Morning journal and courier., 1883-11-01
Halloween.


 The Mystlc Ceremonies of the Festival. Last night was Halloweven or Halloween, Though sometimes neglected in modern prac- tice, the most essential part of Halloween ritual seems to consist in the lighting by each household of bonfire at nightfall. This points to the very ancient and widely dihused practice of kindling sacred fires at certain seasons of the year. It is thought to be night when witches, devils and other mis- chief f-making beings are ali abroad on their baneful midnight errands; particularly those aerial people, the fairies, are said on that night, to hold grand anniversary. Perhaps outside of the Celtic there is not a race on the face of the globe that is so overhowing with superstition and on Hallow- cen it finds it's greatest freedom. Their superstitions and the traditions con through successive generations, and although not having the force among the present race of Celts which they did among their ances- tors the games and plays arc still kept up by the young folks more as matter of pleasure than anything else. To those who have been fortunate enough to witness Halloweens festivities at farmers house, far back in the
 
 the teachings of the city. the memory of such scene must bring with it unalloyed pleasure Ietthe American reader picture to himself an old farmhouse far back in some valley of the green clad hills of the Emerald Isle. The roof is matched with straw the floor of the room is mother earth, well hardened and swept; the fire in the old fashioned fireplace is almost uncenofortably hot; 8 large table in the center of the room is filled with apples, nuts, home made candles, cakes and tarts. saucers of water, ashes and dirt, candies, spools of thread and numbers of other arti- cles that are to be used in the evenings fes' tivities. Under the table is 8 tub, half filled with water. The farmer is in great glee, and in a measure it is shared by his spouse, who feels the dignity of her increasing weight of years, but the children, boys and girls well nigh full grown, are in bliss full expectancy over the evenings festivities.
 Superstition is rife in the family, for it has descended through all the branches of the parental tree. Inc eldest daughter does her work in a dreamy manner, and if her face is 8 tell tale her mind must be revolv- ing over many schemes whereby she can aid in the perfect fulfllment of her dearest hopes. Darkness has no more than engulfed the valley when the neighboring families mako their appearance Small oat cakes, enlblems of content, made of oatmeal water and little salt, are offered to each as he en- ters, and in them have been inserted any kluu or tr6dSur6s aS SuBKestAVS hs PoHs4Dt0 and more or less expensive, as the hostess may desire. A wise distribution of these cakes by some one who knows their content 8 and the various sentimental relations existing between some of the young people may re- suit in amusement, if not ediication. Then there is the we'll known naming and burning of nuts, for which an open fire is indispen- sable, and the even more significant floating of needles in crystal bowls.
 Of the burning of nuts, Burns, the poet, says
 The auId guidwifes weel hoozd nits
 Are round an' round divided,
 An monie laes' and lasses; fAtes
 Are there that plight decided;
 Some kindIe. couthie, side by side,
 An burn theg1ther trinly;
 Some sta1t ava, wi szucy pride,
 Am jum2 out oWre the chi nIe
 Flu higd that night.
 s Death of a Venerable Hartford Lady. In Hartford yesterday afternoon the moth- CT of Mir. James G. Patterson died suddenly at her residence on High street of heart disease at the age of 64. She had been ill for