Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-10-31


esening OF the 3lst Of October, is cslled All
hslox-sven or Halloween, as being the
vigil or eve Of All-hallow day. a brief ref
erence to this now but little observed day
msy net prove uninteresting. The Romish
church designated the frs, day Of Norcsn-
Der 70 be held in honor of ell those saints
who bad not particular days appointed for
them. On the eve Of this day IL Vas
the custom in Walss, IRELAND, the Scottish
Highlands, and cven in England till very
rccsnt period, to kinals fires in coc-
spicuous places, and performing certain GER
emonies. Penaant states as follows: 'In
North Wales there 10 custom upon All
saints eve Of making . great fire called
Cocl Coeth. Every family, about an hour
in the night, makes . great bonfire in the
most conspicuous place near the house. and
when it 10 almost sxsinguished, every one
throws . white stone into the ashes, having
frat marked il then having said their
prayers turning round the tire, they g. to
bed Ia the moring. - soon as they are
up, they come to search out the stones, and
if any of them are found wanting, they have
. notion that the person who threw it in
will die before he sees smother Al-hallow
evs.'-rhs Welch also practice many Of
those rites for divining the future which are
so prevalent on Hslloween in other parts Of
the United Kingdom. Its mentioned BY
another writer that they dance round and
jump through the bonfires, and at the con-
slasion always run away, Ito escape the
black short-tailed SOW" vallancey states
that tho Irish have now generally substitu-
| tel candle illumina alton for the fire Of the
frat Of November.
Chambers says. in his 'Info, nation for
the people," Halloween is still observed.
but the moro daring rites are generally Civ.
en- up. Meetings Of young persons take
place, and plentiful store Of nuts and ap-
pies being provided, few simple amuse.
lnsnts are practised. The experiment Of
the burning nuts, to test the durability ol
love or friendship, 10 still Q favorite.-
Ducking for apples is another. A
tub being provided. nearly full oI
water, and the fruit thrown in
the young people sndeavor to seize % ap
pie with their teeth--a task Of much more
difficulty than might be supposed. end
which generally puts she dress and tresses
of fair experimeotalists into considerable
disorder. The bafilsd efforts Of the vasiou
parties raise of course shouts OF laughter
Or a croas- stick 10 suspended by . string
from the ceiling, with short burning can
die on one end, and an apple on the other
While it swings rapidly round. lsds ant
iasses, with their hands tied, endeAvor &
catch the appls with their teeth, but gen
orally suffer good deal from the candl,
before they succeed in their object. Here
also, failusc il Q source Of infinite amuse
mcnt. It may not be out Of place here &
remark, tha. the jest of the apple and can
die ia nearly the same as that Of the quain
tain, a fAvorite sport Of our ancestors, com
monty prac.iced in summer. The quintaiI
was heroic figure Of wood on vertical piv
OF, used as butt for the practice Of fitting
In this case, it had . cross board. one ent
Of which was broad, while the other VA
furnished with heavy bag Of sand. Tn
trick wss, TO come tilt against the b.oa,
end, and escape receiving u knock dow'
blow from the sand bag.
Thus far Chambers. The sports now in
dulged in by the young people in this yicin
age are of . far different character o.,
time customs are disregarded, and fun of
wicked kind is substituted. The mischie
; done by youths on the strength of flallow
> cen is generally SO wanton. that the polio
sflicers have to interfere, and we shoudn'
be surprised if an extra force had to b
put on tonight. A number Of school boy
/, were overheard last night making prepare
tions for . glorious time. II they are o.
lowed to have their own war there will b
any amount cf "cussing" done to-mosre,
By those who have been made victims G
their sports. The practice 10 o very ba
one, AMI The sooner i. is done away will
the better.
SrocK FAs.-The stock fair held n III