The evening times., 1899-10-31
ALL HALLOWEEN FRANKS
How the Night Is to Be Observed
With Tricks and Tests.
Youngsters Ready With Flour and
NeedfuI ParaphernaIia for Practi-
cnI Jokes, Despite the Poiice.
"DucIxing' for Apples and burning
Nuts-Origin of the Superstition.

Despite the promises OF unpleasant
weather, the small boy will reign supreme
in Washington tonight, disturbed only by
irate citizens and watchful policemen.
Preparations are being made by the young
sters to celebrate All Halloween in an ap-
propriate manner, and tomorrow morning
there will probably be many clothes brushes
in demand and many gates TO restore to
their hinges. The lively American boy has
made October 81, the All Hallows Eve OF
the Druids, time for the throwing of -four
and of ringing door bells. Tradition has
given no more peculiar character to any day
in the year than 10 Halloween. While not
in any sense holiday, it is time OF prac-
teal Jokes and keen enjoyment, and is oo-
served by the young people OF England,
Scotland, Ireland, and naturally enough IN
the United States. Numbers OF mouse par
ties have been arranged by older people for
tonight.
All Hallows Day, Halloween, Nutcrack
Night or Snapapple Night, which ever one
NAV choose to call IL, had its origin III
NEUROLOGICAL Druidic, and Christian super
stitions, and was, in each case, time for
sacred ceremony. On November / the Ro-
mans held their fete to Pomona. goddess OF
fruits and seeds, and the universal use OF
apples and nuts on this occasion undoubt-
edly descends 10 US today from that mytho-
logical source. In November the Druids
lighted one of their sacred fires to Baal,
and this custom is retained in the bonfres,
which are a part of the Halloween celebra-
tion.
But times have changed. The jests and
tricks which are practiced today are not
taken seriously though the mystery which
is associated with this time causes some
folk TO hope that something supernatural
will occur. Both youth and maiden watch
the bursting nut with zeal, to learn what
course their love will take.
This nut-roasting method OF opening the
hidden future is one of the mos common
in the matrimonial list. Two nuts are
placed side by side on the top, of heated
stove OF on the bricks of the fireplace and
named respectively for the boy and girl
whose fate is to be revealed IL they
roast quietly without jumping away from
each other it signifies sincerity and af-
fection. But in jumping away from each
other Inconsistency, represented by the rest
less and cracking nut, is indicated An
other way to test the future is to place the
nuts in a clear blaze The steady burning,
side by side, is supposed to indicate
true affection which will result in happy
marriage. nut that bursts. however,
tells the story of trifing swain.
Ducking for apples on Snapapple night
is second only to the roasting nut method
for learning what time will bring forth The
sport among children. and often among old
er people, of trying to catch an apple
floating in tub of water with the teeth
is so keen that the game is often practiced
without any object but the fun. However,
young people desiring to know whom they
are to marry should cut Sits in the apples,
and in these enclose the names of the most
probable or suitable persons for such a
consumation.
One blank piece of paper should be
among these. and the person securing that
apple by bobbing is destined to life of
oelibacy. Swinging the long pairing of the
apple over the left shoulder, it is believed,
Will show the initial in its falling upon
the floor of the person who will return
the parers affection. Another common
practice is to place two apple seeds one
on either eyelid, each named for a we'll
known person, and the one that remains
on the longer is the more desirable. II is
more than likely. in this trial, however,
that fate is often assisted by a timely
wink or two.
The mischievous tick-tacking of tie
boys in this country has a count arpart In
Scotland in the pulling of the kali" TIE
pith from the kali stalk is pushed out and
the cavity filled with tow by the urchils.
In the evening they go to the differsnt
houses, and. lighting the tow, bow darts
of flame through the keyholes, to tie an
noyance of the people within. n=,-
Call cannon" is a dish which the peo-
pie of ireland and Scotland serve on Hal
loween- 1t is made of mashed potatoes,
parsnips, and chopped onions. in a deep
bowl and has a hole in the centre, which
is filled with melted butter. A gold ring is
added to the dish, and the whole is served
to the guests who have assembled. The
lucky finder of the ring is certain of a
speedy marriage, if not already mated.
In the latter case he or she is to have un-
bounded good luck. A ring and a key
buried in the contents of loaf cake is
also a test of the future on Halloween.
The finding Of the ring foretells marriage
and the key journey.