The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-10-30
HALLOWEEN viii Be
Celebrated TONIGHT
Extensive Preparations MADE ~ small
Bsys anA Children 81 Larger
Growth ~ We'll.

When in doubt. play trumps.' is a
perfectly good rule in bridge. 1t also
has its application elsewhere. as. for
example. when Halloween actually
falls on. Sunday night. play trumps
by observing both Saturday and Mon
day nights, and thus give all the
spooks, goblins. spirits. imps, gnomes
and disembodied spirits chance to
walk tho earth aKain-and likewise
AFFORD the small boys and girls and
their other brothers and sisters a
double barreled opportunity for cutting
up. That IN what large portion of
Richmonds population will do this year
by reason Of the fact that the calendar
makers couldn't seem to see their way
clear to drop Halloween down on any
square except that occupied by sun
day.
Parties, straw ride masauerades and
the like galore have been planned for
tonight for day ahead observance of
the festival Of foolishness. Also. Just
about as many similar functions have
been arranged for Monday night while
the ubiquitous small boy aims to take
advantage OF the condition created by
the cojunction of Halloween and sun
day and frolic TO his hearts content
on both nights.
HeteIs Decorate.
Local hotel have prepared for the
usual number of celebrators for this
evening. and have also arranged to
give an encore on Monday night, thus
catching Halloween coming and going.
Decorations OF pumpkins carved into
the usual grotesaue seInblances of the
human face and illuminated from with
In by candles and little electric lights;
autumn leaves. stalks and even whole
shocks of corn--in short all the time
honored Establishments of the day, or
night, have been installed or are at
hand, ready to be placed into position
early this evening Several OF the
hotels have assumed the appearance of
county fairs. lacking only the side
shows and the displays of prize win
ming cattle. etc. to complete the re-
semblance.
Florists report Extraordinarily heavy
demands for autumn leaves. for the
imitation pumpkin jack olanterns that
are hard to distinguish from the real
thing and for the late fall flowers
that usually form part of the decora-
tive scheme for Halloween. A great
many jewellers are apparently getting
ready to parade the streets, too. as
dealers say they never have sold SO
many masks. from the little old false
faces" the kids buy for FIVE cents
to the more expensive ones which con
ceal the features Of older jewellers
anywhere from fifty cents to dollar
Large numbers of feature ticklers have
also been disposed of, according to re-
ports. and dealers say thew have had
a hard time keeping stocked up on
confetti.
One Feature Gone.
One feature of Halloween. long
looked upon by the mischievous small
boy as the height Of humor has prac-
tically disappeared. however No
longer does the seeker after peace
have to chain his gate to It's posts
anchor the front steps and set guard
over the back fence Because gates
have gone entirely out of fashion now
adays except In some localities. front
steps are usually made of cement, one
piece style. and fences. except those
OF iron. securely fixed where they be-
! long. have also gone into the discard
At that. however. the small boy will
probably find enough to do to occupy
his time. as well as the time of the
numerous and watchful policemen that
are to he on duty tonight and Mon
day night.
The Halloween celebration ut the
Central Y. NJ. C. A. will he one Of
the most important on the local cal
endar. Some big things have been
planned by the Y M. c. A. people, and
open house will be held