WHILE the British Halloween, Its
origin and observance Is the
common property of every
school boy and jrirl, few people are
aware that this witches' anniversary Is
celebrated, in spirit, at least, in the
land of the Teutons. The war undoubt
edly -will curtail such celebrations this
year, but it is safe to assume that
neither country will allow the occa
sions to pass entirely unnoticed.
While there is no day in the land of
tha kaiser which bears the name of the
British feast day, me giving over of
one might in the rear to witches and
divinations is nevertheless as much a
part f German life as of Irish or Eng
liB Itlk observance'.
In tact, the root of this uncanny
Sight when ghosts and goblins disport
thrown town and country runs deep
Inta Horse and Teutonic mythology;
and. though it did not blossom In the
kaiser's land as Halloween, it Is trace
able tn Valpurgisnacht, in Johannistag.
in St. Thomas' night and a number of
fata and festal days peculiar to cer
tain localities.
Probably the most picturesque cere
mony is the leap of tho newly be
trothed through the flame. A lad ap
proaches the maiden of his choice and
asks her by use of set rhyme to spring
with him through the flame. If she
accepts, it shows that the suitor is fa
vorably received and that the two are
as rood as betrothed. They then clasp
hands and run toward the flame, at
tempting to spring over or through it.
A successful spring is a sure sign
that the two young people belong to
one another; but if one falls or stum
bles, it means that something will
cause their separation. The flickering
or smoking of the Are signifies that
trials are in store for the newly
formed alliance; but when the flames
rise up high and clear during their
leap, or crackle as though rejoicing
over the agile pair, it is a sign that
their future life will be one of un
alloyed peace and prosperity and that
they may at once enter into wedlock.
Another striking bit of ritual on the
eve of Si. John Is the carrying out of
the old heathen ceremony of the burn
ing wheel. However, instead of dedi
cating the fiery circle as it dashes down
the mountain side to god or goddess,
the lovesick youth calls upon the name
of his sweetheart.
On St. John's night a peculiar act of
sorcery may be practiced which goes
by the name of Bllwis-Schnltt, and is
of very ancient origin. A peasant who
wishes to possess his neighbor's corn
as it stands makes a compact with
the devil, who appears at his door on
that night in the shaDe of a rough
BT RENE BACH.
WASHINGTON. D. C, Oct. 30.
Kecjntly there has been placed
n view in tho National Museum
a series ot lay figures representing
the mistresses of the White House
under successive Administrations run
ning back to Martht. Washington, who
appears in a gown she used to wear,
seated in one of herown chairs, by
the side ot a Mount Vernon table, on
which is a stiver platter, formerly her
own property, containing a teacup and
saucer that were given to her (as part
of a set) by admiring officers of the
French army.
For a modern contrast, Mrs. Grover
- Cleveland Is attired in a wonderful
frock, (or.ee worn by herself) of white
allk sprinkled over with full-blown
pink roses, the arm-loops and. upper
dge of the corsage decorated with big
butterflies of gold and glittering se
uuins about a dozen ot the gorgeous
r nit ' i in
k- ie lHw
black a;oat with fiery eyes. The Neld
ing, as the sorcerer Is called, leaps on
the demon's baok and becomes like him
invisible.
On his left foot is fastened a sharp,
glittering knife and thus he rides
around the fields of those neighbors
who have the finest corn. Not only is
the corn mown down in the Immediate
track, which is only about a foot's
breadth, but all that Is inclosed in the
wide magic circle must henceforth
grow and ripen In the barn of the Bil-wls-Schelnder,
while It disappears from
the neighbor's fields.
Germany is particularly rich in lore
of hobgoblin, sprite and elf, and It is
small wonder- that elf-haunted anni
versary is commemorated on several
nights during the year, rather than on
one. The same Druidlc tradition which
underlies the British Halloween tells
of three main festivals during the year.
Those festivals were observed on May
1, the time of sowing; June 21, the
season of the ripening of the grain, and
October 31, the harvest season.
