New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-30
HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES
Hsv One Hostess Entertained-A Good
Menu.

menu.
Halloween is the vigil Of all saints or all hal
lows. and has no apparent connection with the rites
usually practised at that time unless II be found
In the suppostion that on the eve Of their festival
the saints might be unusually amiabl. ana dsnos.d
therefore to be of use to those who want to peer
into the future at that time The occasion inevi-
tably suggests ghosts; and what more natural
than that persons who are much concerned about
the future should try to question the spirits At
Halloween When this can be done in company
II Is very agreeable, and nothing is iollier than
halloween party where the people are congenial
and care il taken TO eliminate some OF the ancient
rites and minge them with a due amount OF mod
ernness Ducking for apples may have been great
sport hundred years ago in Scotland among
party Of peasants, but modern young woman in
an evening gown Is not likely 10 enjoy il so much
In arranging a Halloween party in the twentieth
century, therefore. ii is Just as well 10 leave our
this kind OF horse play.
The following Is the programme OF a successful
Halloween party given last year:
Halloween, Oct. 81 1892
Obstacle Race
Let Is Eat Drink and Be Merry
Ghost Stories.
The programme was lettered in black on yellow
paper cut il the form OF a pumpkin and a witch
on broomstick disported herself at the bottom.
These programmes the guests requested 10
wear during the evening
1HS OosAdClc race was PARTICIPATED IN only py the
men. AS each victim arrived the hostess pointed
out TO him a number Of obstacles" such as a
cushion. newspaper. fOotstcoL etc. the draw
ing room floor. She asked him TO note their location
carefully and then demonstrate TO the company
the perfection Of his sense Of distance by stepping
over them while blindfolded. The Obstacles were
then removed without his knowledge. and his Iudi-
croUs efforts to step over them were highly anus
ing the rest Of the company
In readiness for the second number a large pump
/ into ffrF1R Fa~-
burnt with hot poker. hung in a doorway.
The guests were provided with meat skewers, and
after the pumpkin had been made TO osclate as
violently possible they were asked 10 transdx
one Of the letters. This supposed TO be the
! initial OF the future wife husband The
expression "speiring at" used 10 designate this
| performance, is Scotch one meaning 10 question.
| and was intended to have the double meaning of
| spearing and questioning
These two numbers occupied the time from 9
O'Clock until 10, and then the company proceeded
| TO the dining room, which decorated with
autumn leaves and chrysanthemu-ns and lighted
with yellow candles and jsck-o-lanterns Above the
! table suspended from the chandelier a Jack
Horner bag Of yellow tissue paper with yellow and
white ribbons falling downward TO the cloth. and
: az each plate souvenir. These were the work
! Of one OF the guests. artist, and consisted Of
/ Pretrly decorated cards upon each of which was
written q limerick hitting off the characteristics
/ Of the person for whom it was intended, with a
D little caricature sketch beneath II.
/ The menu consisted of chicken salad then bread
and butter sandwiches cut il triangles. crackers
cream cheese. pineapple cheese (chosen for its gel
low color, stuffed olives sardines with lemon.
nuts rsisrs and fruit Qncludins rosy checked aP-
Pies, candy. cordial and notices
The feast began with the health of the hostess,
after which each guest present proposed a toast
and lasted TIL the witching hour OF midnight With
the dessert the notices were snapped and each
guest donned the Curousy shaped animal cap
which issued theFefTom. Then the strings OF the
followed. Apple parings were thrown over shout
ders in the hope that they would form desired ini-
tials and apple seeds named for cherished friends
were placed eyeds FOR the purpose Of ascer-
tanning which would prove falthful-a circuIl-
stance which is supposed 10 be Indicated by the
tenacious adherence OF one or the other seed 70
the eyelid. Candles OF equal length named aIter
other cherished were allowed TO burn Tor hVe
minutes the shortest at the end Of that time in
dicating the name Of the chosen one and single
candles were extinguished bhndfold success N
three breaths being taken 10 lnGlcaIe d SPECIFY
and satisfactory marriage.
The mysteries, which might have been prolonged
indefinitely. brought 70 an end by the ap-
rroach Of midnight. when the candles were put ouI
and each guest required TO tell ghost Story'
Before the stOryteller placed saucer or oHTI-
ing alcohol which cast a weird blue lght on MS OF
her face leaving the rest OF the company IN oaI
ness and limited the length OF the story WnISL
vas required TO end when the fame went out Inc
last storv however. cut short IN the Inlcole
for a sheeted figure Appeared in the doorway ane
ghost stories were forgotten IN what dPPSa4eo ~
be a real live ghost