The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-31
FR0LICS At HALLOWEEN
MANY LOCAL FESTIVITIES IN HONOR
OF THE OCCASION.
Social "Reminiscences OF Old Days in
IndiannpoIis-FreeK inderEarten
ODera-PersonaI Mention.

The observance of Halloween is of great
antiquity. 1t dates beyond the middle ages
in England. and far more prominence was
given Il then than has ever been given to
it in this country. 1t appealed powerfully
to the superstiticus beliefs of bygone days.
when men and women of education believed
in the existence of ghosts, witches, kelpies
and all sorts of evil spirits in bodily form
that prowled about on this fateful night,
influencing the lives CT men and women for
veal or woe. There are, and always Will be,
believers IN the occult, and no man can
prove absolutely that supernatural influ-
ences do not prevail, but the conviction
that they have special power on Halloween
is not as popular and positive as it once
was.
Oct. 81 coming on Sunday, as it does this
year. made the observance of the special
features, in the way of entertainments.
come last night, while a few were held Fri
day night. The markets have been bereft
OF pumpkins, which were transformed into
Jack lanterns, and any that escaped that
fate went into pumpkin pies. There was
never a night when so many doughnuts,
pies and cider were served for refreshments,
and so many tricks" performed. Fortune
telling played an important part in all the
proceedings. 1t can scarcely be said, in this
day. that any one believes in the destiny
evidenced in roasted cheetnuts, in mirrors,
in floating apples, or any of the hundred
other things that are done on Hallowe en-
1t is purely a night for frolic. and on no
other night In the year do the young people
have the same kind of an entertainment
as on this. There were scores of parties
in the city last night and yesterday The
children at ST. Pauls Church and those at
Meridian-street M. L. Church were given
parties Mrs J. II. White entertained the
girls at Knickerbacker Hall with frolic
Mrs. c. B. Cakes gave q party for her chill
dren, Mr.. and Mrs Frank Harrington en-
tertafned Il few of their young married
friends at their new home on Ash street;
the K c. Club had a hay ride out to the
Blue farm and q dance after their arrival;
Miss I.eona Rudy was hostess for mas
uuerate party and the guests preserved
their incognito until late in the evening;
Miss Mabel Hauk gave small party, with
all the Halloween accompaniment; Miss
Jessie Eckhouse entertained the Phi Pi Pts
at her home on North Meridian street; there
were dances at the Claremont and the
Charlemont Hotels; the Misses Smith, OF
North Illinois street. gave dance; Misses
Dora Kiefer, Anna Jillson and Helen Bow
man entertained with progressive dinner,
a course at each house; Mr. Fred Beck gave
a stag party, with tricks, fortunes, jack
lanterns and all, Ray Newcomb, Elmer
Keay, Fletcher Hodges, Hines Share and
Donald Ketcham seeking the future with
him. Friday evening gay Hallowe' en-
party was given at the Classical School res
idence A dark supper was served. All the
girls were dressed in sheets. red booth
was erected in the drawing room, and 1t
was decorated with autumn leaves and
branches, yellow predominating me girls
palms were read by one Of the teachers,
Who was dressed in gypsy style, and all
kinds of tricks were tried, one being the
Set each filed with a different liquid. "A
girl blindfclded has to take up. one of the
pitchers and the one taken decides her rate.
Finally all the girls sat in q circle on the
floor and told their most dreadful ghost
zfo