The Autumn festival has clung to the
life of Britain ln All Hallow Eve, but
all of the old Druid festivals may be
found In some form or other In Ger
man life, with weird rite and ghostly
ceremony as component parts of their
observance.
Valpurgisnacht, which comes on the
1st of May, and is given over to mischief-working
fairies and to sport of
demons, is practically the same as the
old English All Hallow eve. Freya
once the goddess of love and beauty,
but since the advent of Christianity a
witch or demon then comes down from
hef haunts in the mountain peaks of
Norway, Sweden and Germany, and.
with her witches' train, works havoo
among the abodes of men.
It is well for husbandmen that night
to have all tools put away, as the
feet of her myriad train may scatter
them abroad. The housewife should
be careful to remain close within doors,
to be out of reach of the malevolent
spell cast by the black cat which al
ways accompanies the demon goddess.
The second Druidlc festival, now de
voted to the memory of St. John the
Baptist, ami called tfohannlstag, was
at Midsummer, the day of the year
which marked the turnips of the sun
away from the earth and the beginning
of the return of cold, dark Winter. The
ancient Teutons celebrated this event
backsetting fire to a huge wheel and
hurling It down the mountain side, to
go out with a hiss in a cold stream
below, thus symbolising the plunging
of the earth Into the darkness of Win
ter. This, as well as the ancient custom
U il vf Ik, v i -
II If I friiriirwfiYitrt'niMiM.kMssa.K. -S---. jw .. r nnitiswir r -.-. - ntlJ I
Crown c55
insects in all, one of them adorning
the bosom.
Recent visitors to the Museum, as
might be expected, xind tuts exhibit
remarkably Interesting. But some-
THE SUNDAY
of building bonfires on mountain peaks,
is still carried out by the peasants in
South Germany. As many as 37 bon
fires have been counted on the
summits of the mountains which en
circle the Chiem-See, while along the
Rhine, In the Harz mountains, and in
Bavarian highlands mid-Summer fires
cast a picturesque glow against the
Summer sky.
The sorcery of the night centers
about the flame of the Sonnwend fire,
it has unusual powers of prophecy and
healing, and acts as a charm against
witchcraft, accident and pestilence.
However, counter charms exist against
the black magic of the Bllwls-rlder.
Any one who can find a cuckoo's nest,
or the skin of an adder, or else an old
mole hill, and lays It on his head and
sits on a boundary stone will become
invisible and will recognise the unholy
rider. If he is called by name the goat
vanishes with a howl, the sorcerer is
thrown to the ground and sickens from
that moment.
Within a year and a day the devil
carries him off, and the mischief may
be remedied and the bewitched ears of
corn recovered by, their rightful owner,
provided the first harvest wagon is
driven backwards into the barn.
Singularly, the last of the Druldlo
festivals which has lingered in Britain
merged with Tuletide observances in
Germany, December 21, commemorated
by the heathen Teuton to Fro, as it
marked the return to the season of
frultfulness, is today dedicated to St.
Thomas; but probably because Fro was
also the god of love there still survive
love practices, mystio spells and the
divination, which in other countries
Is characteristic of the list of October.
The following tricks are closely simi
lar to our own Halloween practices.
Lead or the yolk of an egg is poured
into water on this night, and from the
shape it assumes may be predicted
whether the girl will marry, die or re
main single during the ensuing year;
whether she will espouse an old or
young man, citizen or peasant, rich or
poor.
If the tip of a shoe, thrown over the
shoulder, points to the door, the bride
groom will be a stranger; if the con
trary, he will be some one in the vil
lage. The maiden who wishes to see her
future husband mounts a stool, just
beforo going to bed, and entreats St.
Thomas to let her future husband ap
pear in a dream. She also believes
that the first person whom she meets
the next morning on her way to mass
will eventually marry her.
