The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1897-11-04
THE JOKBRS WERE JOKED
Officer Grant Puts a Sudden Stop to
Halloween Mischief
GATES AND SIGNS IN PECULIAR PLACES
Numerous Customs Associated with
All saints Day-The County sup
erintendent Apportions school
Funds.

Halloween, or the eve of All Saints
day, which properly is the evening OF
October 81 was celebrated Saturday
night. 1t is an occasion of certain popu-
lar superstitions, fairies. witches and
imps of all kinds being supposed to be
then especially active.
Among other things the North Yakima
branch OF fairies, witches and imps did
some house moving. They moved
small house, very small one, over on
Front street and placed it in the glare of
the arc light at the Walnut street cross
ing and displayed over it the sign of one
OF our prominent business houses. They
next proceeded to take wagon from it's
owners home on the west side, which
they hauled several blocks away and
ditch. Officer Grant was too much for
them this time, for after they had had
their laugh and were about to depart, he
emerged ont of the darkness and com
PEELED them to wade into the water, waist
Deep and get the wagon out and return
it to its owner. They were taken to the
cooler to repent while and then allowed
to go home. 1t was too bad to put such
damper on their fun but it had to be
done. Sundry gates were hung up in
trees, one of our prominent attorneys had
/ inf nI r.
shoe shop, depot chair ornamented the
handle OF "A brake on top of box car
and other little jokes were played too nu-
merous to mention
Hallowen'en is the chief festival in the
calendar OF the year for determining the
fate stored in the treasury vaults of the
future. II it is to prove a kind benefac-
tor it will manifest its Intentions in the
tests OF the jewellers on the 3lst of Octo.
Der. II it decides to frown unkindly, il
gives the victim kindly warning by the
turn OF an apple skin or the counting of
seed So the hostess of Halloween
gathering merrily informs her guests and
the guests laughingly believe.
| To test the veal or woe of each indi.
vldual forming the gay assembly of the
final night of October a horseshoe is sus-
pended in the doorway with the ends up
ward. Each person is given an apple
and in turn tries to throw it through the
upturned shoe. The successful pitchers
propitiate the goddess OF fortune, while
those whose apples fall lamentaby short
OF the mark earn her frowning disregard.
The apple is the symbol OF Halloween
The rosy fruit has its due place in nearly
every game that belongs to the ceremonial
OF the yearly festival, and the hostess
who contemplates entertaining her
friends on the eve Of All Saints day must
see that her supply is unlimited
The old fashioned custom Of dlckng
for apples is rather out of favor with
modern devotees OF Halloween Water
is too unpleasantly wet and soaked hair
and collars too limp and unbccOn ing for
popular enthusiasm. There is a way out
OF the difficulty, however, which retains
the ancient custom of duckiny for apples
and at the same time provides a method
that need iDstill no fear Of moist linen
and pompadours in the minds of the
merrymakers of Halloween.
Place two wooden washthbs 90 small
stools or chairs and into them pour as
many apples as there are guests half 10
each tub. A number written on tiny
paper square is pinned to each apple, cor
responding to the number of a list of
names held by the hostess. All the fem.
mime names are in one tub, which is re-
served, OF conrse, for the service OF the
men OF the party, the girls approprating
the other. Each participant in the game
is given a tablespoon and all in turn dive
one arm with its silver implement into
the water and endeavor to capture one of
the bobbing apples. 1t is easier imagined
than realized. The fruit ia tantalizingly
elusive and slips on and off the spoon in
abrupt succession. The diver must stand
also in one position He is forbidden to
wander after an apple around the circum-
ference OF the washtub and must take his
choice from the bobbngbaIls close to his
side OF the wooden bucket. After much
exertion and vexation OF spirit, excited
by the ieering laughter of the rest of the
riotous company. the diver is finally sue.
cessful and the shining, damp apple is
held aloft on the spoon in triumph. The
number on its side is speedily compared
with tie number on the paper carried by