Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-29
, Halloween Ground-FIoor Party.
CTbe Country Gentleman

Surely. "the maddest. merriest' night
of all year is All-Hallow-Eve or Nut
Crack Night" as il was known III ola
England. To the very young II mean,
such license in the matter OF run an
frolc and trick playing as would scarceS
be permitted on any other night IN the
year. Older and more commentary IN
Illned youths and maldens tempt Ia'th
hy ueering into the future according 10
quaint devices and time -honcred customs.
Quite new is the "Ground-Fioor Party,
So named from the fact that the parry >
held I'm the basement, If there IS one, ana
Il not. on the ground-foor proper.
The walls should be tapestried with tan
cornstalks. the dried leaves, and In many
cases the ripe corn. still attached to them
This can be kept in position by Two
mr. three lateral crossings OF tWlne winch
must be the color Of the stalks, so as not
IN Interfere with the cifec. "a the out-
door growth. Wreathe pictures ana
cbandeliers with grapevines. their bronze
and red leaves. dark branches, anu pun
ple and golden fruit making apleH'ii'u
Racchanalian. decoration. rom the cen
ing suspend yellow pumih'hs' u""1
foImed into weird and srot's1Ge races
nv tho hand of an imaginative, though
amateur. sculptor. These, with lth'eu
candle inside. produce an appdlhhSly uh-
earthly effect.
As each lady leaves the adjoining dress
ing-room she is to be presented Win
cabbage stalk. upon which her name mas
baen carved. These will be collector ny
the hostess IA she welcomes her sueS1o'
and slipped into a bag carried on HeI a. ~
When supper Is announced eacn se"e,
man draws stalk from TINS LaS' nc
name on il deciding who shall be MS part
net at suppe. .,.,.t,. ote,r-
cd and the real business Of the evening
heoins ushered i'm. I'm true English couh-
trv-house STYLE by the wassail Do"l Oh
/ Holland delft or by some china or glass
Substitute. The wassail itself is luscious
/ mixture of sweet cream, sugar spCes,
| baked apples. and pears, with Dits Oh
lemon and orange peel. ana TINS Institutes
the beginning OF the tortune-telllhS by
means of a great ladle each guest helps
himself In a norton OF the creamy COM
pound. dipping it out upon shallow sau-
/ GERS. To bring mp portion OF me lIu'1
| (which has been cut into eights), brings
! good luck. but to land only Grove OF az
auspice IL an evil omen, indeed.
Next all lights are banished except
thar from the ghostly pumpkin lanterns
and the log fire which should burn ana
| flicker I'm the fireplace In front OF ms
must he hung chastnuts i'm their prickly
J burrs. suspended by a twis OF the bouSh
] thar bore them. and. alas, for the owner
/ of the burr that refuses To give up us
prize before the blaze! Just so tenacious
/ n grasp will the future keep on the pre-
/ he would fain wiring from ", whether that
| be- coveted wealth or the hand OF some
! fair one. Apples twirling from scout
| Irvine are put 70 roast before the nre' anu
woe 10 the owner Of that apple whlcA
/ shall scorch and dry instead OF burst
| ing into snowy beauty, for lust snch beau
Sea fruit will life be for him! Let me
whisper right here that you can N
measure control your fate by hanging the
omen not too close TO or too FAR from the
| fire Then apples are pared, and JOY 10
! the one who succeeds i'm pairing lie SKIN
| I'm one long. sinuous length. For TINS,
| cast over the left shoulder. VIII give the
magic. mysterious initial In IT'S wlndings
! Preparations for the witch's boat con-
sist I'm fitting the halves OF English wal
| nut shells deprived Of their meat, with
| very short lengths OF tiny wax c1ndles'
! trimming one end so that 1t VIII burn
readily. and melting the other little
so that IL may be pressed into the shell.
! If there are not different cOlored candles
enough 10 20 round. afiiX "A small strip
of paper containing the owners name TO
/ the inside Of the shell by means OF a little
mucllage. All this should be- done before
| hand. but the company must now retire
10 the dressing-room. whence they VIII
issue in couples al a given signal, return
inc 10 find their hostess dressed I'm true
wtch's costume. with high pointed hat
and long flowing mantle. Upon the table.
in place Of the wassail bowl. stands a
large tub half filed with water. In ST.
lence the guests receive from their witch
hostess each his boat. which is
lighted from the witch's candle
and placed by It's owner upon
| this mimic sea of life. When all
are launched. he witch's wand sets
the water i'm motion. but the course Of
your boat will decide your fate. Should
II stanchly cross the water and closely
hug the edge OF the tub. health and
wealth and long life are yours; II il
cross but hall way. reamining there or
clrcling round I'm an aimless sort OF way,
you may look for defeat and failure.
! II II clings 10 the edge OF the tub. and
refuses TO take its chances. you should.
| il there is any truth in these Omens.
lack ambition and enterprise. Should
your own and your partners boat sail
side by side all across the water. IL pre-
diets a lifelong friendship: but n they
! jostle each other. look out FOR storms
ahead and the true love which never runs
| smooth. The length Of time which each
! candle burns fOretells the length Of it's
owners life; the one which burns the
longest points out the first bride or bride
groom. ALICE CHlTTENDEN.
| us. TIN Roosfer WouiI (roxy.