According to Irish tradition, the dead
arise on the night of the (let of Oc
faS&fc fWA z jr
times they are critical of the likenesses
of the White House ladies. While ad-
mittlng that many of them are good,
they think toat ethers are not first-
rate. Mostly, tkey approve of Martha
OREGOX1AX, PORTLAND,
tober, for then Saman. the cod er
death, passes Judgment. In Germany
the date for this day of judgment is
Christmas eve, when the dead hold
a solemn mass in the church. On this
same night hidden treasure may be
dug up, and the poacher casts charmed
bullets. On Christmas eve animals have
the gift of human speech, and anybody
who as a child slept in a cradle made
out of the wood of a cherry tree which
grew round a stone dropped by a spar
row on a wall can understand the dis
course of the oxen and sheep in those
hours.
There is a strange custom through
out Bavaria and. Swabia called cutting
the kletzen or scherzel. A maiden
gives her betrothed the kletzen. which
is made of black bread, almonds, dried
fruits and figs. Then she cuts off the
round end, called the scherzel, and they
eat it together. This signifies that they
have solemnly plighted troth for the
ensuing year and will share Joy and
sorrow. The manufacturer of the cake
is most important, and the family fear
illness or death should it get burnt or
be otherwise unsuccessful.
Another quaint custom prevails in the
Lech Valley, on the feast of the Holy
Innocents. The young men give the
girls cake, receiving in return bread
and brandy after which the maidens
allow themselves to be beaten by their
lovers, with willow rods, on their
hands, arms and necks. This is called
kindeln. If the skin does not become
thoroughly red. it is a sign that the
love of the couple is weak and waver
ing. On this day also the children pa
rade the village streets, and are per
mitted to beat up the grown-up peo
ple, for which escapades they receive
fruit and kletzen.
The feature of these witchlike times,
which is as interesting as any other, is
the custom of the country folk to gath
er about the family hearth and recount
well-known tales of ghosts and goblins
One of the best liked stories is that of
the specter barber, who for many years
haunted a castle in a little town of
Rummelsburg. Through his practice
of shaving from the shoulders up, any
mortal who happened to come within
Uni que Collection oRrj-t LadleTLaHishe
Tashinton and Dolly Madison. Mrs.
Cleveland is esteemed not bad, but
might be better. Likewise Mrs. Taft.
Their views differ, of course.
Faces Are the Si
Back of all this there is a real Joke.
For. be It understood, the faces of the
White House mistresses are not meant
to be likenesses at alL In tact, their
faces are all the same face, the original
of which is the face of. a classical
statue. So far as features are con
cerned, Martha Washington. Mrs.
Cleveland, Mrs. Taft, and all the rest
are one woman. The important dif
ference is in the arrangement of the
hair.
It was found Impracticable to obtain
a veritable dress of-Mrs. James Monroe
who by the way, was In her maiden
days a famous beauty. On that so-
OCTOBER 31, 1915.
vei, tvV jltSs -
bis power finally drove every one away
from the place.
A yung stranger happening in the
town and not finding room in the tav
ern, sought out one of the empty bed
rooms in the castle, wheih was just as
the owner had left it. Unaware of the
character of the place, he prepared to
spend the night in it. The barber, ac
cording to his wont, appeared at mid
night and ishaved the man most thor
oughly. Just as he was about to de
part, with shaving tools nicely put .
away in a bag, the young man thought
he sensed an unexpressed wish, and
motioning the barber to a seat which
ha had just vacated, he proceeded to
shave him as himself had been shaved.
As soon as he had finished the ghost
found power of speech and thanked the
young man fervently, explaining that
such services was all that was neces
sary to liberate him from an age-old
penance, which had compelled him to
stay in the castle and shave every man
who came within its wall. As tor the
stranger he was acclaimed the savior
of the town, and generously rewarded
by the owner of the seat, who immed
diately resumed possession.
Another tale is that of the collier's
family. A young merchant on his way
to a distant seaport, laden with valu
ables, lost his way and was taken Into
the humble cot of a forester for the
night. The evening merriment was at
its height, when a gentle tap was heard
at the door, and an uncanny little man
in black stealthily entered, taking his
seat In the circle about the Are.
