Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-08-14
THE EDITOR TO HIS ARM CHAIR.
CAPk ISLAND, July 20, IofI.
Miller's House, Congress Hall.


Nh Dear Arm Chair:
rarely visit place without making enquiries
for some of its traditions, seeking out some of the
elders who bring down with them the stories of
the other generation, and thus enable us to judge
Of the feelings and belief of the past Of whom we
know the name possessions and the public acts.
In all ages men have been wonderfully alike in the
great concernments of politics and patriotism; and
each generation has been the counterpart of the
other in some leading public character. The his
orian, or the bographer, sets these men and their
leeds before the world; and philosophical inqui-
compares the heroes of different ages, and finds
'ut little to distinguish from the other, when
III circumstances are weighed with them.
The morast inquiries more closely into the feel
nss of the undistinguished, and learns to apprec-
to the man without the adventurous usppings
md per formances Of the hero. In many places
lave derived profit from protracted conversations
With some ancient resident, who, without the
rouble of comparison, or deduction, has given
ne facts of elder times, which have opened up
elrts that seemed to others to have been as close
s the graves in which they now mouldor.
have not been as successful here as elswhere.-
rhe residents this Island, far as can gather,
re not generally natives even of this section of
ountry, the elders especially and they exhibit
much greater tact in the modern art of m oney ma
ling, than in gathering and importing knowledge
# time past "'Tis their vocation" had given
of g.
ion writing among the residents, when, few
ays since, as was leaning against fence in the
ear of the bowling alley, and looking of upon the
cean, and around upon the beautiful shores, and
s,ant line of the opposite Cape, just family dis
ernable in the mist was accosted by an old man
With the customary salutions, which cheerfully
exchanged. He was a native of this country. and
lad grown old in the ways Of his people. ques-
oned him as to the wonders of the place, but found
hat he had nothing Of the kind to relate.
"Are there no legends connected with places a
ong the shore !"
"None" said he, "that know Of"
"But you have haunted house on the main
and" "Yes," said the old man smilngly, "there
vas ghost or two there.
"Well, how came they there, and what became
If the strange visers | should like to go to the
house with you, and have you tell me all about
hose spirits in their own circle"
"Why as to that, there are more haunted places
han one in this neighborhood. The strip OF
ground oil which yonder bowling alley was built
was once haunted and there are many now alive
who saw the ghost walk among the graves, then
numerous, and visible in that place."
"Was that a burying ground"
ayes the dead bodies of persons cast ashore
from wrecks on this beach we're taken thithef ant
buried"
add you ever see the ghost of which you speak =
81 saw it once standing within twenty feet o
this place."
felt that had struck vein which would be pro
ductive, as it was long since had heard off rea
ghost; and from the appearance Of the old man, h'
was not likely to jest in such matters.
The bell then rang for the table, and was caet
away to attend upon my female companions. L
was not until the next evening that l saw the old
man again. He was leaning against rough fence
and locking occasionally out upon the ocean, an,
then at the site of the old burying ground.
Immediately drew his attention to the subjec
of our former conversation. He hesilated for som
time to comply with my request to tell the ghos
story, and referred me to persons who recollecte
the spparition. But preferred his edition and, a
tor saying that it might spoil some interesting lilo
sions, resting his arms upon the fence. and colec
ing his thoughts as il to fin on some date, he thl
commenced;