The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-28

Eye OF newt and toe OF frog.
Wool of bar and tongue Of dog,
Lizards leg, and oWlet's wing.
ALL SAINTS DAY.

Certainly there were all sorts of horrible,
unnamable objects. The soft, whitish pow
der that arose IN high clouds when the
balls were touched was undoubtedly some
subtle, insidious poison, the secret of its
composition perhaps handed down from
the alchemy OF the ancient Egyptians, and
its constant inhalation during sleep was TO
ca1se a slow, lingering and eventually
fatal illness, without apparent cause, TO be-
set the unfortunate victim selected.
The creole negroes of New Orleans have
a grewsome fashion Of invoking a consum-
mntion of their wishes that believe is en-
tirely indigenous TO the soil of that quaint
cosmopolitan semi-foreign old city. Among
the numerous fete days, high days and
holidays that are scattered so LIBERAL,
among the too sober pathway of the lively,
months of the year none is more beauti-
fully observed by the New Orleanaise than
the frs Of November This is by legal
statute state holiday, and in the Catholic
aud Episcopal church calendars All Saints
day, but in Louisiana, and particularly in
the Crescent City, it is a day for the re-
membrance of the dead
That tomb is, indeed, neglected and its
occupant forgotten that does not bear me-
mentO. From the simple conch shell, or per-
haps only little mass Of white, glistening
sand, with a paper rose stuck in its midst,
to the elaborate, expensive floral tribute
that crowns the lofty marble of the rich
mans resting place, not one is left without
decoration A general pilgrimage 10 the
many cemeteries in and around the city
takes place and its observance is universal
to surprising degree.
1t is on that day the old cradle supersti-
ton tells you to pursue the following
method If you want to have your wish, the
dearest desire of your heart, fulfilled.
PERHAPS THIS Is EASY.
You must purchase beforehand a hand
kerchief, and it must not be used, but kept
clean and white for this occasion.
On the eventful morning you must leave
home as early as possible and also as quiet
ly, and not word or a sound must escape
your lips from the time you close the door
behind you until you return. You must
60 to a cemetery, enter the main gate, walk
from there TO the opposite wall, on the
main avenue, and somewhere on its length
you must pick up piece Of dirt; tie this in
one corner Of the new handkerchief. natu-
rally expressing your most heartfelt wish.
Leave the cemetery by the same gate
you entered, and make your way TO a sec
ond; enter this and pursue the same course.
tying a bit of dirt from the main walk
iato a second corner of the handkerchief
with a second wish. Visit "a third cemetery,
and tie a third bit of dirt into a third cor
uer Of that blessed handkerchief. with a
third and last wish. Return home. roll
the handkerchief into a compact little ball,
and toss IL upon the top of an armoier. or
on the cornice of high window, or. per-
maps, on the tester Of the bed. ANY high
place that is likely TO be undisturbed, save
by spiders, Will answer.
Then, and not until then, must You
speak The charm is broken II a single
audible sound escapes during this rite.
When 1t Is remembered that you are most
likely 10 meet your dearest friend and foe
among the crowds that pass 10 and from
the cemeteries, attending their own and
viewing others decorations, il win be seen
that It Is not an easy matter 10 keep ALSO
lutely quiet; but those wishes will come
true before twelve moons have shed their
rays upon you, and many and fearsome
are the tales told by the old creole uezresS-
es Of the granted wishes that in many
cases proved 10 be indeed "scourgcs that
sting. st. Louis Republic