Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-11-06

the same great movement, though brought
about at different periods and under widely
different circumstances. The Reformation
was not mere setting aside of errors and
abuses. 1t was q great historical fact,
wide-felt and oyerpowering necessity, res
toration of religious life, a movement of
great magnitude, shared by the most en-
lightened nations of Europe, and partici-
pated in by all ranks, the turning point of
the worlds history, The blessings of the
Reformation were civil liberty, the improve
ment Of morals, and those pursuits that
render man happy.
ALL-HALLow's EVE.
In ancient times-and not so far back
either as not 10 be within the memory of
men and women now living All Hallow's
Eve, or Halloween, was honored by Ger
tain religious ceremonies, and many of the
superstitions which grew out of these
cereU onlals and the belief connected with
them, are still repeated on each recurrence
of the anniversary Of this evening. For
instance, the belief was once common
and no doubt prScticed-t if a maiden
would go alone into room at midnight,
just as Halloween fades into All Saints
Day, and would there stand befora mir
ror, between herself and which were
placed two candles, and would while so
standing, pare and eat an apple, before the
apple should be eaten, she would see, re-
flecte6 in the glass as if peeping over her
shoulder, the face of her future husband.
This custom is of Scottish origin; indeed,
it is a noticeable fact that the majority of the
superstitious rites which mark the celebra-
ton of Halloween originated among the
"canny people north of Tweed" Another
of these "spells"-which possesses the adj
VANTAGE Of being equally applicable TO
either sex-is to wet shirt-sleeVe, hang it
before the fire TO dry, and lie in bed watch
ing it till midnight. Just at the hour al
which church yards-in common with
sleepy human beings-are in the habit of
yawning, the future partner for life of the
watcher comes into the room and turns the
sleeves slowly around, afording ample op-
portunity while SO doing for a clear view of
his or her face and person. Perhaps the
most peculiar Of Halloween invocations is
the sowing of hemp seed. Probably or ac-
count of its rather unpleasant connection
| with ropes, and ropes in turn with hang
| ings, this seed has for very long while en-
| ioyed a somewhat unenviable reputation,
and We frequently find it mixed up with
other and darker mysteries of the black art
than the endeavor TO discover who will
be ones future wife or husband.
Whatever may be the qualities in-
nate in this seed of evil reputation, it is
well-estsblshed fact among Scotch lassies
that, if it be soWn q little before midnight
on Halloween, precisely On the first stroke
of twelve will the laddie appear who is to
be, at 10 distant day, the lord and master
of the soWer; and as Scotch lassies are, as
a rule, anything but fools, we are forced to
accept their belief in the efficacy of the per-
Torrance as we'll founded. But the age is
getting too wise for faithful observance of
many of those genial, though perhaps some
what superstitious customs which were
wont to please our ancestors. Still, how
| ever, All-Hallow's Eve, that closes its kindly
reign tonight on the stroke of twelve, has
not wholly passed away from the respect of
Philadelphians. They may cease to believe,
like their ancestors, vino huddled them
selves within doors for very fear, that,
abroad in the chilly night, witches, and evil
spirits hold baneful communion. They
may laugh at the self same ancestors, iu
their guilelessness peeping out Of windows
10 see whether the sward was made brilli-
ant with the presence of the good little
people, celebrating their happy anniversary.
They may hug themselves with the delusion
that not to have faith in those airy inhabi
tants that gave mystic charm to "Hal-
loW-e'en" ia the olden days is an evil
dence of superior intelligence. But
! there is, for all that, some of the old honor
and some of the cid credit remaining with
| the day. Not abroad, but at home; not in
! the open air, but within quie5 walls; not
| shrinking from uncannie creatures out upon
the winds, but telling pleasant stories AMI
! joining in pleasant games in the very heart
Of the family circle, is "HallOW- eve" still
! celebrated. There were many families
among US that had their games tonight,
told their stories, and took a new lease of
kindly, tender merriment from the memo
ries of the time. There were cross sticks
not many of these, perhaps, but sill some
! hanging from the ceilinc, with the tooth
| full apple kept turning round aud round land
inviting active competition. There was
burning Of nuts together that sent Mary to
bed dreaming swseJly of happy love; and
there were some that, cracking too sudden
! ", dashed the faith Of Alice in the c0ns.an-
! cy of her lover. On the whole the snniveT-
! sary, if not well kept, was not forgotten, and
if small boys, following their wont, did dis
| turb grave family reunions by the clamOr
at the door bell, or excite intense alarm, by
the same means, in persons constitutionally
| given TO fear Of fire, surely, it was HallOw'
! eve, and like Christmas and all the good
| days, HallOW-eVe cOneth but once a year.
! NONPAREIL,