The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1900-11-01
Halloween.

tude but it was celebrated in Johnson
City last Wednesday evening in man
ner never to be forgotten by those who
participated. Halloween used to be
one of the events of the year when
young people were really young and
before the youth of 10 could give his
grandfather pointers. People went
about playing all kinds of harmless
pranks and indulging in all varieties of
games and gnomic incantations.
Young ladies had various ways of dis
covering their future husbands, and
young men had various ways of discov-
ering their future wives, and it mat
tered not that the revelations of the ora
Giles indicated different personages
each year, faith in the signs and SYM
bols was never lessened. On such oc-
casions the nervous had cause to keep
close within doors when the lights
burned brightly and the older people
sat and gossiped, because it was be-
lieved that on Halloween the ghosts
were allowed to leave their invisible
retreats and return to earth to visit the
scenes once familiar to them. Re-
freshments were served at beseeming
hour, and the festivities were over as
soon as the clock struck the midnight
hour, and the ghosts were warned to
depart, 90 that the visitors could reach
their several homes without harm, to
dream oyer the events of the night.
Many a match has been made as re-
suit of some bit of pleasantly on Hal
loween, and such marriages were al
ways happy, so the story goes, because
the good spirits that roam about on q
six hours vacation had arranged them.
Last Wednesday afternoon the ladies
of the M. G. r. club notified Will
johnson and Horace Miller that they
had arranged to have a Halloween
dance at Builtless, the suburban home
at Mr.. and Mrs. Cy Fl. Lyle, and asked
them to notify Messrs. Sam Millard.
Martin and Lou Gump, Frank Miller,
Will and Allan Harris, Andy Spencer
and Bob Martin. 1t was arranged for
the girls to go to the house alone early
in the evening and the gentlemen were
to follow about s o'clock. After care
full preparation the young society gen.
tlemen met at Gump's and started out
in their claw hammers and dancing
slippers upon the weary march Of q
mile to theresidence, felicitating them
selves upon the pleasures they we're
soon to enjoy as they drew near.
Martin Gump, Familiarity known as
"Buck, is always up to some prank
and conceived the notion of sending
Horace Miller ahead at double quick to
have all the lights in the dwelling ex-
tinguished and make the boys believe
they had been fooled into taking the
tramp. Like a good lieutenant Horace
set about the mission to do his part OF
die-he wishes now he had died.
Before he reached the goal he
fell by the wayside,, but got neal
enough, however, to find that all suck
ers are not fish by dam site, and was
discovered by his comrades sneaking
back to town.
When it dawned upon the youth ant
gallantry of the city that some one hat
been trihing with their intelligence
and that they had been chasing will
o'-the- wisp, they gazed at each othel
! in silence for moment and looked lik,
lot of armless fellows at 'hugginf
match. Then came the laugh and ev
cry fellow began to explain that b,
was not fooled and gave his reasons
for believing it was hoax. All final
| ly agreed that if it had not been TO-
Buck Gump that nobody would hay,
been fooled. Buck had taken an extr,
bath out of season and being determin
ed to dance was not to be deferred will
out giving the matter a fair and full
investigation. When this had beef
completed he agreed that they wer
the cheapest lot Of sports ever sold b,
johnson City salesladies and all start
ed back to town. When they got t.
the corner Of Watauga avenue an,
Roam street merry la ha rang GU
: upon the night air and sounde,
: like death knell in their ear
and the fair plaintiffs appeared
upon scene. Then followed expla
nation upon explanation while the mel
low laughter of the merry maidens fill
ed the air with sweet melody entirel
out of harmony with the feelings c
the young men. The ladies we're Mes
danes Charlie Biddle and Frank 81
John, Misses Matte Henderson, Alice
Garry, Eva, and Lizzie KCarr, Sam
Biddle and Belle Miller.
1t was q magnificent fake and caugf
the young fellows mapping nicely
They took 1t philosophically, however
believing that "all's we'll that enc
) well, but have announced that the
expect to win the next heat.
NOTES.
Lou Gump told 'em so" bnt Wake
into the trap with the party.