davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-31

HALLOWEEN is the chief festi.
III val in the calendar of the year
u for determining the fate stored
for all in the treasury vaults OF
the future. If it is to prove kind
benefactor it will manifest its inten-
lions in the tests of jewellers On the 3lst
of October If it decides to frown I'M
kindly, it gives the victim kindly
warning by the turn of an appleskin
or the counting of a seed. So the hos
tess of Halloween gathering merrily
informs her guests and the guests
laughingly believe.
To test the veal of woe of each in
dividual forming the gay assembly of
the final night of October a horseshoe
is suspended in the doorway with the
ends upward. Each person is given an
apple and in turn tries to throw 1t
through the upturned shoe. The sue
cessful pitchers propitiate the goddess
of fortune, while those whose apples
fall lamentably short of the mark earn
her frowning disregard.
Like the Eliza of coster immortality,
the girl who dies an old maid has
only herself to blame if she encounters
the silver thimble hidden somewhere
in the rooms devoted to the noisy uses
of the Halloween party. A ring, a
dime and a thimble are secreted in the
apartment and their hiding places are
known only to the hostess. The party
is freely privileged to search for the
missing articles in crowds, in couples
or singly. The discovery OF the domes~
tic badge of servitude exemplified in
the silver thimble condemns its finder
to life of single blessedness, but the
girl or man unfortunate enough to
catch a glimpse of its denied surface
may learn a lesson from the famous
British admiral who turned his blind
eye to the signal for retreat flying from
the flagship Of his superior and saw
only what he wanted to see.
If the voyage of discovery results
in the capture of the silver dime,
fortune in money is promised the re-
cipient in reward. But wealth is sec
ondary to happy marriage, according
to the formulas of Halloween, and the
ring is the best prize of all in the gift
of fate to bestow, for it insures the
welded happiness of man and woman.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-31

f THE girl or man who enters into
the spirit of Halloween gavety
4 be dexterouS with fruit knife
an0 curious to learn the initial
that starts the name of the Prospective
fortunate individual who is to link his
fate with the fate of the seeker into
the mysterious regulations of the fu-
ture, she or he will accept a ripe annie
from the quantity on the table and he
gin to pare its skin. The operation il
most carefully performed Round and
round over the surface of the apple the
dexterous fingers must guide tha
treacherouS knife blade The skin
must be thinly cut and must be pared
in narrow stripes. If the apple is d.
vested of its covering without single
break in the shining skin the fate of
the parer will certainly be nodded by
the choicest fairy godmother presid-
ing over the realms of the to be. When
the apple is pared the test be-ins.
One end of the spiral skin is clasped
lightly between the thumb and first
finger and then skillfully tossed over
the shoulder of the holder to the floor.
The imagination of the thrower or his
friends invariably fashions the pairing
into the appropriate letter of the al
phabet to spell the name of the de-
sired one.
Naming the seeds of an apple is an
other part of the diversion of Hallow-
cen. The fruit is carefully Quartered
and the tiny brown seeds laid side by
side on a plate. The formula of emu
meration is as follows:
One l love, two | love, three love,
say;
Four / love with all my heart, and five
l cast away.
Six he loves, seven she loves, eight
they both agree:
Nine he comes, ten he tarries
Eleven he courts and twelve he mar
ries.
If there are more seeds in the core
of the apple than the dozen explained
in the rhyme the verses are said sec
ond time until the right number is
reached. Apple seeds are also named
and placed on the eyelids, one on each.
Girls names are used for men and
mems for girls. The seed first falling
off the eyelid is the rejected sutton,
and the remaining one is the desired
lady or gentleman whom fate Is sup
posed to develop into the mot impos-
sible he or She"
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-31

