Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-08-10
MIDSUMMER NIGHT.
Quaint Old Customs That May StIn be OBJ
served With Pleasure.

Quaint Old Customs That May Still be OBJ
served With Pleasure.
Midsummer night! enchantment lies
in the words. At this season Titania's
court holds high revelry where ''oxlip
and the nodding violet grows" Again
Puck fetches the little milk-white
flower now purple with loves wound"
and pease blossom, moth and mustard
seed ''war with reremice for their
leathern wings"
1t is season of ''magick might" and
for one night the impenetrable veil of
the present is lifted and the future lies
open to the longing view; all this, of
course, if the proper ceremonies be OBJ
served.
One of the best and oldest ways of
dipping into the future is to make a
small pin-cushion of black velvet.
Upon one side stick your name at full
length with the smallest pins that can
be procured; upon the other side make
a cross of pins exactly in the middle of
the cushion, surround it by a circle of
pins. Then place this complete work
of art in the toe of your left stocking.
Hang the stocking at the foot of the
bed, and that night you will, in a
with all the important events of your
future life.
A more difficult experiment is one
that deals with three roses; but no
doubt, the contentment attending the
fulfillment of a universal desire to
know forthcoming events atones for
the trouble involved in the means to
fathom them. This infallible rule
runs as follows:
Take three roses (the hue may be
immaterial since no emphasis is laid
on it, Smoke them with sulphur, and
at exactly three o'clock in the after
noon of midsummer day (the 24th day
of June), bury one of the roses under
q yew tree. Cast the second into a
newly made grave. Place the third
under your pillow for three nights,
and then burn it in charcoal fire.
During the season of these various
operations you will, in dreams, be-
| come acquainted with your souls
companion. Interesting as this feat
ure is, it does not appeal to the femi-
nine heart as does the pleasant assur-
ance that the souls companion, who
may or may not have met her Dulcinia,
will, during this period of divina ton,
be a stranger to peace. He will feel
drawn by irresistible power to seek
his affinity and until he wins her will
fail to know happiness.
After mature consideration / con-
fess that I really think this the most
satisfactory of these quaint customs,
for, with scant pains and small outlay
of time, e. g., little sulphur smoke,
a little digging under yew tree, and
a visit to burying ground, one can
make ones twin soul excessively un-
happy, and that is a diversion no
woman would lightly forego!
A more simple experiment is the
stealing forth at midnight to sow
hemp seed, saying: Hemp seed 1
sow, hemp seed 1 sow; now, my true
love, come after me and now" The
hemp seed will at once spring up and
the true love will follow the maiden,
moving the newly-grown hemp.
This is a convenient custom, for
after having a good view of the coun-
terfeit presentment, there will be no
doubt of his being the right man when
he comes a-wooing.
Another custom is attended with
some uncomforta BILE features, as it en-
! tails long fast; but he who expects
to turn the leaves of the book of fate
and pay no price is, indeed, niggardly.
Therefore, on midsummer eve lay a
table with bread, cheese and ale, and
be sure not to have broken fast since
monday. AS the clock striks twelve
draw up your chairs to the table and
begin to sup. Immediately the door
will open and your fate will enter the
room; lifting glass to his lips, he will
bow to you and in silence drink your
health; then, filing another glass, he
will leave it on the table as token
that he will return again. Bowling
once more politely, he will leave the
| room.
These are but few of the quaint
customs of an older day, when all the
world was young. -Detroit Free Press