Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 215, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 September 1913 — How a Hallowe’en Play Resulted [ARTICLE]

How a Hallowe’en Play Resulted

“Our Hallowe’en cabbage play," explained Trixie to her friend Paula, 5 “la intended to reunite two fond hearts. You will be doubly interested because you were somewhat to blame tor the falling out of Jack and Laura.” “Oh. Jack Is the nice boy whom Laura Introduced to me as Be-rastus Brown! But what have Ito do with their unfortunate estrangement," as the newspapers say?” “It’s mostly on account of Jack’s name—with a little jealousy added,” explained Trixie. “For some strange reason, which Jack Joesn’t think at all reasonable, his parents DID name him Erastus —after some ftmny old uncle, I believe. Of course, Jack hates the name; he never signs -himself anything but ‘E. Brown.’ and all of us call him ‘Jack.’ Now, when Jack first saw you it was at the Lorimers’ lawn party, if you remember —he was very much impressed, though I can’t imagine why.” “Never mind about that,” interrupted Paula, with mock indignation. “Go on with the story.” “Just as I was saying,” continued Trixie, "he was impressed by you, curiously enough. And he didn’t have any more tact than to sound your praises to his very especial friend, Laura. That is why, when he demanded an introduction, she, with malice aforethought (how’s that for legal terms?)introduced him as Eerastus. Jack couldn’t quite forgive her for that—didn’t see that she had any provocation for it, and so on — and they haven’t spoken since. Everybody knows that you’re trying your best at Longport to capture Philip Dunn, and that it isn’t right for you to be interested In Jack. Now you know why the, fond and loving hearts must be united.” "What if I didn’t want them x .ted?” mischievously questioned

Paula. Then she laughed ant said: “Unite ’em, by all means.” Jack and Laura were still “not speaking” when they arrived at Trixie’s Hallowe’en party, but there were present such a large number of girls and boys that they had no difficulty In avoiding each other. Indeed, their hostess had planned so many funny tricks, based upon Hallowe’en superstitions, that any coldness between Jack and Laura' was hardly noticeable. Then there was “bobbing" for apples in a tub and dodging for apples which were swung from the ceiling. One way of “bobbing,” suggested by Trixie, was to have contestants kneel upon chairs placed with the back to the tub. Each player dropped a fork, first held in the mouth, and the fork which stuck In the apple gained its owner the prize. Two hazel nuts —one for Joe Cardigan and the other for Elsie Jamison were placed by the fire. They hopped away together, whereupon the embarrassed couple were much congratulated. Grains of popcorn and apple pips were used In the same way for other girls and boys. “Let me bllndfold you, Mary,” said Ttlxie to Mary Stuart. “Now I’m going to lead you toward the table yonder, whera are three glasses. If you put your finger Into one that holds clear water you will be happily married. If you dip into the one that contains muddy water your wedded life will not be happy, put your finger in the one that isempty, and you’ll surely die an old maid.”

“Not If I can help It!” piped Tommy Walford, amid great applause. Waen Mary had timidly pot her finger into the glass containing clear water, and the spectators had given enthusiastic approval, Trixie announced the cabbage play. The boys and girls were blindfolded. Then Trixie marched them (or “stumbled” them, rather) out to the garden, where she directed each person to pluck a cabbage stalk. They returned to the house with their stalks. IX a stalk tasted sweet, the owner's marriage would be happy; If bitter, it would be the contrary. A straight or crooked stalk was prophetic of the size and shape of the person to be taken in marriage. “Now I shall tack the stalks above the lintel of the door. The Christian name of the first person who enters wilibe the Christian name of the person who will be married to the person whose stalk I tack up first, and so an."

“Whew, what a Chinese pussiet” (aspect Roy Norton. “For Instance,” explained Trixie, somewhat more dearly, aa she tackad Laura’s cabbage stalk above the door, “the person whom Laura marries wIB bear the Christian name of the masculine person who first oxters this door. Now I tack up George’s •talk, and the first feminine person who enters will bear the Christian name oX George’s flancee-soon-to-be.” Trixie fastened no more stalks, •or jnst then appeared ok) Brestas, the gardener, carrying in his arm a Mg basket of nuts which Trixie bed slyly instruced him to bring at tUe ttme. / “And so Laura will marry Brestas,” solemnly announced the hostess. All-looked at Jack. He could not help laughing. Laura smiled sweetly, the others roared. “You've united 'em,” whispered Panls to Trixie. And she had. — -New lock Press.