ANE of the prettiest customs asso-
ciated with memories of Hal
" loween gayety is the pastime of
sugar spinning. A chatting dish
and three pounds of barley sugar are
the chief requisites for the entertain
ing diversion. The sugar is poured
into the chatting dish and as it melts
1t is tested by a cooking thermometer
until it reaches the correct tempera-
ture for the fairy weaving, which ap-
proximates 800 degrees.
Each guest is provided with an or
binary iron skewer and broad, fiat
plate OF dish. All draw around the
table supporting the chatting dish with
its simmering contents. The alcohol
flame is partly covered to prevent the
temperature increasing. Before each
guest at the table a card is placed by
the hostess, on which is written the
name of man or girl included in the
festive party. At signal from the
person experimenting the workings of
the sugar and chatting dish the thin
iron skewers are inserted into the
boiling liquid and when drawn out
they carry on their points a tiny
thread of spun gold which is not de-
tached by the weaver of the magic
fabric until his wool is completed
With the golden thread attached to
the point of the metal skewer the ar
fist begins to fashion some imaginary
symbol corresponding to his impress
sion of the life, tastes, inclinations
or characteristics of the owner whose
name is written on his card A small
slipper may compliment the tiny feet
of girl guest and at the same time
promise her the happy termination of
Cinderella's Interview with the prince
A wedding ring is equally propitious
and an engagement ring is warranted
to provoke laughter, bushes, denials
and affrmations. An ambitious artist
is sometimes able TO form a recogniz-
able portrait Of girl or man. Some
times he draws a bicycle with this
magic thread or book, or a piano, or
dove. Frequently he aims at the I'M
attainable and covers his failures with
mysterious hints of what he means to
convey. Mittens and cats are often
sources Of mirthful enjoyment. When
the sugar hardens the gift is presented
to the model for the symbolic portrait,
who can take it home or eat it in ac-
cordance with his sentimental or prac-
teal temperament.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-31

:" HE large cake which sometimes
adorns the center of the table
at Halloween gathering must
carry on its frosted surface as
many lighted candles as there are
guests in the assembly. Each candle
is different color, so that each guest,
when selecting piece of the cake, Sc
lects also her favorite shade. The col
ors are all symbolical of some parsicu-
lar fate, in reference to a future life
that is told by the hostess in rhym-
ed couplet as each piece of cake il
chosen by man or girl. Then the can
die is held at arms length and the
owner tries three times to blow out
its light. If successful on the first
trial the person will be married within
the year; if he takes two efforts to
quench the fire it will also take two
years to end in marriage; If three. at
tempts are necessary the owner of the
candle will live in single blessedness
until the conclusion of the third year.
If even the third trial prove unsuceess-
full he may congratulate his unlucky
self that marriage is failure. at least
for him.
Another fashion of learning the
udulS Vi tU0 USSlTSU HUSBAND OF WIFE
Of the future is part again as the ex-
elusive rites of All Halloween. The
mouth is filed with water, and, clos
ing the lips firmly together, every man
and girl in gathering rushes up and
down stairs, according to the accidents
of household arrangement, and ous
into the street. The regulations an
nounce it necessary TO run quickly
around the block, men going one way
and girls another, unless the feminine
element is timid, when both sexes
travel the same road. If one goes one
way and the other the opposite direc-
ton there is sure TO be laughter at
least and possibly collision when OPP
posing Greek meets opposing Greek
in the center of the Dlock. If the
water is not spilled before the return
home one is promised number of
lucky gifts, the essential being that he
will learn the NAME of his future
spouse in his course around the block.
To make the charm work perfectly the
race must be made exactly on the
stroke of midnight.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-31
HIS S}Ia6,OOO RIDE.
Speeding Horse Ninety Miles to
Save a Fortune.
Started\by a Few Idle Drill Strokes
in a Wildcat Well-Land Sold
for Twenty FIVE Thousand That
nUas Worth a Million.

zone of the notable incidents of
early days in the Pennsylvania oil re-
gions was John Prather's $4,000, 600
ride from Oil City to Pittsburg," said
Byron G. Smith, of Cleveland, "and l
was the man that started him on it,
Il call it his $4,000 900 ride because
by taking that ride he made $1,000, 900
apiece for himself and his two broth
ers. When he mounted his horse at
Oil City that January morning in 1865
the three of them combined didn't have
$4,000.
Il was an oil well driller, and it was
few idle strokes of my drill in wild
cat well that | was about to draw my
tools out of and abandon that sent
John Prather flying on horseback on
that 90-mile ride to fortune-and he
didn't have a cents worth of interest
in the vi, either.
1.{n the summer of 1864 l was en-
rployed by one of the myriad wildcat
ence during the early petroleum excite
ment to put down a we'll ION territory
! it had leased of a farmer named Holm
kden. The territory was seven or eight
miles beyond what was then believed
be the limit of the Oil Creek dis
Jet.
The company had an immense cap
on paper, but it actually had none
all. 1t was formed solely to dis
'se of it's stock. That it became sud
emily one of the weaithiest companies
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-31

