Evening journal., 1906-10-25
NUTS SCARCE
FOR HALLOWE'E
LOcuStS and Wet Weather
Have Made Shortage in
Domestic Crop
SOME MORE NOVEL GAMES


nesday evening will find them scarce
and high so much so that those who
put Off ordering their supply until the
last minute viii probably have to SUBJ
stitute something else in their menu
and Halloween without nutsi Well. It
would be better to give up the party.
To be sure, nuts used now for the
great fall festival are more various
than formerly. so there is a larger
choice and a larger field 70 draw from.
Halloween used TO be an AFFAIR OF
apples and black walnuts and hickory
nuts, but that was long ago, when
other nuts were hard TO get. Now for
eign nuts are used. and the apple has
many rivals from tropical climates.
What are known to the trade as
mixed nuts. consisting OF English wall
nuts. Brazil or cream nuts. pecans.
hlberts, and almonds are the most
popular, and their consumption far ex-
ceeds that OF black walnuts and hlcS-
ory nuts The peanut despite its grow
ing supply and the demand for It for
many other purposes. cuts small figure
In the Halloween bill-of-fare, except as
II may appear on the table then. as IL
does at all seasons. in small quanti-
ties, shelled and salted as a sort OF
a relish.
Black walnuts. however. are still in
demand with people who like old fash
ions. along with hickory nuts and she'll
barlSs. This year indeed, the demand
seems 70 be greater than usual, and to
meet Il there are probably not over
100 bushels OF black walnuts I'm town.
Shellbarks are as yet not on the mar
ket. but II is expected that some will
be here on time. The first new shel.
barks will sell at something like So a
bushel, wholesale, which means about
10 cents a pound retail, and the shells
are heavy. They will come principally
from Ohio. or thereabouts. but some
are gathered In this State. New York
also has shellbarks. but they do not
reach this market. Black walnuts are
now retailing at about cents a pound.
Chestnut Crop is Poor
Chestnuts. which are always In de-
mand for Halloween. are scarce this
year. and the native nuts are Of poor
quality; though those now coming IN
are freer from worms and larger than
| those OF a couple OF weeks ago. For
eating raw nothing is superior TO the
small native chestnut, which is found
all over the northern areas OF the coun-
try. and epicures declare that the raw
nut cured by natural dying is better
than any other form.
For roasting and boiling. the italian
chestnut Is the best II IS Of good size
but those as big as horse chestnuts are
not Of such fine flavor as the slightly
smaller ones. These nuts are covered
with a thin skin, just beneath the shell
which Is not only bitter itself before
being cooked. but imparts a bitter fla
vor TO all Of the meat. Either boiling
or roasting removes this completely, Sc
that II desired. the NUTS may be
cracked with the teeth and eaten with
out removal Of the skin. italian chest
nuts sell at 20 cents a quart which Is
also the current price for the native
Spanish chestnuts.
Wierd and Mystic Rites
There is perhaps no festival that re-
tains among civilized and Christian
people so much Of the old pagan flavor
as Halloween. The ancient Yuletidt
has become so associated with the birth
Of Christ that its early meaning has be.
come practically lost. but there is moth
! ing Christian about Halloween. All its
mystic rites, now degenerated into mere
games and sports, had an early heather
significance, and were at one time per.
formed In full belief that the spirits
gnomes. elves. fairies. 'little people.
etc. would divulge to the faithful
knowledge OF the future-especialll
that concerning affairs Of the heart
The Prophetic Witch
But now it is only a time for harm.
less jollity still however keeping t
its early character in the form Of th'
amusements provided. And here arr
some Of the essentials:
} There must be a witch in the festiv
ties for the young folks, and even olde
ones will get a great amount OF amuse
ment out OF her caldron from which sh
draws the prophecies written and scale,
in envelopes, and these are not to b.
opened until the witch is easily ar
ranged; a black shawl and skirt and
: conical hat made OF pliable pasteboarl
4 are all that is necessary.
The taper charm consists OF tin.
tapers fastened with sealing wax int
halves OF English walnuts; namin
each one, then setting them ahoat in
: tub and agitating the water. Upo
their serenity of sailing or otherwis
depends the matrimonial state OF tn
owners. The fagot charm is an inter
esting game by which the guests ca
choose their shipper partners. A bunc
of twigs is concealed in a basket an
each guest draws fagot; to the en-
OF each is fastened a card bearing ha
: of a Halloween quotation. In mattel
ing the quotations one secures his
her partner.
: Snap-dragon is another game sui
u able for this evening. but must be 81
4, perintended by grown people IL chi
dren partake in the fun. Alcohol
poured onto a large platter and raisii
dropped in, then the spirit is ignite
e and the guests try to snap out the ra
sins. the one securing the create
= number securing the prize. A clev
game for which the one securing q
most guesses can receive a prize
called in Search of Queen Cats" n
score cards can be made 10 represent
y black cat. the opposite side to be viii
- leaves, all fastened at the ears wi
~ tiny scarlet ribbon A red pencil a
ID tached carries out the witch colors.
the cards can be square and bearing
spiders web, the spider having the IA
- a., ,,ol.r ,t-ffch The ouotatiOnS n