Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-03-20
The Ghost Mania in N ew York,

The Ghost Mania in N ew York.
1pPHihon' N oar Pubhr LidrWicsStrange Confr-
rcacrs mih DisembohsHSpirts--NigM Emuete in Me
historical Society Baiiiiag-- Eandango By The Cnri-
yui LioiS and Nncreh MarJies.
(From the Evening Po.Ll
For several DAYS .past there has been bit Of
personal gossip atloat up town, which, MS in oil
similar instances. has been highly cxagerntod.---
Yet even allowing for these oxnggerations, tho
facts or the uppositions-.wbclDve they be--as
related by one of the principal actors, are of them
selves strange enough to satisfy the. most nvete-
rate ndmirer of tho marvellous and as the story
has been solemnly nssevernted before q mixed com.
pany OF some twenty persons, and afterw ards ro-
tailed nnd repeated 40 much as to be almost tho
town talk in stating the circumstances, rs far us
we have been able To discover them.
Tho numerous literary persons and others who
frequent the spacious halls of Astor Library will
be interested. therefore, in learning that thcir fa-
vortc retreat is haunted. of course, on seeing
the comfortable, well-lighted rooms in tho day
time, when filled with careful readers and enlvcn.
81 often by the presence of gaily dressed lady and
other visitors, nothing seems more prcposterous
than the idea of ghosts. But let tho reader i'm
nginc those wide halls rs they Mt night swnth-
ed in darkness the gloomy acoves casting yet
deeper and gloomicr shndows-when n football
reverbcrntes through the wide cxpnnse with mys-
t'rious echoes, hnd when tho lamp borne by the
startled explorer along tortuous passages and
among musty tones sends but u feeble raw, that
scarcely serves to make the darkness visible, and
the aspect is very different At this time the As
tor Librnry-and for TINT matter all large libra
ries Mt such time-arc rather dismal places, and
suggests, unplcasnntly enough, TO any ono who
may tc there alone. Hoods lines:
"O'cr all there hung shadow and frnr,
sense Of mystery the spiriiei dauuied
which said ns plain whisper In the ear
The place is hnuncd."
1t was at such time, in such place and to one
lionel y explorer that the ghost Of the Astor Lii
brnry appeared.
To understand the circ umstances of this re.
marknble apparation the more fully. the render
should remember that DIR. Cogswell, the efficient
Librarian, has been for some time engaged in the
compilation Of n compe:o ca alogue of the library.
Although over year since it was commenced. the
work has only reached to tho letter p. Dir. Cogs-
well is unmarried man, and occupies u sleeping
apartment in tho upper part of the library. the
janltor residing in the basement 1t is the
rule Of the library to dismiss visitors ut sunset,
and during the evening and night no individual
besides DR.. Cogswel and the janitor and his fnm-
ly remain in the building.
Against the advice Of his friends, DIR. Cogswell
devotes hours Of the night that should be given to
repose, to the pursuance of his work on the cata-
logue. Naturally an xious to hasten forward its
completion. and fred with all the enthusiasm Of
proesscd bbiopole, his labors in this tedious and
difficult task are almost incredible AT the same
time tho work is of that dry, statistical character
which is by no means suggestive Of fanciful appa-
rations, nor is the ndefntigable compiler a man
easily swayed by the passing delusion of the eye
or brain.
Some two weeks ago DR.. Cogswell was at work,
usual, on the catalogue 1t was about eleven
o'clock at night, and having occasion to refer to
books in distant part of the library. he left
his desk, took his candle, and, as he had often
done before, pursued his course among the wind
ing passages toward the desired spot. But before
reaching it, when in alcove in the southwest
part of the older portion of the building, no was
startled by seeing n man, respectfully dressed in
citizens clothes, surveying shelf of books. The
doctor supposed it to be robber who had sscreted
himself for the purpose Of abstracting some of tho
valuable works in the library. After stepping
back behind partition for n moment he ngain
moved cautiously forward to catch glimpse OF
the individuals face, when, to his surprise, be re-
cognized in the supposed robber the features of a
physician (whose name we forbear giying) who
had lived in the immediate vicinity of the library,
and who had died some six weeks ago. 1t should
be borne in mind that this deceased person was
mere casual acquaintance Of DIR. Cogswell, not
an intimate friend, and since his death DR.. Cugs.
well had not thought Of him.
But the apparaton was in the presence Of g.
man net easily scared. The librarian, 90 far from
fainting or shrieking, a. might reasonably be ex-
pected, calmly addressed the ghost
"Dr. -" said he, 'syou seldom II ever yisi-
tod this 'ihrarv while living. Why do you trou.
% w.1d uradY'