Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-31
sIons it is always well to consult their

sions it is always well to consult their
wishes.
There are other tests of the powers
OF Interpretation Of the future which are
supposed TO descend on us ali on such oc-
casions. one of them is shown in the
accompanying illustration by the young
person who is in the act Of what is called
"ducking for apples" This is accom-
plished by filling pan not less than three
and a half inches deep with water,
placing therein two apples. and then
forcing the person who seeks to solve the
mystery TO close their eyes open their
mouth, and then endeavor to pick the
apple from the bottom Of the pan Of
water with their teeth.
Not so easy as It sounds, by any means.
If the reader doubts this fact, let him put
his face downward with open mouth into
any water and see what happens. The
art Of this accomplishment lies in being
able to pick the apple up three times
i'm succession within 3 minutes This
done, the person who does it will dream
Of their future wife or husband when
once they go TO bed. Sometimes, and
always very long ago. a tub was used TO
contain the water instead Of a pan. but
modern custom has substituted the latter
for the former.
Another opportunity which the young
IL
be before she is TO be married is found
in the burning Of hair. Take a hair
from the back Of the head. Light a
match and let the hair take fire. If It
burns an inch and then the fire dies out
! marriage will come within a year After
that q year should be counted for every
| half inch which the flame destroys. This
| is said to be absolutely positive, and If
| the experiment ever proved unsuccessful,
J there is no record of 1t.
( The young man also has his opportuni-
/ ties. He Is not so ready to yield to
/ superstitious fancies as his Dulciana.
The chance that will be given him this
year lies in a dark room. which he must
! enter alone. and standing directly before
a looiing-glass placed therein, repeat this
| verse:
ITO see her is to love her,
And love but her forever;
For nature made her what she is,
And never made another"
When the door is opened leading from
! the room after this verse has been re-
| peated if the young mans hopes have
! been realized, he will see outlined upon
the looking-glass a series Of numbers,
each number indicating the position in
the alphabet of the letter Of his future
| wifes name. If he can remember these
numbers he can figure the whole story
out of the alphabet.
Then there is the lead dropping, which
| involves more reading of history. For
this IL is necessary that at least six peo-
| pie should be together. An ordinary lump
| of lead is taken and melted. Then each
person present dips a spoonful from the
molten mass and drops itfinto a basin OF
] water. where 1t, of course. instantly
cools. When all have done this, and
each piece of lead is in the possession OF
the person who dropped it, the gift OF
prophecy suddenly descends upon some
! member Of the gathering, and the fates
| speaking through him or her, declare
what the future is to be.
Chestnuts have their part in Halloween
and in a perfectly legitimate fashion
Two persons. always a man and wo'
man. select one chestnut each. These
two chestnuts are placed upon the Goals
If they gently roast together that is sym
bolicaI Of the life that is before those
who placed them there, but if they sput
ter and fly apart, then the lines OF th'
lives OF the two people are sure to liz
apart -,
And so it goes. For ways that are odt
and tricks that are perhaps vain, All
halloween, like the heather Chinee, i
peculiar. And the same we are free u
maintain.