" BROAD hearth and a glowing
. fire are parts of the necessary
~ accessories of Halloween en-
tertainment So are chestnuts
and lead and popcorn. The merry
popping and swapping of the heated
corn adds its share to the general hi
larity of the evenings gathering. Each
guest in turn or two together tempts
fate with roasted chestnuts and en-
deavors to wrest the secret of the fu-
ture out Of the burning Goals in the
CRATE. Two nuts are placed on a
shovel or pan, one named for the per-
son who holds them over the fire ana
the other baptized with the title of the
man or girl most in favor with the
owner OF the other chestnut The
nuts are placed about three inches
apart on the shovel and then placed
over the glowing Goals. If the two
chestnuts burn brightly happy mar
riage is the typified result Ii the nul
named for the man jumps away from
the girl he refuses to consider her
available for matrimony. If the girl
nut leaves the man she resents his at
tempt at the c0mpanionship of a life
time. If, on the contrary, the chest
nut named for the man jumps close to
the side of the other nut it presages a
proposal to the girl before the next
new moon. Sometimes the girl who
holds the shovel surrounds her single
nut with variety of manly suitors,
giving each a fighting chance by plac-
ing each in exact distance away from
her environment. When the fire be-
gins to agitate the chestnuts the fun
begins for the spectators, for in this
instance the surrounding nuts are
named aloud by the rest of the inter-
ested company. Some jump entirely
Off the shovel, others fail to ignite ana
the remaining fight valiantly for mas
terry. But it is only one who wins.
A CRATE fire is also necessary for an
other kind of fortune telling INDUCED
in on All Halloween. Melted lead is
also part of the necessary rubrics in
service for the October festival. When
it reaches the necessary temperature,
it is, dipped out with an iron spoon
and dropped in cups holding cold
water When it hardens it has usually
formed itself into some unique symbol
which imagination can easily apply to
the holder of the cup.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-31

and he let the Prathers have $4,000 of it
for $500.
They paid Mrs Holmden her de-
mand and the Holmden farm passed
into their possession-S3,0 200, 900 for
$4,000 for that was the amount the
boys cleaned up and divided from their
lease and royalties on the farm and pro-
duction during the two years of the life
or that marvellous oil pocket.
The wildcat company got out of
their part of the farm about as much
more, besides paying its dividends to
the stockholders. And how much do
you suppose that company gave me for
having the investigating turn of mind
but for which it never would have pos
sessed that rich oil vein? | don't mind
telling you, now that the thing is all
over. The company didn't give me a
cent.-New York Sun.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-31

ever organized in the oil regions, and
was enabled to pay enormous divi-
dends to its shareholders, was to no
one as much of surprise as It was to
the projectors themselves.
"The Holmden farm wasn't worth
$4,000 all told, but John Prather, who
was a son-in-law of H0lmden, having
watched the methods and manipula-
tons of oil land spectators on the
creek for year or more, believed he
saw a possibility of doing some profit
able speculation on the Holmden farm
himself
THE company that had begun
operations on the farm was booming
it, and spectators not in the field were
beginning to make anxious and eager
inquiries about it. John Prather and
his brothers, Abe and George, owned a
farm at Plumer, and oil had been
struck near it. He induced his broth
ers to his way of thinking about the
Holmden farm, and John went to his
father-in-law, and on the part of him
self and his brothers made him an
offer of $4,000 for the refusal of that
part of his farm not leased by the oil
company, the option to be for sixty
days.
The security the Prathers had to
give was not worth $4,000 nor any
thing like it, it being simply their
farm at PlUmer, but the offer itself
was tremendous. Farmer Holmden
net believing the boys could raise that
much money in sixty days, and seeing
better prospects for oil on the Prather
farm at Plumer than there was on his
own farm, accepted the offer and sign
ed papers to that effect
q hate to Go the boys out of their
farm, old Holmden said to me the day
he signed the papers, especially as
Johnny's my son-in-law, but if they
don't know good thing when they've
got it, l can't help it,
This was along in November.
kept pegging away at the we'll l was
drilling, and the Prather boys began
negotiating for customer for their
territory on the strength of that well.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-31
capsized her, as we say.

