The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1875-12-08
d AN UNSoIVED MYSTERY.

century the fashionable life of Dobln
was in its zenith the Ranelagh Gar
dens were the resort of the beaux and
bellies of the day the Parliament was
held in College Green, and its mem
bers had their town residences in Dub
lin and lived there fora considerable
portion Of the year.
One of the members, an illustrious
Irish nobleman who had spent some
portion of his youth in Italy, was
man Of cultivated taste and refine
ment. Upon his return. to Dublin he
conceived the idea of inviting over
some Italian artists to decorate the
walls and ceilings of his residence af-
ter the Florentine manner. He car
ried out his idea, and the ornamental
tions of Charlemont House bear wit.
ness to the taste and skill of the deco
rators. Other noblemen employed
these artists; the present Royal Irish
Academy House, then a noble private
residence, is similarly decorated I; also
several other city mansions in several
of the leading streets and squares.
When Dublin decreased in import
ance after the Act of Union in 1901,
and was no longer the center of fash
ion for the Irish nobility, its splendid
private residences gradually decayed !;
and wealthy burghers and Dubin's
proverbially professional aristocracy
now inhabit them. Many of the houses
yet retain their curious, rare old dec
orations, and of one of these residen-
ces, situated in leading square, we
would most especially speak. /
A large, stately, gloomy,looking
house, with a ponderous hall door,
studded with iron nails, like the door
of the cathedral. High, narrow win
dows, with Italian jalousies. The grass
grows inr the interstices of sha high,
steep steps, now fast falling away. The
rusty iron railings have become loos-
ened in their stone settings, and seem
as though a good push would hurl
them into the moldering, vault-like
area. Entering the hall, a damp,
earthly smell greets the intruder-for
intruder must any one be considered
who ventures into that region of ghost.
illness. The wide, tagged, echoing
hall, the broad, dark, oak -paneled
staircase, lead to chambers awful in
their oppressive sense of loneliness
and utter desolation. Co5webs festoon
the painted walls; queer, crawling
creatures hold high holiday on the
once polished floors but not even the
squeak of rat or mouse breaks the
solemn, deathiike stiffness which per-
vades this old, deserted mansion.
Over all there hung a cloud of fear,
sense of mystery the spirit daunted,
And said, as plain as whisper to the ear,
1.-THE house is haunted. -
| twenty-five years ago this house
was tenanted by Miss Steele, an eccen.
trio old lady, who, dying suddenly at
the advanced ageof 81, -her property
including this house and furniture
came into the possession of mar.
ried grand niece living in Kildare
whom she had never seen. The sea
son in Duhlin was just commencipe
about the alllaw matters connected
with the property we're being settled
and the heress, Miss Nugent, acting
upon the advice of her lawyer, resolv.
Ell to let the house furnished. The
furniture, although antique, was hand
some; especially Of the drawing groom
The ceilings of this apartment were
superbly ornamented in the Florentine
style. Arabesques oil a pale blue
ground adorned the ceilings; the pan
els of the walls were painted with
groups Of figures or rare pieces of still
life; while from the holdings which
separated these panels sprang figure;
, which, bending downward, held the
candelabra lighting the apartment
The furniture was in keeping with the
architecture-of iniaid wood, heavy
with gliding and upholstered in amber
satin; it was of that stately and old
world type which suggested the day
! Of minuets, apple-blossom sacques
cherFy-colored satin petticoats, anC
high-heeled shoes. A spindie-leggeC
spinnet stood near the fireplace, where
: in was no CRATE, but great brass dogs
The fireplace was tiled with the qneel
little Dutch tiles that came over will
the tulips in the days of William anC
Marp. Those tiles bore a succession
of Adams, and Ewes. of Gains anC
Abels, and other Scriptural characters
who looked sadly out of place amonl
the nymphs satyrs, and similar profan
. tiles which surrounded the chamber
The house was no sooner ADVERTISED
than it was Immediately taken by Al
officer then quartered in Doblin. Be
i,o a man of taste, Col. Comyer
woulo not allow the house to be ro
modled in S2y way. Mrs. Comyer:
: too. was woman who liked novelty
and she triumnhantlY pictured to her