Old Satan Himself

While conducting research I often visit Genealogy Bank.com and search their historical  newspapers. While doing some research for a family in Missouri I came across this article from the October 23, 1920 Kansas City Star newspaper out of Kansas City, Missouri.  I couldn't help but find it perfect to share with all of you especially with Halloween right around the corner.

HALLOWEEN IS ON SUNDAY.

October 31 Is Date of Witches’ and

Goblins’ Annual Frelie

Sunday is a poor day for devils

and hobgoblins, but their one day

on earth this year will be Sunday.

October 31, the eve of All Saints

Day – Hallowe’en. It may be that

the good fairies and the good

ghosts that surely will be out Sun-

day, will frighten away the devils

and witches, but there is no his-

torical foundation for the state-

ment, Hallowe’en is Hallowe’en,

history shows, and has been for

thirteen hundred years, regardless

of whether it fell on Sunday, Fri-

day or any other day.

     _______________________

   Pumpkin devils with fiery eyes, cats

as black as midnight, and cone-hatted

witches astride broomsticks will be as

numerous in Kansas City this year as in

years gone by, dealers in Hallowe’en goods

declare. Black cates with green eyes and

white whiskers can be seen peeking out

from behind big red devils with ugly black

horns, in the stores downtown. Near

them are little white pumpkin devils with

red noses, medium sized pumpkinheads

with big blue eyes, and large, yellow

pumpkins with big, scary eyes. And there

are the wide-eyed bats, the wise old owls

and the image of old Satan himself. There

are hats and masks for would be witches, and

masks and robes for the ghosts of witches’

night. There are rattlers, squawkers,

whistles and horns for noise; marshmal-

llows for toasting, pumpkins for pies, ap-

ples to bob for.

   Even the florists are entering into the

spirit, and while they know of no par-

ticular flower for Hallowe’en, big, yel-

low chrysanthemums’ and the newer

reddish-brown tritomas are being pre-

pared for use in decorations. There are

new designs in invitations, place cards,

menu and dance folders, but they all con-

tain black cats and witches.

   Books of Hallowe’en games give new

amusements and forfeits. The old

Games, too, are detailed. We will have

almost the same Hallowe’en our great-

grandfathers had, and the same our

great-grandchildren will enjoy.