Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-10-27
HOME FOLKS COLUMN
By R. S.
"Cease to call him sad or sober,

"Cease to call him sad or sober,
Merriest month of all, October"
And now October with her wealth
of beautiful things is nearly gone.
Fast falling are the leaves of russell
and brown, and where through the
first dreamy days their foliage was
massed against the blue of Virginia's
skies, bare spires rise and naked arms
wave 'gainst background of SOM
bre grey. Yet while October dies, her
wake will be a merry one, for no
festival of all the year is more re-
plete with joyousness Of irresponsi-
bility than the festival Of GAIL Saint"
or "All Hallows" evening, known in
our day as Halloween"
The origin Of Halloween is remote
but undoubtedly evolved from ancient
religious observances wherein bon
fires were lighted at nightfall to honor
some saint who had passed on before.
While many of the ancient customs
were dropped as the years went on,
many new ones were added, and the
bonfire has remained So varied are
the games and customs of this festal
occasion that a Halloween party
either for the children or older folk
will be found very simple to plan
and easy to carry out. Decorations
in the brilliant orange and black OF
the season may be constructed at
home, or purchased at nominal sum
at any Of the art shops or stores that
handle this variety of wares. Yet
with all the vast array to select from
a Halloween party can be made more
original if the individual touch is
worked into the scheme of decora-
tions.
Just where the black cat entered
the Halloween idea, is hard to de-
termine, but instead of relying alto
gether upon the black paper cut-outs,
why not draw upon the neighborhoou
for the flesh and blood feline, who
surely would find as much enjoyment
at a merry festival as if promenad-
ing up the back alleys, or singing his
midnight dirge on your garden wall.
A never ending source of hilarious
glee for youngsters, and, blush to
say it, for staid and dignified matrons
too, for at Halloween the ban on age
is lifted, is to have a cat dance. Lei
some tendcrhanded, but very firm
member of the rarty hold the black
cat, while another ties upon his -four
feet little squares Of paper. Let still
another start the latest shimmy or
the monograph and turn the cat
loose. Nuff said for this feature OF
an evening, unless the witch. all in
sombre black, rides her broom around
to keep up with the cat.
| At one party ! remember, pale
I5wraithlike figures were placed in a
dim reception hall to welcome the ar
rival Of the guests. Draped figures
they were, topped with grinnine
skull, whose clammy hand, extended
/ in greeting, was made of an old white
glove stuffed with shaved ice. The
entire house was darkened, and ap-
partitions dim, trailed and tmoaneG
along the halls causing such thrills
and chills that Just as the company
was on the point OF taking to theil
heels, the basement doors were
thrown open, and there, around 9
merry, blaze and glowing embers, tho
remainder of the evening was spent
roasting new chestnuts and telling
old chestnut, passing the cider mug
and ginger cake, ducking for rosy
red apples and popping corn and soor
forgetting the ghastliness and terror
real or assumed, of the hour pre-
ceeding.