Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-31
Mystic Charms.


Apples form one of the chief means of
divination, and in many ways may be en-
ployed in Halloween pastimes and super
stitiOus performances Pare an apple and
throw the long peeling over the left Shout
der. The strip will form itself into the
shape of the letter of ones best love. Two
apple seeds, named for different suitors or
admirers and placed on the eyelids, will
surely divine the character of the love III
the two persons named. The seed first fall
ing from the lid will be the tickle, unfaith-
full lover. while the remaining one will be-
speak the fidelity and deep affection of the
party whose name 1t bears.
The looking glass charm is another pop
ular one. Should a girl look steadfastly
into a mirror while eating IN apple she will
see therein the face of her future adorcd
one. Then, after walking down stairs back
ward, she may turn quickly and behold his
vision. Candles are often employed in
Journeys to the cellar in search of visions
of this type
On this night nuts named for different
also tell of the steadfastness or faitheSs-
ness of the beings of the flesh represented
by them. If one bursts and pops away it
shows. does the apple seed what an I'M
faithful thing he she may be. If two
nuts. named for certain couple of lovers,
catch fire and burn together, it signifies
the pair will be married and live happily
forever after. A pop or jump will indicate
a rupture, the nut guilty of the act being
the party at fault.
The charm CT the plates is an excellent
one for Halloween gatherings. Three plates
should be placed on small table, one filled
with clear water, the second with linked or
muddy water. while the third remains
empty. Blndfolded, the guests should be
marched in order to tse table turned about
several times. and commanded to place the
index finger in one of the plates. Should 1t
be the plate of clear water the person
whose future is thus being OWNED will wed
hoo al tl,N
The inky water tells of a marriage to
widow or widower, while the empty plate
is sure sign of becoming an old maid or
bachelor-in other words. life OF single
blessedness
A wedding ring tied to a string and swung
slowly about glass of water, while the
sWlnger repeats the letters of the alphabet
Will strike The glass just as the initial of
ones future sWeetheartS name is on the
tongue. An apple thrown through a horse
shoe Is indicative of year of good fortune
A failure at this charm means a year of i'll
fortune
With Flour and Ring.
Another exceptionally clever game for the
Halloween merry-makers within doors is
conducted as follows: Fill q bowl with
pastry flour and pack tightly enough to
permit of the -four being turned out on a
plate in nodded form Next insert verti-
cally in the top Of the -four dome wedding
ring. Form the guests in line, the leader
standing opposite the mold OF flour. Let
the first guest grasp a knife provided on
the table and cut thin slice from the side
of the dome, the others in line following
suit. The guest cutting when the ring is
reached must extract 1t from its bed of
white dust with his or her teeth If the
task fall to the lot of the proud possessor
of mustache or beard the fun is greatest.
A peanut t>unt is always enjoyed by the
small folks and often the older members of
the party have lots of fun in joining in the
pursuit The nuts are hidden about the
house In every conceivable place and a
prize awarded to the finder of the greatest
number. Outlines precautions have to be
taken agains, ringers"
An ancient custom, seldom practiced nov
on account of the trouble involved, was the
dropping of molten lead into bucket of
water. this charm being supposed to give
the occupation Of future wife or husband.