The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-10-31
The DAY OF FATE
Halloween Ceremonies
That Disclose the
Future.
ORIGINALLY A PAGAN OBSERVANCE
Rollicking Games to Play-Types
a Woman Hates-Boston
Brown Bread.


Der of questions which nave been pouring
in concerning every phase of this inter-
esting anniversary
Originally a pagan / observance, long
years of Christianity nave not been able
to obliterate Hallow Fen from the cal
lendar, and it is safe to say that as long
as human nature still carries its streak
Of superstition. this high carnival OF the
superstitious will be observed in some
form.
In many parts Of Scotland and Ireland
the peasantry still celebrate the night
with charms and observance that were
used long years ago. In America there
has been a recent revival of interest in
the weird festival, especially anon the
fashionable set who are staying later
later each year in suburban homes and
at country places. Very few of these
families come in~town before November,
and the Hailow Fen festival is made a
general rounding up of the fun and frolic
which fill the months spent in the coun-
try home
Masquerade parties are much in vogue
for that evening, the phantom party be-
ing a special favorite To this latter en-
tertainment the guests come robed as
ghosts-the conventional ghost-in sheets
and winding white garments. Pillow
cases and holsters are sometimes brought
into use, and a regular phantom party is
usually as grotesque as it is ghostly
After DISCUSSES are put aside. the usual
thing is to try charms and old tricks
and here is where the true fun begins.
The apple-paring trick, of course, must
be tried. Each girl peals an apple with
out breaking the skin, twirls the spiral
+l,;o, o-a5rd how haod and InfG If 0rOD
gently to the ground. The letter which it
forms in falling is the initial of the name
of the future husband 1t is useless to
say. perhaps, that the letter deciphered
depends largely upon inclination and
ina gination. This is a trick that few
men can try; but if there is ever found a
man who can pare an apple without
breaking the skin he may read his fate
in the same simple way.
Another trick which gives opportunity
for a lively fancy is that of dropping
lead. Into a large BOWL of water-a
~punch-bowl is often used-eaeh eager in
quirer pours a drop of melted lead. The
metal of course Immediately hardens into
various shapes, and it is supposed that
on All Hallow Fen it takes the shape of
w~ell-known objects. which indicate the
future occupation or. calling of the future
husband of the fair inquirer. What looks
like a sword means that a soldier is the
future fate; sometimes the supposed
figure of a horse makes a girl, whose
lover is a famous horseman, blush and
look happy. A pen perhaps puzzles and
makes expectant a girl who does not
number a writer in her train of admirers,
and so the fun goes on.
TO READ THE FUTURE.
Another way for a maiden to read the
future on this night of revelations is by
the test of the three dishes. Three dishes
are placed in q row-one contains clear
water; another muddy water, and the
third is empty. The applicant for knowl-
edge is blindfolded and invited to place
her hand in enc of the dishes. If she
dips into the clear water she will marry
well and soon, If into the muddy water
she must expect a widower for a life
mate, and if-unlucky one-she touches
the empty dish she is to have no mate
at all.
In some parts of the Southland one of
these marriage tests is very unique and
causes no end of fun. A number of lighted
candles are placed on the floor, at a dis
tanee of about three feet apart. The girls
then lift their skirts and jump over the
candles one by one. Each candle repre-
sents a year, and for every year that is
e~xtinguished in the jumping process the
maid must wait a year for her marriage.
The girl who jumps the whole line marries
very soon-as such a careful, judicious
body deserves to. Then, you know,
the well-turned ankle and pretty foot add
to the grouping of the picture.
In the Southern States, by the way
All Hallow Fen is a much honored festi-
val, ranging in Importance only next to
Christmas. In the lays before the war,
on many plantations every cabin was
filed with the mystery of the fateful
night. High jinks," too, were played in
mansion as well as cabin, and the Lavish
hospitality of the old regime gave itself
center Hallow Fen is the night set apart
for an informal social function.
around a table and each kneads a piece
of cake with her left thumb, being care
process. If she speaks the charm is
broken, but if, like a wise woman, she
holds her peace for the allotted time she
her future husband. This test provides
an excellent opportunity for the pranks
of those mischievous ones which every
party contains, and sometimes the girl
who forbears to speak under the teasing
and jokes which are 5howered upo her
deserves to see a husband or any other
desired quantity in her dreams.
ROLLICKING GAMES TO PLAY.
There are games, too, for this evening.
This is one that causes much merriment.
Suspend a cord from a ceiling and fasten
to it a portion of a wooden hoop so as to
get a slight circular form, at one end OF
this wooden piece tie an apple, at the
other end q bag of coarse cheese cloth
flied with flour. Each guest with hands
tied behind her back, takes her turn in
trying to bite the apple. As the cord
sways from side to side with its burden
the four bag much oftener than the
slinrcry apple comes in contact with her
head, and the befoured eager. faces are
very mirth provoking and make enough
laughter to digest the heaviest supper.
The supper is another feature of such
an evening.
Once a hostess invited her guests to a
table which seemed filled with every
toothsome thing that could be imagined,
but when they came to eat, 10 and be-
hold, everything was a delusion and a
snare. There were patties of ape with
sawdus filing, salads of crepe paper.
wooden cakes. with painted icing and SO
luxuries. After the joke was played,
however. the real upper appeared later,
and there was at least one solid reality
IN Hallow Fen for those happy guests.
Types a Woman Hates.
The imposing, sweep-everything-be-
fore-sort of feminine, who bounces down |
into her seat in the street car and heed
1essly buries the woman next to her
under the stifened folds of her flaming