The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-07-01
LITERARY
An Unsolyed Mystery.

About the close of the eighteenth century
She fashionable life of Dublin was In It's
zenith the Ranelagh Garient were 'he re-
sort of the beaux and bellies OF the day the
Parliament was held in College Green, ana
lts members had their town residences IN
Dublin. and lived there for II considerable
portion of the year.
One of the members, an lllustrious lrlsh
nobleman, who had spent some portion Oh
his youth in Italy, was man OF cultivated
taste and rehnement- Upon his return 10
Dublin he conceived the idea OF inviting
over some Italian artists t. decorate inc
walls and ceilings Of his residence after the
Florentine manner. He carried out ms or
lamentations OF Charlement House pear
witness to the taste and skill OF the decora-
tors. Other noblemen employed these ar
lists the present Royal Irish Academy
House, their noble private residence, Is
similarly decorated; also several other city
mansions in several of the leading streets
and squares
When Dublin decreased in Importance at
ser the Act of Union in 1901, aud was no
longer the center of fashion for the irish
nobility. its splendid private residences
gradually decayed and wealthy BURGLARS
and Dublins proverbially professional aris-
tocracv now inhabit them Many of the
houses yet retain their curious, rare old dec
srations, ana of one of these residences,
situated in leading square, we would
more especially speak.
large, stately; gloomy looking house,
With ponderous hall door, studded with
iron nails, like the door of cathedral.
High, narrow windows with ltalion lalous
ses The grass grows in the interstices Of
the high, steep steps, now fast falling away
yne rusty iron ratings have become ioos-
sned on their stone settings, and seem a
though good push would hurl them int
the moldering, vault-like area. Enterin!
the hall. u damp, earthly smell greets th'
intruder--for intruder must anyone be con
sidered who ventures into that region 0
vhostliness. The wide, tagged. echoln
NALL. the broad. dark oak panneled stair
sase lead to chambers awful in their OF
pressive sense of loneliness and utter DIES
.olation. Cobwebs festoon the painte
walls: queer. crawling creatures hold mig
holiday on the once polished floors; but M
even the squeak of u rat or mouse oreai
.he solemn, death-like stiffness which pei
xades this old, deserted mansion.
Over all there hung cloud Of fear,
A sense of mystery the spirit daunted,
And said, as plain as Whisper " .lie e"i'
.sThe house is haunted.
Twenty-Five years ago this house
senated by Miss Steele, an eccentric ola iau
xho, dying suddenly at the advanced age
81, her property-including this house ..
furniture-came into the possession OF
married grand-neiee living IN hiidal
whom she had never seem The season
Dublin was just commencing about the III
that all preliminary Lawmakers connec'
With the property were being settled. =
.he heiresS, Mrs. Nugent. acting upon
adyice of her lawyer, resolved to lei
house furnish ID The furniture. althou
antique, was handsome, especially that
the drawing room. The walls and ceili'
Of this apartment were saperbly. or
uented in the Florentine style. Arahesq
"a pale blue ground adorned the ceilin
the panels Of the walls were painted v
groups of figures or rare pieces Of ssin