Although he appeared to be well
known to th family, the conversation
count the lay-figure representing her
husband's administration stands for her
youngest daughter, Maria Hester, who
was the first White House bride. She
married at IS years of age, Samuel
Lawrence Gouvorneur. and her bridal
gown (attired In which her effigy ap
pears) was in the empire style, im
ported from France, of pale blue silk,
with short sleeves of blue tulle.
But there is another cause of eye
deception. In each instance the pose
ot the hand is different; likewise the
pose of the shoulders. These poses are
copied from photographs (or other por
traits) of the individual women. They
are lidividually characteristic The
hair arrangements are copied from the
same portraits. One realizes. In view-
lng
tha aasemblasre of Whit Hmim
mistresses, that In the general effect
of what if called "likeness." the faea
name MMtrejmj
immediately subsided, and the rest of
the evening was passed in constraint.
He joined the family in prayers, but
just as be was about to lift the latch
of the door to go out into the night he
shot back into the room and glared
wildly and ferociously upon the family
group.
In the middle of the night, the young
merchant roused from his slumber by
some one walking about his rr om. saw
the little man sitting upon the saddle
bags which contained his valuables,
and when he asked him what he want
ed, the creature replied that he wished
to show him hidden treasure in the for
est. Thinking that in this way he
might easily increase his riches, the
merchant sprang out of bed and pre
pared to go out with his strange guide.
When he looked toward the man.
however, he saw not the cowering per
son of the evening, but an apparition,
immoderately tall and thin, with a
scarlet mantle thrown over his shoul
der and his belt bristling with weapons.
Not daring to disobey the commands
which now came from such a frightful
personality, the younger man hastened
out into the depth of the forest.
Finally the specter halted, and point
ing to a spot told the young man to
dig. He himself Joined in. and wher
ever his bony fingers touched the earth
phosphorous and ill-smelling vapor
arose.
At last they reached some copper
urns, which, as soon as they struck the
air, crumbled into dust. The search
continued for Borne time, with equally
fruitless results in each spot where
they dug.
At last tho goblin declared that his
Mujeum,
plays a much less predominating part
than is commonly supposed.
Face Is Classic.
This Idea of using a single classic
face for all the Presidents' wives was
suggested by Professor W. H. Holmes,
who is the Government's chief author
ity in all matters relating to the fine
arts. Apart from that, credit for the
creation of the remarkable exhibit
here described must be given to two
Washington women of social promi
nence. Mrs. Julian James and Mrs. R.
R. Hoes, the latter a granddaughter of
the aforementioned first bride of the
White House. Marie Hester Monroe.
The labor they undertook in getting
together the costumes and incidental
materials all of which were required
to be the veritable apparel, etc, of the
distinguished women concerned was
almost beyond belief. For, be it under
stood, it was not merely the dresses
that were collected. To lend additional
interest to the lay-figures furnishing
them, as It were, with something sug
gestive of "atmosphere" other belong
ings of theirs were obtained.
Thus, for example, the hands of
Martha Washington, folded In her lap
and wearing a pair of her very own
silk mitts, hold a work-bag that she
commonly used. Sarah Angelica Sin
gleton, daughter-in-law of President
Van Buren (another White House
bride), carries a handkerchief embroid
ered with her maMen name; and in her
left hand is a fan bearing her mar
ried monogram, "A. V. B." A book
clasped in Dolly Madison's fingers is a
copy of "Paradise Lost." printed in the
year ltlJ,
Maria Hester Monroe stands by the
side of a table and chair which were
brought from France by her father In
179s. On the table Is a mirror that was
made from a fragment of a larger one
broken when the White House was
sacked and burned by the British, in
1S14; also a beautiful ivory and silver
fan. and a small cup, decorated with
an eagle and It stars, which is sup
posed to be the only piece of Monroe
china now in existence.
