EDITOR’S NOTE: We’ll use this occasion, with the help of Matagorda County genweb, to provide Halloween poetry and stories from the Palacios Baptist Academy in 1912 and 1913.
Palacios - College Notes
The Senior class gave a Hallowe’en reception at the girls’ dormitory Friday night to the Junior class and other students in the college.
A big time was recorded and such was the record made that Roy Hunt put it in rhyme for the contributor of the college notes.—Palacios Beacon, November 15, 1912
Halloween Reception
The Senior class of the P. B. A.
Gave a reception two miles away
Out at the Hall that’s built for the girls
Things were so spooky they put you in whirls.
I’ll tell a story I hope you’ll believe,
It’s about that party on All Hallow Eve.
The Senior Class can sure do things;
You know they do by the result it brings.
Talk of progressives they certainly are it,
And with this party they made a big hit.
They sent little ‘Invites’ all written with ink
And the words it said would make you think
You must throw up your hands and away with your books
And gaze on the Devil whose foreboding looks
Would raise up your hair, run your blood cold
And look at the spectres with manners so bold.
The invitation all given in rhyme
Told of the How, the Where and the Time.
I’ll quote the words of the little verse
Whose meaning was hidden in words that were terse:
“The Senior Class of the P. B. A.
Send you this missive and to you say
’Leave home your Latin, leave home your Greek,
For Ghosts and Goblins now you may seek.
We write you to come and don’t be late,
At the Girl’s Hall and the hour is eight.”
Now if you think this call was in vain
Just ask them to try it over again.
And if you think this had no effect
You’d better again in your mind reflect.
They all came so happy, without a care,
They came from town and everywhere
If they did miss the car and have to walk
They’d rather do that than miss all the talk,
When you get there you were ushered in
By one old witch and the “Father of Sins.”
You had no need to take off your hat,
When you got in, the scene did that.
For goblins and bones and skulls met your gaze
And all so unnatural you felt in a haze.
They made you sit down in Indian fashion
’Till the devils worked up a furious passion
And the ball of fate they did unwind,
To see if the Fates to all were unkind.
For something to do there seemed a plenty
Of various “stunts” there were some twenty.
They whistled some tunes and trimmed some hats
And a violin solo that sounded like cats.
Then fortunes were told if you’d marry or not,
Then sent on to Hades, the region so hot.
Before your soul in this place had been fixed
You had to travel the River of Styx.
In Hades was placed the terrors it seems
They did it a purpose to give you bad dreams.
Refreshments were served so pleasing to taste,
But I must begone so excuse all this haste.
Just one word and its right to the letter
Of all good times we’ve had no better.
If anyone can, the Seniors excel,
They’ve got to hurry, I know very well.
E. R. Hunt
Palacios Beacon, November 8, 1912
Halloween Reception
The Senior class of P. B. A. entertained tbe students and faculty of tbe Academy Friday evening, Oct. 31, 1913, at the girls’ ball.
This being Hallowe’en, ghosts met them at the door, some taking their wraps and others directing them to a rope, which led over dark and rough places all around the dormitory, while hideous noises were being made on the inside.
This rope led them to the Gypsy camp which was decorated with corn stalks, pumpkins, and a camp-fire.
Here punch was served. On leaving this room fortunes were told with candles…in all directions over the basement, which each guest took and followed to the end where they found their fortune.
On their way upstairs they were stopped by a ghost and commanded to register.
From this place they went to the reception hall which was beautifully decorated as fairyland with the Senior colors, pink and green, their flower, the pink rose, and green branches and moss from the woods.
In fairyland there were three little fairies, Marian and Vivian Wolf and Agnes Rice, who gave each a little favor, which was a card, on one side was drawn a cat, a broom and a witch bat, and a bow of pink and green ribbon was tied in one corner, and the program for the entire evening on the other side.
Then Miss Allen gave a piano selection, Miss Brown a reading and Miss Nigro a vocal solo, and the fortunes that were found from the spider-web were read aloud.
A little later after this the guests told the Seniors of the pleasant evening
they had spent and departed.
Palacios Beacon, November 7, 1913
Palacios Senior Class
The beautiful east bay home of Mr. R. F. Clement was most beautifully yet weirdly decorated and illuminated Monday night and sprites and ghouls and ghosts moved in mysterious ways.
The witch met strange creatures at the door and by signs directed them to the reception, committee stationed at the foot of the stairs in the hall for a welcome greeting.
This “committee” was a headless woman’s dress form arrayed in white, but as one approached it extended a hand of real flesh and blood to be grasped in welcome, which was quite terrifying to some.
Then there was a requiem from the depths made realistic by a dyspeptic, talking machines, and apparitions and shadows suggestive of spirits departed and otherwise.
At the behest of the witch, masks were removed, when it seemed more like being among real folks, and then various games suggestive of Halloween time were engaged in to the pleasure and merriment of everybody.
As a finale refreshments of pumpkin pie and chocolate were served by the hostesses, concluding with apples which were “named” and by which fortunes were told.
All this happened and more, and the occasion was a Halloween party given by the senior class of the high school, which was a success in every way and much enjoyed by all who were so fortunate as to be present.
Palacios Beacon, November 5, 1915
The B. Y. P. U. invoked the aid of a special conjurer last Saturday evening to assemble a host from the abode of spirits, hobgoblins, spooks, witches and wizards, and as a result of his magic art more than two hundred gnomes, nymphs, elfs and fairies assembled at the empty haunted house on Pavilion street, and made merry till a late hour.
The special antics promised for the occasion could not be given by reason of the multitude, but there was sport in plenty.
In the line ghost stories, fortune telling, a ghost walk and other nerve trying ordeals.
The refreshments consisted of popcorn and apples. The revenue derived paid ail expenses and left a neat balanced.
Palacios Beacon, Nov. 5, 1915
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