The Unearthly Look. Take a half-pint of spirits and, having warmed it, put a handful of salt with it into a basin; then set it on fire and it will have the effect of making every person look hideous. This must be performed in a room. Be careful that no sudden draught blows the flame upon one’s clothing, or any other inflammable substance.
Luminous Writing. Fix a small piece of solid phosphorus in a quill, and write with it on paper; if the paper be then placed in a dark room the writing will appear luminous.
The Floating Candle. Here is an amusing and inoffensive diversion which looks very much like one of our Hallowe’en games called “ducking for apples.”
The young folks are ranged around a tub of water in which a piece of candle is floating, and a prize is offered to him, who, without touching the tub with his hands, will remove the candle from the water by his mouth alone.
This may look very simple and very easy to most of my readers; but let them try it. This trial they may make at home, with a bucket of water instead of a tub, and a piece of India-rubber instead of a candle; and they will be surprised at the result. Bring your mouth as close as possible to the article and inhale it with your breath, while seizing it with your lips. Apples may also be used.
Ornamented Apples. If you plan to hold a Hallowe’en party next fall, you can prepare a part of the fun this summer. Cut out in stout cloth the initials of whomsoever you intend to invite. Paste the initials securely on the sunny side of apples. When the apples are ripe, the initials will remain in light yellow on a red background. The fun of eating fruit marked with one’s own initials or monogram will be an unusual one for your guests. Should you have the detail of your party pretty well in mind, you will readily think of a number of devices which you may “appleize” in this fashion. Witches, for instance, can be thus “painted” on the fruit.
Finding the Candle. This is an admirable penance. The victim, having been shown the position of the candle, is securely blindfolded, and after having been turned around once or twice, is requested to go and blow it out.
The Full Moon. An original moon can be made from a cheese-box covered with cotton cloth, on which a very jolly face is painted. This can be drawn up by a string and pulley, and illuminated by a candle placed behind it.