The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-10-31
HALLOW ZEN.
The Night OF Mischief Making. and the
Vari0Hs Forms OF Observing Ii.


ober, will be Halow Fen. This event,
which happily for some reasons comes
but once year, is usually celebrated by
hoodlums and youngsters who know no
better than pulling off gates and hiding
| them in some out of the way place. An
other practice which, although harmless,
is none the less of an annoyance, is
| throwing peas and corn against windows,
ringing door bells, tossing pumpkins at
| the front door, aud other mischief of mi
nor sorts. Hollow even or Hollow cen.
the name popularity given to the eve of
All Hollows or festival of All Saints,
| which being on November LIST, Hollow
cen is on the evening preceding. The
English people indulge in the customary
practice of cracking nuts. duckng for
apples in a tub of water, and other harm
| less fireside revelries. While this same
| thing Can be said of Scotland the Hollow
cen ceremonies partake more of super
stitious nature taking. among rustics, :he
form of a charm to discover who should
| be his wife or her future husband. Ro-
mantle damsels in many places improve
the time honored opportunity, to look
ahead for year by such mystic means as
are customary to discover whether they
are to change their maiden condition and
become subject to the tyrant man. There
are different methods of peeping into next
year. and one is fully as trustworthy as
another. For instance a young lady fills
her mouth with water aud takes prom.
enade with an escort for block or two;
if on the way she swallows or elects any
of the water, her chances arc over for at
least twelve months. Another method,
equally effective, of getting a glimpse of
an intended husband or wife, is for a
candidate to retire with looking glass
into the cellar. At the hour of midnight
the person glares intently into the mirror,
and Just rs the last stroke of twelve has
died away. sees looking over his or her
shoulder the image of the intended one.
This has one peculiar merit-as the
figure seen is usually the one which is ais
ready in the minds eye. it is likely to be
that of the gentleman most in favor.
There are plenty of quiet ways to GELS
citrate this event. A fine game for the
evening, and one which was most played
in the romantic time, is diving for chest
nuts and apples. The fruit or nuts are
placed in tub of water and the players,
their heads under the water and bring up
what they can in their mouths. Some>
times long rows of candle ends, nuts and
fruit are tied to a string across the room.
The players. who are blindfolded, walk
towards the string, and without being ais
lowed to make use of their sense OF
touch, bite at the dangling prizes If
they catch a candle they are compelled to
eat it. Blindman's buff is also INDUCED
in, together with fortune telling and mess
merism.
| In this country the amusements are
not confined to indoor amusements
Some forty or fifty years ago in the east
ern states the practice OF having u chest
nut roast and a taffy pull was carried out
as regularly as the last night in October
came round. Finally practical jokes was
resorted to, drifting finally into ordinary
harmless sport of throwing grains of corn,
etc, at windows. This practice, however
soon led to more serious and damaging
play, and at lust the night was regarded
as one of devltry and all manner of dep
relations, and disturbing the peace gen
orally. The police should arrest all mis-
creants, and all participating in the de-
| struction of property or causing serious
disturbances.