The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-04-10 00:00:00

A HAUNTED HOUSE.

The Kensington Review is responsible for the fol-
lowing extraordinary story: Most people have heard
of "The Haunted House of Berkeley-square," and
old people will remember the strange stories that
used to be told of one with a similar reputation in
Sloane-street; but we do not recollect having ever
heard until now that "Kingly Kensington" contained
within its borders one of these uncanny dwelling-
places. Such, however, seems to be the case. For
obvious reasons we are precluded from mentioning its
name or that of the family whose experiences we are
about to recount—suffice to say that the circum-
stances, as far as they go, are vouched for by at least
two persons well known in Kensington, neither of
whom is what is usually called "superstitious." The
story is as follows: In a side street within a few hun-
dred yards of High-street, there stands a large de-
tached house of the substantial sort and not more
than 40 years old. For many years it was occupied
by a large family, one member of which, and perhaps
others, died during their occupation. Since it came
into the possession of its present tenants some strange
things have occurred, the substance of which is as
follows : The youngest of the household is a little
girl of three years, of more than ordinary intelli-
gence. Whether she is gifted with what psychologists
call "second sight" we do not pretend to say; but
certain it is that on several occasions after she has been
sent to or leftin a certain room, she has run out crying:
telling her nursery governess she has seen a "blue
lady" sitting there, and stoutly refusing to re-enter
the room. On one occasion she pointed out the very
chair where the lady sat. As no one could have been
in the room, these statements have usually been as-
cribed to childish fancies. Recently, however, Mrs.
G— has herself seen the mysterious visitant, who-
ever or whatever she may be. One night she went
into the same room to turn out the gas, and, having
done so, turned round and saw a pale coloured figure
passing across the room. Thinking some one had fol-
lowed'her in, she spoke to the figure twice, but re-
ceived no reply. Rather alarmed she went into her
governess's room, and found her ready for bed. There
was no one else upstairs at the time, except the chil-
dren. On another occasion the housekeeper ,was on
the staircase leading to th 3 room in question and was
heard to give a scream. The governess ran to see
what was the matter; whereupon the good woman,
who had been told nothing about the "appearances,"
described how she had seen a misty female figure in a
blue gown standing in front of her, which immediately
disappeared. We understand that enquiries are to be
made as to• what may have have taken plase during
the tenure Of- the- fdriiier feardeitifrliiid -megnwhile
we shall publish an account of any repeated appear-
ances of the "blue lady," should they occur,

Customer: "Hang this up." Bar-tender: "But I
hung one up for you yesterday. You can't be always
hanging 'em up, you know." "That's so, Chalk this
one down,"