The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-31
1T IS HALLOWEEN!
Today Is Celebrated by Small
Boys; Tomorrow, Carpenters.
But the Day Isn't Like 1t Used
To Be, Say We All.
new IDEA MOST PREVALENT
Sane Celebration Includes APP
pies, DOughnuts and Cider.
And an UprOariOus Debauch of
Popcorn Tops 1t Off.
new IDEA MOST PREVALENT

Halloween is celebrated the last day
of October by small boys and the
morning after by carpenters and re-
pair men. Halloween should be cele-
brated by throwing apple-parings over
one shoulder, submerging apples in
tubs, masquerading as spooks and 9TH
er forms of denatured revefry. That
is how Halloween should be celebrated
according to Hoyle.
But 1901 Topeka small boys know
better. By their correct standards
a Halloween is successful only when
1853 door-mats are thrown up in trees,
when the slumber of countless citizens
has been "ruint" by S64 tic-tacs, when
enough corn has been thrown to feed
goodly portion of starving India,
when the crossings have been lifted at
all prominent intersections, when all
available cows have been tethered to
churches and front porches, when
every doorbell unprotected by a bull
dog has been "spiked"-but the list
would run longer than Bryan has un-
less it is choked off here. For the
eternal boy has been originating Hal
/ loween devilment for several hundred
years
Oh, Deah!
You may know of the coming of
Halloween by the press announcement
of a glorious scheme of a sane Hal
loween by university professor who
mas worn glasses since he was II and
says lther" for either" He proposes
TO indignant boydom that a grand fes-
tlval be organized led by the mayor
OF the town, followed by such solid
enjoyment as q few improving
speeches by well known local divines
ana topped off with an uproarious de-
bauch of popcorn, doughnuts and
cider.
The ornery boy to be sure success
fully tops off his celebration with sim
liar refreshments but they are gar
nered from unguarded back porches
and cellars of house where Halloween
parties are in progress
Next comes the announcement of
various nice parties given by churches,
Y. NJ. c. AS, etc. Follows then an
announcement by the chief of police
that Halloween prankers will be sum-
marily dealt with by the law. Laughs
from the ornery boys.
Finally when Halloween day dawns
the day is filled with anticipation by
the ornery boy. He writes notes in
some new idea of deviltry. At recess
the boys and the gangs" congregate
and mysteriously hint at the dark
deeds they will do.
Finally comes the warning from
fond parents: Now, Johnny if YOU
don't feel well enough to go to the
party, why, you must stay at home"
Shortly after comes the escape and
the fun begins. Every citizen will be
given a first-hand knowledge of the
Halloween definition of fun before
morning so that further description is
unnecessary.
That is how Halloween is spent by
young America. Properly, and it often
is, celebrated by the revival of count
less old superstitions. Pumpkins are
sculptured to make jack-o-lanterns,
sheets are pilfered for ghostly robes,
ordinarily respectable young people
masquerade as witches and devils and
everything is done to revive the at
mosphere of the hob-goblin days. For
tunes are told, various mysterious
spells are worked to discover each 9TH
er's future partners for life. Faces
are washed ducking for apples, fingers
are pounded cracking nuts and tradi-
tional cider-sweet-is consumed and
doughnuts, set" Then the guests hav-
ing had a nice time, go home.
But don't advise the younger gener-
alton that that is the way to observe
all Hallow's eve. He may say some
thing rude.