The arrangement of hair being relied
upon "wholly (save for pose of head and
shoulders) to differentiate the various
White House mistresses, it is interest
ing to note lbs styles of coiffure af-
fected by these ladles, as shown In the
costumed models said style being un
C&rct.for fit
comrade had discovered the weaitn and
surreptitiously hidden it. As he voiced
his accusation his wrath grew greater
and greater, flames shot out from his
ears and nostrils, and. striking his
bony hands against the trunks of trees,
he made a noise like Summer thunder.
The young merchant was beginning to
give himself up for lost, when a dis
tant cork crowed, and with groan and
loud lamentation the spector faded into
air.
Upon returning to the collier's home
and relating the experience the mer
chant was told that the ferocious form
had been the habitual gulso of tho
ghost of the place who haunted burled
treasure, but that by piety and con
stant prayers he and his family had
succeeded in getting the specter to as
sume the gentle aspect In which he had
been seen early In the evening. Tho.
knowledge of treasure in the house had
excited his cupidity and caused him to
take his old form.
Several years later the merchant
again had occasion to stay with tho
collier, but this time the only evidence
of the little man was the soft t'nklo
of bells and a gentle radiance which
played about the room for a while and
then departed.
Playing "Crow" for Old Fisher.
World s Work.
One of the Sea Lords of the British
Admiralty, whose rather slipshod dress
disguised his real Importance, appeared
one day In the Portsmouth dockyard
looking for the then superintendent of
the yard. Lord Fisher, who Is now Ad
miral of the Britisli fleet. He ran
against a Jackie stationed outside a
shed, sofely pounding the pavement.
"Are the lords of the Admiralty this
way?" the stranger asked.
"Not much." replied the gentleman
of leisure, "seeing I'm here doing crow
for them."
"Crow?" What's that?"
"Crow is wot I'm doing of. Inside
that shed all the maties are playic
cards and takin' it easy like. I'm out
here keepln" watch for 'em. When I
sees one comin' wot don't matter. I
knocks soft. When I sees old Fisher I
knocks like hades; and when old Fish
er pokes his nose through the shed all
the maties are workln' like It, too.
Seer
deniably accurate, as adopted by there.
Inasmuch, as they reproduce actual por
traiture of the individuals in life.
Mrs. Taft, for example, wears her
hair in waves over her forehead and
covering the upper parts of the ears,
with a coil at the back fastened by a
comb.
Cleveland Coiffure Simple.
Mrs. Cleveland's coiffure is of the
simplest kind, suggesting the Greek,
with a knot behind, and drawn back
from the forehead.
Mrs. Benjamin Harrison's hair is
drawn up and back Into a twist (fast
ened by a comb), with little curls in
front.
Mrs. McKinley, whose hair was quit
short, wears it curled close to hei
head.
Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant wears collet
braids behind and on top ot her head,
with elaborate waves in front.
Harriet Lane (Buchanan's niece, and
mistress of the White House in hii
Administration) exhibits perhaps th
most elaborate and beautiful coiffur
of all. Her hair Is puffed out at th
sides from the top of the head, drawn
back over the upper ears, and gathered
Into a silk-net bag at the back.
This arrangement, however, is rival
led by that of Van Buren's daughter-in-law,
Sarah Angelica, who wears ten
big curls at the sides and back of her
head, her locks drawn back from the
forehead and secured by 'a fillet with
a great Jewel In the center.
Mrs. Pierce wears her hair In coils
around the sides of her head and at the
nape of the neck.
Dolly Madison, of course, wears her
favorite turban. There was a fashion
for things Oriental in her day, and
this style of headgear became her. Be
neath the turban are cunning little
curls on the forehead, and at the sides
of the head, and sticking out above
the turban are more curls, gathered in
to a cluster.
Mrs. Ablgal Adams wears a veritable
pompadour, with a roll of hair at the
back of her head, and two gerat curls
falling behind the ears.
Last or one should rather say, first
there is the mother of her country.
Martha Washington, whose hair is
drawn back from her forehead and
built up in a mass behind, the whole
coiffure covered with a piece of rare
lace secured by a ribbon tied with a
bow.