The Washington times., 1928-10-25
Writer Solve s
A Serious
Problem
Ry Constane Cameron


TNHE father OF a 7-year-old boy
l laid down his newspaper the
morning after Halloween. Who
authorized this one night of every
year for kids to be hoodluns and
destroy other peoples property
he demanded savagely. attacking
an egg.
They act terribly agreed the
mother, land next year Jimmie
will be and I suppose Wen De
te1ephoned in the morning about
something he's done" There was
q long silence-"That is, unless
we do something about it, she
added thoughtfully.
And as the next Halloween ap-
preached, she did do something
about it, after careful delibera-
ton. She decided that il she gave
three hours. one evening, out OF
each year, with a little planning
the week before, she could keep
her own son, as well as several
other sons in the neighborhood,
under her watchful eye, without
depriving them of any fun either.
A week before Halloween. she
asked Jimmie if he would like to
have a party. Together they
planned it, writing invitations one
evening, which they decorated
with stickers portraying spookey
black cats and Jack o. Lanterns.
The invitations read as follows,
and were sent to 10 boys and girls
who ranged in ages from s to 8
years:
I'm having an old-fashioned
Halloween party at my house, No.
sos Lane Avenue, from to $50.
Please come and bring either a
paper bag from the laundry tthe
kind suits are sent home in) and
paper bag big enough to go over
your head, or an old pillow slip
your mother doesn't want any more
and one of her old white stock
ings. These must be ready to
throw away, as we are going to
cut them. JIMMIE"
The following night after school
Jimmie gaily delivered the invita-
tions and received enthusiastic ac-
ceptances.
During the week, in the hours
between dinner and bedtime,
Mother and Jimmie got out the
paper plates and sanitary drink
ing cups they had bought down.
town and pasted pumpkin stickers
on them for decoration. Mother
even let Jimmie put stickers on
big white bowl (which was to hold
homemade doughnuts). because
they come right off in good warm
soapsuds, you know. The cups
were to hold fresh. sweet cider.
At z, on the night of the party,
the children arrived bearing the
requested materiaIs. These who
had the paper suitbag and smaller
bag were shown how to cut holes
for their arms and head in the big
bag. and holes for their eyes and
nose and mouth in the smaller
one. The same procedure was
followed with the old pillow slips
and white stockings, except that
the foot of each stocking was
cut off. Then the part near
est the ankle was tied in a knot
for the top of the head, and the
holes for eyes. nose and mouth
cut as before. They were indeed
scarey looking outfits. and the
youngsters looked gratifyingly hid
eous. When each had suit,
mother conducted the party down
the street, ringing the door bells
of parents of the party children
only, and. of course. there was no
booing and wailing when the door
was opened. There was much
screaming and laughter. and after
an hour of this the party returned
to Jimmie's.
Oh, yes-I almost forgot the
wonderful racket-makers. Jimmie's
mother had collected 10 old cans
(coffee, baking powder, etc.l, and
let the children put stones in
them. When shaken, they raised
q fearful rumpus.
At the souse. about s o'clock,
old-fashioned Halloween games
were played. They bobbed for ap-
pies. bit at one hanging on a
string. Then each child was al