Evening journal., 1899-10-31

fLAlo lN ihH Nh-oAfDiNN AN-'
OF THE sEAsoN-PRETTY LOVE
STORY Or THE GREAT LoKI OF
NORTHERN EUROPE = SOME
poNTs FOR THE BOYS
Tho mystic Halloween season is
hero. and the quaint festival viii be
celebrated in many happy homes this
evening
u May Day be reckoued as the mad-
dest. merriest day Of the calendar.
then Halloween is the night OF nights
on which all escapados are permissible
and an frolics tolerated and forgiven,
even by grown ups.
The little nonsense now and then
IS natures kind safety valve fori
weary brain and oy6rtaxed body andl
for those. too. who would fain be re-
aardod as the Olympians on the
heights. there is plenty of interest and
its incidental recreation, In the story
of Halloween.
The popularity OF Halloween has gone
a.. .,y leaDs and bounds within the
past twenty-five years for Halloween
can claim precedence of b.rthright
over ail the holidays and feasts of
Christcndom. It was born in the mists
OF time and its decadence seems to bel
as far on.
The hazel tree and its nuts are insep-
arablo from Halloween associations.
Harmony aud love arc their pagan mes
saces from the Gods just as Peace and
Goodwill Is the text Of the Christmas
theme.
Mercury's hazel wand was the sym
hol of harmony and its touch was heal
ing. The story OF the hazel tree has
littlo direct signincation for Hallow-
cen. but from the tree TO its fruit
there is but a short and direct step.
The nuts of the tree grow In pairs.
and SO our common ancestors. In Low
Germany, called it the marriage tree,
hence the hapoy significance of two
nuts burning quietly together
LOKrs LOVE STORY.
Ones imaginative faculties are rather
blunted because of ever increasing
business I'm life, but still can appreci-
ate and understand the beauty Of my
thology in such a love tale as that of
the great Loki Of Northern Europe
Of beauty and youth, and to rescue her
from the frost giants. transformed him
self into a falcon. She became hazel
nut. which he triumphantly carried of
In his heak. SO nuts are. therefore,
the symbol OF love and marriage. and
are still scattered on the ground at
weddings I'm Italy and Germany, just as
they were In Scandinavia and Rome of
ancient DAYS
The Young folk Of Bohemia burn
their nuts together ON Christmas Eve.
but the Significance Is the same.
Another custom still practiced 10
Europe. but. as far as known, not inn
ported into this country. is TO float
the nut shells In water towards light
ed candle Each tiny boat bears its
owners wishes. and carries as freight
the precious but unexpressed name
and the boat first at the winning post
or candle gains love and favor for IFS
owner.
All of which may seem cxtranoous tc
the subject of Halloween. but which
in reality Eliminates the golden story
Of IT'S nuts which bring 10 eaters and
burners only wealth, happiness and
good fortune.
THE CHESTNUT.
The chestnut has less signidcanc,
iiau itc hazel nut but on AN Saints
night it ia still freely eaten as th,
suitable nourshmcnt for All Souls
eve thus bearing ont the belief in im
mortality which the hazel NUT engen
dered ON Halloween.
THEN AND NOW.
Halloween was as the last throw O
Tie merry dice of life before the frOe
giants oil Winter cast their icy morsel
over the earth and froze as 10 IA
marrow natures smiling beauty an
serdrrc. But there was the hope
Spring 60 come and so the nuts wel
buried and also burned, and their ashe
buried. 10 keen the earth latentl
fruitful until the sun should smi
again.
Little wonder that mysticism nou
ishel around such thought Life
last struggle before crushing deaf
might well call out feasting to drow
thoughts OF the melancholy thereafte
Hallowe ca now is but one OF q
merry incidents Of a happy family an
social liie--a good opportunity glad
seized by all for proving that benea
work while you work, play while "
play, there is as much real econom
wisdom as is contained by the nc
sententious of moralists.
DON'TS FOR HALLOWEEN.
Boys, this paragraph is for you. 70
parents must skip it. but you must
Il be Impressed upon your memoi
everyone Of you Bad boys have il
their power to annoy their fathers, W
are no longer bad boys; to annoy tn
mothers their sisters. and aunts. W