The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-10-31
Some OF the 0Id.tlme Diversions at This
Mystic, WltChIng Season.
VARIOUS WAYS OF TELLING FORTUNES
You May Not Believe Them ALSO.
IuteIy Reliable. but There is Lots
of Fun in Trying DEMONSTRATING
for Apples, Floating the Needle,
And Other ways.
(New York Tim,es.)

The first Autumn holiday after school
mas fairly begun is Halloween, or All
Hallow's Eve, the eve of All Saints Day,
November lst. 1t comes this year OH
Saturday. so there will be u chance for
some frolics, as there will be no lessons
to study. All sorts of games and amuse-
ments are tried on this mystic day; and
In oiden times these were supposed to
foretell future events. OF course. we
do not believe in such things nowadays
but the sport remains just as entertain
ing.
Most of the tricks relate to the future
husband or wife of the person who tries
them, and part of the fun is the absurdi-
ty of children having any ideas about
such matters. Perhaps the greatest fun
for youngsters is bobbng for apples A
tub of water is placed on the floor and in
turn the children reach over it's edge
and try to pick an APPLE out with their
teeth. They are such slippery things
that they are very difficult TO get at
sometimes Il penny Is placed in one, and
this prize is eagerly tried for. Or IL
name is written on the npple-as
George, John, Grace, or Helcn-and the
name on the apple which you are sue
cessful In getting out is supposed to be
that OF your future husband or WIFE,
according as you are girl. or boy
In this trick the boys and girls must
try In different tubs, or at different
times in the same tub, so as to have
only the girls name for the boys and
the boys name for the girls. The kitch-
en- or some room that has an oil cloth
on the floor Is the best place for this
trick, as the bobbng process is apt to
splash good deal of water.
Another trick is to put on the table
three bowls, In one of which is soapy
water, In another clear water and in
the third nothing. Then the person IS
blindfolded and the bowls are changed
around In another order The boy or
girl comes up to the table and puts out
a finger; III ii goes in the clear water his
or her married life will be happy, il in
the Soapy, widow or widower will be
the wife or husband, and If I'm the empty
water there will be no wedding at ALL
Floating the needle is another way to
find out about the future, according to
Hallowe'en's mysteries. Each child
takes creased needle and tries to set
1t afloat in basin OF water. 1t needs
considerable care to do this. and the be-
haVior of the needle after ii is set afloat
with all the others is supposed to show
what liz going to happen by and by.
| If one needle rushes as it often will,
right to anotheri it may be supposed that
those two needle owners are fond OF
each other.
Chewing the raisn Isl done by passing
a string through raisin and slipping
the rainin along TO the exact middle;
| then two persons take each an end in
|
the raisin. Whoever gets it first may
eat 1t. a nut or Il piece of apple is
often used instead of raisin. A pretty
trick is accomplished with halves of
walnut shells used as boats. They are
filled with melted wax and provided
with short end of string or wick When
the wick is lighted the little boat is
launched in a dish of water, and the
way the frai little craft sails is sup
posed to show the future career of its
owner Sometimes, alas, 1t promptly
sinks which is very ominous.
| English children are specially fond of
snap dragon for Halloween, but this
should not be tried by children alone,
as it needs the use of lighted alcohol
The dragons are little verses, like the
motto verses, each bit of paper on which
one Is written being wrapped in a piece
of tinSoil. These are then thrown into
a basin of water. on the top Of which is
carefully poured some alcohol. which is
then set ablaze. While the alcohol is
burning each in turn must snatch a
dragon from the flame. and read his
| fortune. The water should be in a tin
pan. and should be set on n square OF
enamel cloth laid over the table. for
drops OF blazing alcohol may be spilled
in the swapping process. And be sure
to try this only with an elder person
managing the sport.