capsized her as we say.
We'll, what does ne do but he catches
salmon and puts them into tanks. and
the water was thick as cruel and the
FISH could hardly wag their tails In It.
Then he threw in whole pepper corns.
half a dozen pounds at time, till there
was enough. Then he began TO dilute
with vinegar until the pickle was COM
plete.
THE fish did not half like It at first;
but habit Is everything; and when he
showed me his tank. they were swim
ming about as merry as a shoal of place.
he fed them with fennel. chopped small.
and black pepper corns.
Come, doctor says 7, I trust no
man upon tick; II I don't taste I won't
believe my own eyes, though / can be-
lieve my tongue That you shall do in
a minute says he; so he whipped one OF
them out with a landing net; and when
I stuck my knife into him. tho pickle
ran out OF his body like wine out of
claret bottle, and l ate at least two
pounds Of the rascal. while he Tapped
his tail in my face. / never tasted such
salmon as that.
Worth your while TO go to Scotland,
II it's only for the sake Of eating live
picked salmon. I'll give you a letter.
any Of you. to my friend. He'll be glad
to see you; and then you may convince
yourselves. Take my word for Il. II once
you eat salmon that way you will never
eat 1t any othor."-The Naval Officer.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-31
!" HE apple is the symbol of Hal
loween. The rosy fruit has its
due place in nearly every game

~ II u
loween. The rosy fruit has its
u due place in nearly every game
that belongs to the ceremonial
OF the yearly festival of the 31st of Oc-
tober, and the hostess who contem-
plates entertaining her friends on the
eve of All Saints day must see that
her supply is unlimited.
The old-fashioned custom of ducking
Tor apples is rather out of favor with
modern devotees of Halloween Water
is too unpleasantly wet and soaked hair
and collars too limp and unbecoming
Tor popular enthusiasm. There is a
way out of the difficulties. however
which retains the ancient custom OF
ducking for apples and at the same
time provides method that need in
still no fear of moist linen and pompa-
dours in the minds of the merry-makers
OF Halloween.
Place two wooden washtubs on small
stools or chairs and into them pour as
many apples as there are guests, half
in each tub. A number written On "a
tiny paper square is pinned to each
apple, corresponding to the number of
a list of names held by the hostess. All
the feminine names are in one tub,
WHICH, 10 IGSSlNCu, Vi COulSC, lOi Inv
service of the men of the party, the
girls appropriating 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 i'm
agined than realized. The fruit is tan
talizingly elusive and slips on and off
the silver spoon in abrupt succession.
The diver must stand also in one posi-
ton. He is forbidden to wander after
an apple around the circumference of
the washtub, and must take his choice
from the bobbing balls close to his
side. of the wooden bucket. After
much exertion and vexation of spirit,
excited by the jeering laughter of the
rest of the riotous company, the diver
is finally successful and the, shining,
damp apple is held aloft on the spoon
in triumph. The number on it's side
IS speedily compared with the number
on the paper carried by the hostess. If
it is a man who draws up the first
apple the girl named as his prize is his
partner for supper. When it is the
girls turn to try her luck with the
silver spoon the man she selects is the
fortunate claimant for the opening
dance.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-31
Sounded OUEElR.

Mrs Wickwlre-Aren't you a trife late
in getting home?
Mr.. Wickwire-I went to the theatre.
They had a nautical piece on; l have
been to a good many plays of one kind
and another, but this one is one you want
to see to see sea scenery
Henry Wickwre,. Have you been
drinking? "-Indianapolis Journal.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-31
so DIFFERENT.

