Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-10-20

II n
i I'M dren to be enter
mn tained-a guest
! for each Of Octo-
A.r,s golden days--and Halloween to
q celebrated! There are easier things
"a do. such stunts" as mirror-gazing
a the silvery hour Of midnight. az ioi-
lowing a thread through dark cellar
a pulling kalestocks: none OF them
eould be called child's play. Some
thing had to be planned that was dil-
ferent, something entertaining ana
sHaAewe'eny."
The Invitations, which were sent
out Q week In advance. read ~ foi-
lows:
won't you come to my Halloween
Marty. from xix to nine. October 81!
Please wear play clothes.
.SYLvIA HALL"
In the corner OF each card was
tiny vater-color sketch--a witch nd
ing broom, blinking owl or
broad winged bat.
Every response was an acceptance.
and straightway preparations for the
marty began. From farm house we
drove home one day with : load Of
eornstalks. pumpkins. and carrots.
Everybody in the house who could
sse a jack-knife was pressed into serv-
ice. Big pumpkins and little were
transformed into lanterns. with faces
anon which black or white paint had
sketched queer eyebrows or fierce
mustachios, They were distributed
about the house: tucked among
russell oak leaves ana green pine
boughs on each mantel. set lantern
fashion on newell post in the hall. or
hung here and there from overhead
{ grilles Cornstalks were stacked be-
side a fireplace at safe distance from
the fire, and the house was lit dim
y by pumpkin-heads or candles set
In followed carrots.
The dining table was set with .
group Of carrot candlesticks and bowl
fuis Of apples. nuts. grapes and
candy. Upon a fat pumpkin was
perched a Halloween witch. holding .
handful Of rama. which came from
the mouth Of grabbing In her black
4 gown. peaked hat. and flying red cloak.
( with veritable broomstick IN her
hand. she was the star Of indoors On
the lawn. ready to offer welcome to
every guest who arrived. was q great,
4 q star. q life-sise witch. with pair
Of winkling red eyes which could be
seen two blocks distant. Her frame
work was a rough wooden cross with
one end hewn to q sharp stake which
was driven into the ground. pillows
were tied about her lath-like form for
shapeliness. while her garb was Z
nightgown. The pumpkin head was Of
noble proportions. the hair was I
bunch Of black rama. and over It
perched lordly hat with peak near
y yard high. wide brim. and crisp
scarf OF orange coiored paper tied In q
magnificent bow at one side The
head was nailed securely to the frame
work. and inside the candles Jared
safely. for the witch's cap was lined
with asbestos That she made hit
would be praising her mildly: II her
feet had not been securely planted IN
the earth she might have been tempt
Cd the curtsey from the attention she
received
When Is small girls fled down
stairs. led by their young hostess. they
we're blindfolded one by one and each
played game of.blindman's bu6 with
the boys In the hail. the one who was
captured being her partner for sup
per It shattered In an instant the
\ fce which has always to be broken IT
4 2 children's party The crowd watch
4 ing blindmanss bn5 began to shrek
With laughter. which grew to gen
0ine hilartty when the sixteenth girl
chased the sixteenth boy into q cor
yer There vas hungry rush for the
( dlning-room and parlor. where eight
smaH tables were set, four children be.
ing seated Il each The supperswas g
& simple one. consisting or tongue and
chicken sandwiches. with stuffed po-
4 tatoes. baked apples with whipped
cream u gingerbread men. chocolate
nuts and grapes
When the, evenings fun began, q
q soi'y youngs aunt was appointed ref
sfee and #recorder In the various
games The nrst part II the pro
tram was held In the kitchen while
I taoles were being cleared and, dishes
carried 70 the buffers pantry There
was. q course. tub filled with luke
warm water 1T was too chilly night
lor 9 cold plunEel. and In II hoated q
core 81 rosy apples Bobbing for
Mem was no end OF fun. and the flfst
4 youngster clever enough 70 bring one
= " his Or her teeth was given the
afst place on the list Of honor.