The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-24
4 GREAT GHOST STORY.
In an Old Engli s h
Manor House.
A Spook Of Several Features, but the
Yankees Beat Him.
This Delightful Romance is by
OSCAR WILDE.
nv the Kind Permission Of the American Publishers.
Messrs Dodd. Mead Col

y the Kind Permission OF the American publishers,
Messrs. Dodd. Mead Col
Whom Mr. Hiram D. Otis. the American Minis
ter. bought Canterville Chase every one told
him was doing very foolish thing. as there
was no doubt at all that tho place was haunt
cd. Indeed. Lord Cnnterville himself. who
yasa man OF tho most punctilious honor. had
fol, it his duty to mention the fact to Mr.. Otis
when thcy camo to discuss terms
1--WE have not cared to live In the place our
selves" said Lord Cantervile. since my
crand.nunt. the Dowager Duchess OF Bolton.
was frightened into a ut. from which she
never really recovered. by two skeleton hands
being placed on her shoulders as she was
dressing for dinner. and feel bound to tell
you. Mr. Otis. that the ghost has been seen
by several living members OF my family. AS
we'll ns by tho rector OF the parish. the Row.
Augustus DaMrcr. who IL n Follow Of Kings
College. Cambridge. Aftor tho unfortunate
accident TO thu Duchess mono OF our younger
servants would stay with us. and Lady Cantcr-
Vile often got very little s!oep at night in con-
scducncc Of the mysterious noises that came
from tho corridor and the library"
My lor!.' answered tho Minister. II will
tako tho furniture and the ghost at valua-
ton. | como from a modern country. where
We have everything that money can buy: and
with all our spry young fellows painting tho
Old World red. and carrying or your best
actors and prima donnns. I reckon that II
there wcre such n thing MS u ghost in Europe
we'd have 1t ut homo in u very short time in
one OF our public museums. or on the road as
ushow."
Il fear that tho ghost exists" said Lord
Can.erville. smiling. though 1t may havo re-
sisted tho Uvertures OF your enterprisnG i'm
presaros. 1t has leen well known for three
centuries. since 1884. in fact. and always
atae l,afa <hn anti 80
member OF our family"
"Well so docs tho family doctor for that
matter. Lord Cantervie. But there is no
such thing. sir. as a ghost. and guess the
laws OF nature are not going to be suspended
for tho British aristocracy."
"Youare certainly very natural in America"
answered Lord Canterville. who did not quite
understand Mr.. Otis's last observation. and
II you don't mind a ghost in tho house. it is
all right Only remember 1 warned you"
A few weeks after this the purchase was
concluded. and at tho close OF the season the
Minister and his family went down to Canter-
VILE Chase. Mrs. Otis. who. as Miss Lucretia
II. Tappun OF West Fifty.third street. had been
a celebrated New York belle. was now very
handsome. mddlo-oged woman. with fine
eyes. aud q superb profile Many American
ladies on leaving their native land adopt m
appearance OF chronic ill-health. under the
IhI"eo'.o, ''.". ~ 'osn, VI Cu.ope"u re-
49,. ' ."" 9. .., ~
tion. and q really wonderful amount OF animal
spirits. Indeed. in many respects sho was
quite English. and was excellent example
OF tho fact that We have really cverythin: In
common with America nowadays. except. of
course. language. Her eldest son. christened
Washington by his parents In a moment Of
patriotism. which he never ceased to regret.
wasa ia'r,na,.eu. .a'ner goou-'ooA'na young
diDI,mucv nv Ie,ding the GERMAN nj Tho Nav
49,. rt - ,
and even in London WAS well known as an
excellent dancer. Gardenins and En-. peeroro
were his only weaknesacs. Otherwise he was
extremely sensible. Miss Virginia f. Otis
was little girl o, Is. 1.-the aud lovely as
a'awn. and with fine freedom in her large
blue eyes. She was wonderful amazon. and
tmss 0d nst
shali' lust in front Of tho Achilles statue to
1 1ne hase aelish' Of me young Duko OF
Cheshire. who proposed for her on tho spot
and was stnt bac,; to Eton that very night by
his guardians in hoods Of tenrs. After Wiz.
ginin came the twins. who were usually called
"the Stars and stripes" ms they were always
getting swishod They were delightful boys.
and. with the exception Of the worthy Minister.
the only true republicans of tho family.
As c"ntorve Chase is seven miles from
Ascot. tho nearest railway station. Mr. Otis |
had teleoronb.d lar :, v,,o,o,,o :, n,ot tbom
IN anGy S,aItcu on their drive IN high spirits.
a.I'cn.n WHY NY otchi M nnh inc ar Vas
and H. Mi h ~, scent Oh tip pine WOODS. now
a o,u 'sn ,ney meatu woon IiGeon br9od!pg
rustnr Snrn s" tn T"ir" or say. ueep ~ tho
nhn,anES. 'e'H;; ,.ttno nurmiSneu orenst o! me
frmm INA hooc ,,t t.o sources , ncerca NJ mem
rabbits scnid"d wnv " %i r. py n9H .n9
t th G in tb ,hG messy knoll. with their white
CamteTyIc ~" 1ha "a" inoy entered me avenue OF
suddenly oycr"St WY c,ni tno SKY neca
ness seemed "a h, M'' III r'tna. curious s.iiit
fight Of rnrts ra non w mf,nospnGie; y great
and before tIsy rnrhsI ,h h bms their nelns,
DROPS OF rain Ind ,,,i.uu '''e house Some uis
Standing on III. 'e stm,s 70 rooo,ro ,,o ,
old woman neatly r,ss sn i G mem was RI
white can and I n,, rressr IN binck SIX. with
the honseke"nerl who,i II NV w"S yrs. emney:
Cantcrvil!es nnrnes, rem,, ~ nis, ~ lazy
70 keen on in her former posiona' SSh a nada