Evening journal., 1908-10-21
TEN MORE DAYS
TO HALLOWE'E
Wilmington Girls will Again
Try to Forecast Their
Fate
THE ORIGIN OF THE DAY
The chestnut crop is heavy.
Likewise the persimmon crop.

The chestnut crop is heavy.
Likewise the persimmon crop.
And there are apples a-pleniy
The foregoing observations were made
to-day 10y a suburbanite who is looking
ahead with pleasant anticipaubns to the
gayetes and frolics of Halloween.
Ten days hence-October Si-the day
Of "witchcraft" superstition and fun will
be ushered in. and the boys and girls of
Wilmington will be at their pranks again
Fates will he decided and sweethearts will
watch intently how the chestnuts roast inl
the cracking fire.
Local grocers will sell to the youth of
the city many pound packages Of -four
"of the clinging kind" and the lads viii
endeavor TO originate some brand-new
twentieth century brands Of mischief to
perpetrate on the unwary pedestrians I'M
the candlelight hours As on former Hal
lowe ems, practical jokes will be the fea.
ture.
Orig nof Halloween.
Halloween is the eve Of All Saints day.
It takes its origin from the fact that it
is the anniversary of the last day on
which tho Roman gods We're allowed by
law to be worshped in Rome. The day
also marks the beginning of the Christian
religion as the state religion of Rome.
In Scotland England and some parts
of America it is regarded as the time
when supernatural influences prevail. and
as the night when grim ghosts of the de-
parted walk the earth
] NTonV ttnsrve r,o ,ffre -f.-o, - q,
city on All Halloween. These include
! ghost parties" Observation-Disclosures en-
tertanments" childrens parties, euchres
with uncanny prizes. such as miniature
black cats. paper mache snakes and frogs
/ toy lizards and bats and what not.
Described by Burns.
/ Burns, the poet of the Scots, is one Of
the authorities Of Halloween practices.
and it is to him that the rest Of the world
is indebted for accounts Of many Of the
frolics of the Celtic peasants on the night
in question. His poem. "Hallowee en-" de-
scrbes aptly the customs of the time in
which he wrote and which still prevail
around the shores Of Loeb Lomond. along
the banks of the Bonnie Doom" and on
| Cassilas Downons. The latter are q group
of green hills near the ancient seat Of the
Earls OF Cassilas. one Of the most power
ful families Of the Highlands in the DAYS
when it was dangerous for a man wear
ing the Cameron plaid 10 90 near the do.
mains of the wearers Of Mcpherson green.
black and red check, or vice versa
Ono Of tho first ceremonies Of this night
Of feastng was pulling a stock Of kali. A
lad and lassie went out hand in hand
with eyes shut, TO the kali bed. and pulled
the first stock they came upon Its being
big or little, straight or crooked. was
/ prophetic Of the size and shaps OF the
grand object of all their spells" the
! future husband or wife. II any "yird" Of
earth stick 10 the root, that was fortune.
/ and the taste of the heart OF the stem"
tho custock, was indicative Of the temper
and disposition of the future lfe's part
ner.
Trying Fate With Water.
Another test is 10 try fate with three
bowls Of water. But clean water in one
dirty in the second and leave the third
empty Bhndfold a person and lead him
to the hearth where the bowls are set
and let him dip his left hand in one of
hom II, by chance he dips his hand in the
clean water. his future wife will be a
maid: IL in the dirty water. a widow. and
If in tho empty dish, he Will not be mar