The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-29
Hallowe' en-

What o pity It ia that We all cant
go backward some very several years
and dance with the children with our
winding sheet about US and big yell
low pumpkin beside us to scare 'eyery-
body on the square" The legends and
stories that surround the celebration
arc numerous and we'll known hut K
ell tho little people are very busy get
tdns ready for the occasion. and
for a costume for the fancy bail, and
sisters yellow satin petticoat, all un-
known to the aforesaid sister, is going
to the party as n big yellow pumpkin
with her fat little brother and a wad
OF cotton batting inside.
On tho old plantations a knife and
bit OF candle were all that was need
cd to hollow out the Jack-o'-lantern
and render 1t startling enough to send
all of the children into spasms of de-
licious fright. Tho plantation darkies
used to carry around the effigy of their
primitive art on a stick, bobbing 1t in
at the windows and singing weird
invocation, supposed to be effectual In
calling up the spirits of the future
and revealing the mysteries Of the
unknown to maidens and their swains,
The mellow glow of the pine knots on
| the hearth of the best parlor in the
| old plantation houses was matched on
Halloween night by the mellow notes
| Of the banjo and the singing of the
| violins merry feet went to and fro
! In response to simple but melodioua
strains evoked by slender, dusky fin
| gers.
There were all sorts of pretty con-
| cefts for choosing partners, and there
| were games suited for the time and
occasion. In which old fashioned pop
kisses called secrets. played a promi-
nent part. The prettiest and most
| graceful girl in the countryside stood
| up TO throw an apple pairing over her
head and watch It form the initial OF
| her sweetheart's name as II fell from
| her fingers.
| The inele-nook in tho long shadowed
twilight was beyond compare the best
place for whispered condolences. while
| fortunes were told In roasting nuts
and read in pretty eyes.
| The Virginia reel, which ended all
dance festivities OF an earlier day. was
| especially gay on such a night. when
| at Its close the girl who led Ii left the
room and went alone up the stairway
| into her unlighted chamber to find the
face of her future spouse looking at
her from the depths OF tho mirror on
her dressing table. She was required
| to tell her experience, and all was han
| piness and unshadowed merriment
| Anti-Chrfst INNS Acquisitions.
What seeker for gifts has not felt
| at one Christmas season or another
that the department store supply was
all too inadequate? New things APP
! pear from time to time, It is true, hut.
with few variations, the conventional
articles are repeated each succeeding
| iaFs
books aprons. hosiery-we all know
the familiar list by heart
1t was with the desire to give our
relatives and friends something "dif-
ferent" for their Christmas that Cousin
Juliet and myself resolved to search
for unique sources for our presents.
| BE 1t said at the start that we began
| our treasure hunt very, very early,
| long before the Christmas crowds
thronged the shops and inflated prices
| were attached to supposed bargains.
| we had an entire big city al our dis
posal. an advantage not possessed of
course by every woman. Yet ven
| ture to say that any one who is not
utterly secluded WILL IL she take the
trouble, find in her own particular en-
vironment many unusual novelties that
may be had at prices far from prohibi-
tive. Certainly there were surprises
| In store for the two bargain hunters
| whose quest am about to relate
In the first place, we penetrated an
Oriental importing establishment whose
! name and reputation we had always
thought synonymous with high prices.
| In fact. our first glimpse of the main
floor. with it's vista of costly antiques
elaborate teakwood furniture and en-.
pensive wood carving. only confirmed
the impression. We pressed on boldly,
however. There was a basement. for.
tunately! 1t proved to be the Mecca
OF our desires The range and mex
pensiveness of the trihes there dis
played We're enough to turn the head
OF any normal woman. And we wers
both decidedly feminine After tear
Ing ourselves away from the odd
bowls. trays and vases, with their nl-
Turing dragon decorations, we expend-
cd our first money for the children.
Juliet. and I are rich in nieces and
} nephews. Juliet declared she was not
going to be reckless in this regard any
more. taking for the text of her ser
monette mechanical toy purchased
the Christmas previous, which cost 81
and lasted an equal number of weeks,
Fnvorite Dishes.
), a woman who enjoys having friends
to lunch or dinner has the happy fac
ulty OF hitting on just the things her
guests enjoy eating. For some years
she has made 1t point to jot down
the favoritc dishes OF this friend or
that In a tiny note book In her desk
When her Cousin Molly is coming to
lunch she looks up her name. and
there finds recorded that the afore-
said Molly is particularly fond of Gus
ard desserts OF any kind; clam is her
favorite soup. and in meats she dotes
on anything cooked EN- casserole With
these hints spread before her the mat
ter of planning meal is considerably
simpSned.
Another friend hes often said she
never taste such pies as are served
by her hostess; another likes tomatoes
In any form. and still another prefers
fish to meat.