Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-26

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quay.
The White Lady.
So general is the belief in supernatural mani
festations that every family of long standing
appears to have a tradition of one; and haunted
houses have been theme so long that it seems
almost trite to alude to them.
Perhaps the most remarkable of these appari-
tons is the "White Lady" who first was seen
often at the castle of Neuhaus, in Bohemia, but
afterwards became Visitant at the castles of
Roumlan, Trzebon, Islubocka, Bechusse and
Trctzen, in the same county. Years later the
heirs of the house of Baden, Brandenburg, Bay
reuth and Darmstadt were honored by her APP
pearance. She wore a veil, through which her
face was barely distinguishable. She generally
came little while before the death of one of
the reignr family, or some person of the court,
but did not regularly or always appear to make
such announcement. She was also wont to be
seen about the time of the three principal church
festivals, showing that she had been Roman
Catholic. She appeared in the day time as well
as by night.
The first recorded appearance was at the castle
of Neuhaus, in Bohemia, over four hundred
years ago. After that she was seen there very
often. She was entirely in white, wearing a
white veil with white ribbons; her stature was
tall and her department modest. She was fire.
quenty observed at monday looking out from
window at the top of an uninhabited turret of
the castle. On one occasion princess of the
royal family of Bohemia was in her dressing
room trying on an article of dress, and asking
her maid of honor the time, when the white lady
stepped out suddenly from behind screen and
said, sit is ten o'clock, my darling" The prin-
cess few weeks afterward fell ill and died.
In December, 1928, she appeared at the Elec-
toral castle in Berlin and was heard to utter the
following words: " Vini, judicd UiUoS et NOR
tuOS; jltdiCiUnl nlibi dd hoe super eSt"-(Come,
judge the living and the dead; my Judgments
yet going on).
Merriam, in the fifth volume of his work, "The
Theatre of Europe" declares that she had been
frequently seen at the castle in Berlin in the
years 1852 and 1868.
Shilling, the celebrated mystical writer and
the friend Of Goethe, asserts that an officer of
the Ducal Court at Carlsruhe, who was man of
unqualified veracity, declared positively that the
White Lady appeared to him as he was going
late one evening through a lobby of the castle
He first supposed her to be woman of the
court who came TO terrify him, and endeavored
to lay hold Of her; but she vanished before his
eyes.
She was often seen TO be angered, and even to
assume threatening aspect when any one used
blasphemOus or indecorous language about God
and religion; and there are instances recorded of
her resort to violence toward such persons. But
her most positive demonstrations OF this charac-
ter were observable at the castle of Neuhaus
1t was custom there to feast the poor, often
several thousand in number, on a sweet pottage
of pulpous fruit sOdden in honey. Each person
was also presented with seven pretzelS, and had
as much small beer as he could drink. During
the thirty years war, Neuhaus fell into the pos
session of the SwedeS who neglected TO keep up
this custom. The White Lady became greatly
excited, and gave the garrison of the castle no
rest. The quad was dispersed, beaten and
thrown to the ground by an unknown power. The
sentinels were met by strange figures, often
mere faces without bodies, and the officers
themselves were dragged of nights from their
beds and along the floor. So great was the
alarm and disturbance that it was not endura-
bic. The matter was mentioned to an inhabi-
in-chef to renew the repast for the poor accord
ing to the old custom. This was done, and or
der was thus restored.
These accounts are found in "The Monthly
DiscourseS on the World of Spirits" publica-
ton of the last century. One writer supposes
lamunda, but more plausible account is given
of her by Baldinus.
In the castle of Neuhaus, among the family
pictures, is a portrait exactly resembling the
White Lady. Similar pictures were also at
other castles. She is clothed in a white habit
and her name was Perchta Won Rosenberg.
She was born between 1920 and 1870, and was
the daughter of Ulrich III. and Catherine of Wur-
temberg. Her father was viceroy of Bohemia,
and the commander-in-chief of the troops en-
ployed against the followers of John Huss.
Perchta or Bertha was married in 1449 to the
rich nobleman, Johann Won Lichtenstein, of
Steyermark. He was a wicked and profigate
man, and treated her so badly that she was COM
PEELED to seek protection from her own kindred.
After the death of her husband she returned TO
them, and lived with her brother, Henry w.,
who died in 1457.
The festival at Neuhaus was instituted by her.
She built the castle in that town, requiring for
the purpose the services of the vassals The
work occupied several years, and was felt by
them TO be severe eXaction. She cheered them
on, promising them due acknowledgment of
their services. work for your masters, We
faithful subjects" said she; '"work, and when
the castle is finished, you, and all your families,
shall be Toasted with sweet porridge."
The castle was finally completed, and she kept
her word, treating all her vassas with a sump-
tuous repast. While they were eating she
walked among them and promised that in con-
sideTation of their fidelity they should have a
similar feast every year, thus perpetuating their
praise to future ages. This was done; but her
descendants, the lords Of Rosenberg and Sla-
vana, changed the time Of the feast to Easter
day, aud Sitting informs us that it was still
continued.
The persecution of the Swedish garrison is
thus explained: Several female members of her
family married into the family of Hohenzollern,
Baden and Darmstadt. As she set up the
habit after her death of visiting among her pos.
ltilAl slG iuuo DCCdllb Su6sl at IDC electoral,
afterward the royal, abode in Berlin at the pal.
ace in Carlsrhue and at the castle in Darmstadt.
Whether these visitations have continued dur
ing the present century, we have never in.
quired.
Sitting was of opinion that she became a
wanderer after death because she had lived on
i'll terms with her husband. This is very sug-
gestive idea. He remarks, however, that her
disposition was benevolent; that she was tran
quill and cheerful, and not undergoing suffering
or torment. Her practice of appearing to per.
sons shortly after their death, he attributes to
her mistaken kindness of heart. Having the
faculty of presentiment fully developed, she
perceives the approach of that event, and APP
pears for the purpose of inducing them to pre-
pare for it.
Although the Lady Perchta was Roman Cath.
Ole, and her father commanded the armies
against the Hussites, she appears to have ac-
quired favorable disposition towards Protes-
tants. She was especially attached to the house
Of Hohenzollern, appearing often at Berlin, and
even becoming familiar with the princes and
princesses; while, except at the castle of Neu.
haus, which was built by her during her life
time, she did not appear SO warmly disposed 10
her ancestral castles in Bohemia.-NeD York
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