Gilpin observer., 1911-10-19

similar test of fate is made by means OF the
so-called fortune cake" in which baked a
ring. thimble and silver dime Each maiden
In turn cuts slice of 1t, and she who secures the
piece that contains the ring may expect to be the
first bride The one who gets the coin will have
rich husband, but she to whose lot the thimble
falls is doomed to spinsterhood
There number of ways of performing the
famous mirror experiment. but the correct method
is to take candle. go alone into dark room. and
eat an apple before looking glass; The hour
must be midnight exactly. else nothing will hap
pen. But. If these directions are strictly obeyed
at the very stroke of 12 the young woman will
in the mirror the face of her future husband
looking her shoulder
or course 1t may be strangers face but that
only makes it more interesting and romantic
Bobbing for apples is favorte Halloween
amusement, and as means of diversion is highly
regarded The apples placed in a tub of
water. and they float about. each person tries
In turn to capture of them by biting 1t. 1t Is
not an easy task and the frantic efforts of the
participants In the game are bound to excite
much merriment- 1t is required that the hands
shall be held behind the back. and the under
standing is that any young woman who fails to
secure an apple will never get husband
Occasionally. as variation on this method an
apple is suspended by string in a doorway or
from chandelier and person after another
tries to get hold of 1t with the teeth 1t bobs
about The difficulty of the task Is greater In
proportion to the size of the apple. For some
reason never satisfactorily explained, apples play
very important part In most of the doings con.
nected with this witches festival, and even the
seeds of the fruit counted like daisy petals
for magical purposes.
The seeds in an apple. of course, vary in mum.
Der, and hence the opportunity for speculation
AS she counts them the maiden recites "One
love; two. love: three love. say: four | love
with all my heart: five. | cast away; six he
loves; seven. she loves; eight both love: nine he
comes ten. he tarries: eleven he courts; twelve
he marries: thirteen they part; fourteen. die of
broken heart"
A future husbands occupation In life may be
ascertained by pouring melted lead into a glass
at midnight on Halloween. AS 1t chills, 1t will
take the shape OF the tools he uses Another plan
that may be adopted by the inquisive damsel
Is to fill her mouth with water take handful OF
salt and run around the block The first name
she hears she regans her starting place will
be that OF her destined spouse. When a merry
party OF girls take part together In this experi.
ment 1t Is sure to make lot OF fun for most Of
them are bound to giggle thus losing the water
they hold in their mouths and incidentally they
forget the salt they hold In their hands and drop
It. Naturally, under such circumstances the
charm fails to work
story is told Of an American girl travelling in
Ireland. who chanced to visit on Halloween a
humble dwelling The old woman whose home II
was told her that she would show to her her fu-
ture husbands face. II she would pay q shilling
The maiden willingly complied. whereupon the
old woman bade her look In the mirror 81 see
nothing but my own face said the girl. Never
mind my dear" quoth the old woman ut will
be your husbands face when you get married"