Evening journal., 1892-10-31

The Legend OF the Nuts-The Kaie
stalk Test-Fortune Telling.
All Hallow even, or Halloween, is put
down as a relic Of pagan times. The
Dfuids were accustomed TO kindling
sacred fires on the eve OF November 1,
possibly to ward of evil spirits, as in the
popular Imagination this has always been
considered the high carnival season for
witches and fairies TO wander abroad.
In certain parts of England and Ire
land they call It Nutcrack night, one Of
the oldest customs still in vogue being
as follows; Desiring TO ascertain II
ones sweetheart is faithful, let each one
place a nut upon the CRATE, naming il
after lover: if the nut cracks or
Jumps the swain or maiden is proved
false. but IL II blazes and burns merrily,
he OF she loves If nuts named after
girl and her lover burn merrily together
the pair will be married.
pulling Kale Stalks was devoutly
observed by the Scotch Couples would
20 into the field hand in hand blind
folded each person was to pull tine first
stalk that came 10 hand. The future
/ partner was bound to be stout OF slender.
short or tall, according TO size Of stalk
selected The amOnnt of earth clinging TO
root furnished a suggestion as to dowry
or fortune. The taste Of the pith indi-
Gated the character Of the temper
Finally. the stalks were placed IL a row
over the door, and it was supposed that
the Christian name OF all those who en-
tered afterward in succession during the
evening would be identical with those of
the future mates.
Another Scottish observation was that
of the "Three Dishes, or "Luggies "
Two Of these were filled respectively with
clean and dirty water the third was left
empty. They were then ranged along
the hearth Each palpitating swain,
being blindfolded, advanced in turn and
tremblingly dipped his hand. II i'm clean
water he would surely wed a maiden il
in the foul, widow; but IT, sad fate,
he struck the empty one, single blessed
ness was his doom
The true fortune teller has the follow
ing infallible recipes for maidens anxious
to question the future; To learn II she
will get the man she wishes wear two
lemon peels one in each pocket. all day
at night rub the four posts Of the bed
stead carefully before retiring II hap
piness is in store for you, the apparitiou
Of your intended will appear in dream
and quietly present you with couple OF
lemons
To ascertain If the future husband will
be a gentleman. tradesman or traveller
CRATE walnut, hazelnut and nutmeg
and mix together with butter and sugar
in pills; take before going to bed. Il
golden roseate dreams ensue you viii
wed a gentleman; if odd noises aud tu
mults disturb your slumbers your lot
will be cast with tradesman, and il
thunder aud lightning bewilder you il
will be, alas-a traveller.
The strangest custom Of all was tha'
peculiar TO the Isle of Lewis verita
ble pagan institutions styled the sacri
fee to the sea god Shony. The inhabi
tants assembled in ST. Mulvay church
each man with a peck of malt TO b.
brewed into ale. After a while one o
their number would wade into the sea NJ
TO his middle, bearing a cup of ale. Then
he invoked the sea god as follows:
"Shony, l give you this cup Of ale, hop
ing that you'll be SO kind as to send Us
plenty of sea ware for enriching ou
ground the ensuing year.
Forthwith the hbation was throw
into the sea and all returned to the
church TO worship in silence until
/ given signal, when the single candle
before the altar was extinguished, an,
; everybody adjourned to the fields 70
singing and dancing and drinking of tn
, ale.