused the throng in the grounds to swell temporarily, but the return of the men to their desks did not materially diminish the crowd as the sunshine kept calling out the children who had remained at home in the morning because of threats of rain. The crowd was unequaled. Many Senators and members left the Capitol to view the scene. – San Francisco Call, 1890

🍽️Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber of The RSVP Institute of Etiquette, is the Site Editor of the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia