Evening star., 1914-10-25

dy store WluuoW
that first re-
called to his mind the annual return
of the night when strange spirits move
through the air-when coffee grounds
and mirrors and other inanimate OBJ
jects perform strange things In the
way Of representation.
Wandering through the town. the CD
server fell to considering Halloween
merits as a regular institution. He De-
came cynical as he considered the case
Thanksgiving, Christmas and tne
Fourth of July are reasonable. Hal
loween is based on superstition, ana
any number of scientists have assured
the Observer that superstition has no
place in this age of progress
woman stand foolishly before a mirror
with a lighted candle held in her right
hand? Suppose she does see the race
of her future husband-what Is tnat
getting her? If the mirror could as
sure her that her husband-to-be wouid
attend church and his business would
not go into the hands of receiver ana
he would not hurl the crockery Wneh
he was dissatisfied with dinner. then
the mirror would be doing service. VI
what advantage to see a face II the
possessor's moral and mental charac-
teristics are withheld?
Roaming aimlessly on, the Observer
chanced to meet a young friend OF MS,
a young lady of eight summers. who.
because of her youth, has well defined
and unalterable opinions on all things.
The Observer slowed his steps to ac-
commodate her trotting pace and Ques-
toned her.
DO YOU believe in Halloween he
inquired She considered the question
thonghtfu1ly.
Some" she replied.
How much!" asked the Observer.
More than growed folks" she said
This young lady possesses direct way
Of stating things that sometimes dis
concerts her elders.
do you go to Halloween parties!'
continued the Observer.
-Our dancing schools giving one
next week." she stated.
with witches%"
"Oh. yes-you don't have Halloween
without witches"
The Observer became unctuously poo
lite, as is his way when he thinks ne
has clinching argument
Would you mind telling me" he
asked. where you expect to scare up
real liveswitchT
The youngster studied the observer IN
tentIy. Plainly she was determining his
powers of comprehension before pro-
ceeding. Finally she shook her head
you wouldn't understand" she de-
cided-
euoushg" said the Observer in mort1-
The young lady ceased to be judicial
1T isn't that" she explained. so4shnEI H t1,i
~ You see it's awful hard TO ten
things to most grown folks. They tnink
they know so much-and they don't
A slight pause followed.
you see," continued the young lady.
confidentiaily, "a witch is something
like a ghost. You don't see her. but you
know she's around. So they make funny
dolls in witch clothes. Just like emma
men make little fat doll-gods.
SIS this going to develop into theo-
logical discussion asked the Observer
What's thatg" inquired the young
Material symbols of spiritual
There" interrupted the young lady.
triumphantly. Didn't I tell you you
wouldn't understand?
The Observer quit right there. No
worse mistake can be made than by en-
tering a debate when you are ill-equip-
ped with ammunition. The Observer. II
he was to continue the discussion. must
20 and get some information.
Forthwith he started for the little
shop of the old toymaker. This benign
bewhiskered man is popularity supposed
by the children of the neighborhood to
be in direct communication with Santa
Claus and other famous individuals.
Certainly he possesses an uncanny in
sight
II am up in the air. said the Observer
as he entered the dim little place and
dropped into a rickety chair.
Some more of your splendid theories
gone wrong again. asked the old toy
maker.
MOT exactly" replied the Observer.
"As a matter of fact, 1 have just beer
told by an eight-year-old kid that ]
don't know anything about Halloween.