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Masquerade
Balls
05/21/2008
So, whatever became of
masquerade balls? My memory takes me back to the gym at Reliance (Legion Hall
today) and the wild, crazy antics of the likes of Bert and Ivah Hickey. Well, Ivah for sure; the music of Big Tiny Little or Max
John (now there was an accordion player if I ever heard one!) How did the little
ones ever sleep on those hard benches that line the north and south sides of the
hall. You could almost surely -bet that if there was a pile of
coats, there was a child under it, sound asleep, exhausted from their "trick or
treat" run.
Someone in the office just brought it to our attention that there will be
three bands on
Chamberlain's Main Street Saturday night. I've got it now. The masquerade balls
might be a thing of the past, but people still celebrate Hallowe'en in the
spirit intended. We never go out on Hallowe'en. No wonder we don't know what
goes on after the sun goes down.
But wasn't "trick or treating" fun. Soaping windows was a must. I don't
know that I have ever had to wash the soap off my own windows after I was grown
and had a home of my own, but I'm sure I was right there with the rest of them
fifty-plus years ago, soaping the windows of any-
one who wasn't at home or wouldn't come to the door with a treat. We never did
throw eggs. I expect that was too costly for us in the early fifties.
What a treat it was to go into Hanks' Market and be allowed to choose a
penny candy or two from the display of candy and not have to pay for it. I
wonder if anyone ever soaped Arlo McIntyre's windows. Guaran-darned-teed if
anyone ever did it wasn't girls. That was one
spooky house. I remember going to visit his mother one time. She seemed like a
nice old lady, but I had my ear on the front door, scared to death he would
return.
In any event, the little ones will be out Saturday night, so do your duty.
Get out that monster mask and those long hairy-fingered hands and scare the hell
out of them when they come to the door. Cuts down on the cost of treats!
She is kidding, right?
Granddad Speck takes care of the kids at the door. He likes to scare them. I'm
too grouchy. Now that I think of it, I should dress up as the bitchy witch I am
and really clear the steps! Just kidding ...
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