Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1905-10-28
ON THE EERIE NIGHT
Halloween Games that Bring Witching
Sprites Near

Some as weird as the moons pale beam"
The very name OF Halloween suggests
frolic-a cosy, social home party to
which only ones most intimate friends
are invited, and which is the best sort Of
fun.
By various means, the oracle is con-
suited. What girl doesn't know how to
discover the initials of her future Inns
band by tossing an apple peeling thrice
around her head and reading what il
forms upon the floor? Or what anxious
maiden has not already seen the face of
her future lover i'll hand glass at mid
night. Some there have been daring
enough to walk alone around the block
at the witching hour of night-but they
didn't marry the bluecoat, the solitary
soul they happened to meet OH the ven
turesome journey!
There is no end to these tests, and il
doesn't spoil the fun bit that each one
holds out a different future and differ
ent spouse. A girl is pretty sure to
chance on the verifcation of at least one
prophecy
No Halloween celebration is complete
without the test of the Floury Fate.
Place on platter large mould OF -four,
slightly moistened to preserve its shape.
In it is concealed ring and thimble.
Each girl cuts a slice, and she who finds
the ring will be the first to marry, for
which privilege she must take the ring
from the -four with her teeth. She who
gets the thimble is set apart for single
blessedness.
Young men may discover their fate by
the three bowl test. Three bowls, one
empty, one filled with meal or -four. and
the third with clear water, are placed
upon the table, and the men blindfold
one by one, and instructed to dip their
right hand in one of the bowls. After
each trial, the position Of the bowls is
changed. He who dips his hand in the
water will marry maiden; in the meal,
WIG low, and in the empty bowl, remains
lone bachelor.
For the test of melted lead, each guest
requires bowl of water There must be
melted lead and an old churcll-door key
or other ancient key, through which to
drop it. Each one drops little lead
through the opening in the handle OF the
key into the water, and the different
forms the lead takes as it cools will indi-
cate much to the hostess who is clever
at reading the signs. A pill indicates
doctor, a book an editor or author,
coin riches, and no shape at all means
lonely life.
The veal or woe test is made by trying
to toss an apple through horse shoe
which has been suspended in doorway.
If successful happiness is assured.
With an open fireplace the chestnut
charm can be tested, three chestnuts be-
ing placed near the fire, each one being
named for some admirer. II they hop
ii'o eHc HiO VIC duIilidllOH Is genuine
while those remaining in their original
position or hopping away from the fire
are luke warm and inconstant. Two
chestnuts may be placed in the fire side
by side, one being named for a gentle
man, while the other represents the per-
son playing. If they burn along gently
and steadily, the course of true love will
be like toboggan slide, but if the chest
nuts hop about and otherwise misbehave
it will be like the switchback railroad,
full OF ups and dows, and rather unsatis-
factory on the whole.
After this, half walnut shells may be
foated on tub of water by means of tiny
sails made of toothpicks and bits Of paper.
On this paper is written ones own initial
and those of another. The boats are all
started at once and the water is agitated
If your ship goes down at sea, you will
not win your lover, but happy are the
ones whose ships come safely over the
troubled water.
Both OF the candle tests may be tried.
Twelve lighted candles are set on the
table and each guest has three chances to
blow them out. The number left burn
ing shows the number OF years one must
wait for the husband or wife desired. In
the other test each candle is named for
month, and each girl is blindfolded,
turned around three times and told to
take candle from the row and blow il
out. Ii the candle fails to expire after
being blown three times the girl will not
be married before next Halloween. II
it expires on the first SHE will be married
in the same year in tie month for which
the candle was named.
With hands tied behind them, the
guests must bite at apples hung from
chandeliers and doorways; or bob for
apples in tub of water; or blindfolded,
strike frantically with slender rods at
paper bags of nuts, candies and fortune
notices hung at safe distance from
other objects, the blindfoldei striker be-
ing turned about several times to make
his ideas of location extremely vague.
There must also be large pumpkin
with letters carved all over its surface,
spinning merrily from strong cord and
each guest must spear letter with
sharp-pointed dart if successful, he or
she may hope to wed person of that
initial.
Nor must the oracle pie be forgotten.
This is Of sawdnst, baked in tub if de-
sired, and hiding in its mysterious depths
all manner OF queer little toys which will
signify the vocation or the fate OF those
who draw them out. Those designed for
men may have red strings, anu those for
girls blue strings, and around each article
may be wrapped prophetic" bit OF
doggeral verse. These may be drawn out
in great confusion at the blowing of
horn, or each guest may walk backward
three times around the tub and then
solemnly draw his or her fate from the