Skull in the Halloween Tree

 "Cuevos!" sang a far voice up the hill.
  Inside the graveyard, voices echoed the song.
  Leaning against the graveyard walls, some with guitars in their hands or bottles, were the men of the village.
 "Cuevos de los Muertos-" sang the faraway voice.
 "Cuevos de los Muertos," sang the men in shadows inside the gate.
  "Skulls," translated Tom.  "The skulls of the dead."

                                              from The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

Electric Trolley Car With Halloween Spirit

It looks like the Electric City's trolley car operators have a seasonal sense of humor.  This electric trolley car pulled into the Lackawanna County stadium station with its Halloween decoration prominently displayed.

Statue of Dante at the University of Scranton

Looking for a good intellectual Halloween read?  You might want to try this fella's classic The Divine Comedy,  particulary the Inferno section.  If you are not familiar with the fourteenth century Italian writer and poet Dante Allighieri, the Inferno section of the book refers to Hell.   If you find fourteenth century literature somewhat tedious reading,  Inferno by acclaimed science fiction writers Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle is a creepy and quite entertaining read, with the setting based on Dante's description.

Castle in Scranton

 

What better place to keep your soldiers than a castle?    It may be an anchronism, but it certainly is not  boring.   This formidable structure is plunked right down in the middle of a residential neighborhood.   I suppose the zoning ordinances explain the disappointing lack of a moat.

The Banshee Restaurant in Downtown Scranton

I suppose if you are dining at The Banshee and you hear a wailing sound you should cross yourself, hold your breath and hope you don't drop dead.    According to Irish legend, a banshee wail is an omen of death.  The banshee is a messenger from the underworld whose wail can be heard, but she can not always be seen.  But when she can be seen she will appear as an ugly old hag or perhaps a strikingly beautiful woman.  This could be the ideal place for dinner on Halloween in just a few days.  Just pay attention to whoever is sitting nearby.

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