Sarianne-Reginald, how that bear in
the museum hugs that post 1 like him,
Reggy.
Reginald (suspiciously)-You do?
Sarianne (foldly)-Yes, Reggy, he re-
minds me so much of you.
Reginald--Of me?
Sarianne-Yes he's so different.-Detroit
Free Press.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-31
WRITER'S CRAMP PREVENTED.

Writer'S cramp is prevented by a
new device, which consists of frame
which, with the pen or pencil, forms
tripod to slide over the paper, the
body of the tripod being hollow to hold
hot water
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-31
DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE IDIOM.

Excuse me, professor. but I know I
am intruding."
why intruding?"
Because 1 hear those foreign ladies
translating in the next room"
Foreign ladies? Why that's my wife
and her sister talking plaid waists
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-31
HAD TAKEN AN ACTIVE PART

Mr.. Rambo explaining the lateness of
his coming in)-I was detained down town
thish evenin', m'dear. by p'litical bust
mesh
Mrs. Rambo-Politfcal business, Absa-
LON? What kind?
Mr.. Rambo-Been attendin' an irrigation
congresh, 'dear-Chicago Tribune
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-31

A buried city like that of Pompeii
is being eXcavated in Central America,
at the foot of the volcano Aqua. Pot
terry, fine glassware, flint instruments
and human skeletons over six feet long
have been taken out at depths of four
teen feet to eighteen feet.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-31
AN IMPROVED FIRE ALARM.

Warwick-"Talk about slow places,
Some Of those Southern towns walk off
with the whole pastry country. | lived
in one Of them a year. Nice and pleas
ant enough a place to live in, but I
was always afariad of having q fire."
Wickwire-" Firemen stop to trade
jackknives on the way to a fire, sup
pose"
Warwick" Stop on the way TO a
fire! Great heavens, They didn't
have any fire alarm system. They
used postal cards altogether. New
York Journal.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-31
WOMEN PREACHERS N MAINE.

Several Maine churches have had
women pastors for several years now,
and these pastors have been very sue
cessful.
Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-31
SAND ISI.A

SAND ISLANDS IN A TEXAS RIVER.
In the River Llano Of Texas little
islands OF floating sand are sometimes
seen.
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-09-22
MENACE TO PUBLIC.
Powder Magazine Should be Re-
moved to Another Place.

moved to Another Place.
The necessity of removing the pow
der magazine from it's present loca-
ton to one where it will be of less dan
ger to the public was again demon
strated yesterday morning, when
quantity OF black powder and Hercules
giant powder was being carted away
in a dray.
Through the carelessness of the
driver. who had nothing to secure the
powder, a box of giant powder fell
from the wagon to the ground. This
happened on Victoria street, and had
an explosion taken place, the loss Of
life and destruction OF property would,
in all probability, have been great.
There is no question in the minds of
the people that the magazine should be
removed to some place out in the har-
Dor in some other position where, in
ease of an explosion, the danger to
life and property would be reduced to
a minimum.
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-09-22
Ladies' TO Row.

Several of the young ladies in SYM
pathy with the Myrtle Boat Club are
pull against lady crews from the other
clubs in the next regatta. They are
anxious to have the matter brought up
at the next meeting OF the NJ. B. G.
and, it is certain, that the boys will
acquiesce TO the proposition. a crew
Of ladies from each of the clubs would
certainly make a very interesting race.
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-09-22

A big hula to the visiting American
Congressmen was given at the home Of
J. A. Cummins, Pauoa, last night.
Quite large number of people were
present. The house was decorated for
the occasion and torchlights lined the
driveway to direct the guests where to
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-09-22

SCHILLlNG'S BEST bak-
ing has powerful leavening
strength. Raises most any
thing--even mortgages, in
this way: it is good for the
stomach, good stomach makes
good brains, good brains
makes mortgage money. At
your grOcer'S.
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-09-22
A CURE FOR BILIOUS coLIc.

RESOURCE, Screven Co., Gal
have been subject to attacks Of bilious
collie for several years. Chamberlain's
Collie, Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy
is the only sure relief. 1t acts like a
charm. One dose Of it gives relief
when all other remedies fail.-G. D.
SHARP. For sale by all druggists and
dealers, Benson, Smith & Co., agents
for Hawaiian Islands.