The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1879-10-03

In England, the revels were for fun,
such rs diving for apples floating in q
tub of water, and, of course, getting
very wet; or trying to snatch in the
teeth an apple on one end of q stick,
which had u lighted candle at the other
end, and, being hung by string, could
be spun around very fast, so that the
players often seized the candle instead
Of the fruit; or a playful fortune-telling
by naming nuts, roasting them before
the fire, and watching their conduct
when heated-whether they burned
steadily, or bounced away, or burst with
a noise, each movement of the charmed
nut being of great Importance.
One nut test was tried by grinding
and mixing together a walnut, hazel
nut, and nutmeg, making into pills, with
butter and sugar, and swallowing them
on going to bed. Wonderful dreams
would follow (Which was not surpris-
ing).
In superstitious Scotland, the night
was given entirely to serious and some
times frightful attempts to peer into the
future by means of charms. One way
of trying fortunes was to throw ball
of blue yarn out of a window, and wind
it into ball again from the other end.
Near the last something would hold it
fast, when the winder must ask: "WhO
hOlds?" The answer would name one
who was to have Importance in the ques-
toner's future.
Another Scotch custom was "pulling
kale-stalks." A young person went
into the garden, pulled up the first kale
or cabbage stalk he touched, and carried
it into the house. The whole future was
read from that stalk: the size indicated
the stature of the future partner in life;
the quantity of earth at the roots show
ed the amount of his, or her, fortune;
the taste of the pith told what the tem-
per would be; and when the stalk
was placed over the door, the first
name of the person entering was the
fated name.
The Island of Lewes, on the coast of
Scotland, had some curious customs.
Young women made 'sdumb cake,''
and baked it before the fire with certain
ceremonies and in perfect silence, OK
pecting to see wonders; and the people
also sacrificed to a sea-gOd called ShOng,
throwing 4 cup of ale into the sea, and
calling on him to give them plenty of
sea-weed to enrich their grounds.
In another Scotch trial, q girl would
60 into a barn, holding winnowing
sieve, and stand alone, with both doors
open, to see her fate.
The fashion of trying charms is now
nearly Outgrown among English-speak-
ing people. 1t survives in America rs
pleasant frOlic for social gathering.
In our own day, young people "sow
hemp-seed," seat apples before the
glass, y go down the cellar stairs back;
ward" holding a candle and a mirror,
They also "pOp chestnuts,' sslaunch
walnut-shells - holding tapers, and try
the /" three-saucer :" test of the future.
In some of our cities, the boys on Hal
lOween collect old tea-kettles, boots, large
stones, etc., and deposit them in clean
vestibules, ringing the doOr-bell and
running away.
Thus the Slst of October-set apart by
a Pope rs a religious festival-became,
in superstitiOus times, "The Witches
Night" crossed the ocean rs 4 season
for frOlics, and ends with strect-bOy's
jOke.-Olice IHOrne, in 81. Nicholas for
October. IN