Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-06
FACE AT THE WINDOW
A Phenomenon WhichS Attract
ing Attention on Grace Street,
WOMAN'S HEAD ON THE GLASS
lis Origin is Shrcuded 10 Mystery
and Superstition Is Rife.
pEFuEs EFFORTS TO REMOVE IT.
Though the Pane Has Been Scrubbeo
the Picture. which Is said TO Bo
pant of the Room, Remains.

One of the most interesting phenomena
which have occurred in this city In years.
and one which has attracted widespread
attention. and to many has a weird sig
nfcance is plainly distinguishablc at tho
home of Dr. r. Angus Nichols. No. a0
west Grace street.
The phenomenon is In the shape of ~
woman's head, and appears on the pane
OF glass I'm window on the third story
of his house. The apparition, as many
are inclined to think 1t is. appeared yes
terday morning. and shows up exceeds
ingly clearly. Persons going down town
to business early yesterday morning FIRST
noticed the face at the window. and ra-
lizng that 1t was something out OF tho
ordinary stopped and concentrated their
gaze upon 1t. Others came along; they
too stopped, and soon crowd of no
mean proportions had assembled oppo-
site the house gazing flxcdly at the win
dow.
TRIED TO WASH IT OFF.
The family, meantime, were unaware OF
the existence of the phenomenon. hut
the crowd across the street, and they
assembled to the room with a view TO
ascertainIng what so interested the on
lockers. TO their establishment the Taco
az the window was plainly observable
and all sorts Of theories as 10 its origin
were advanced. At first IL was thought
that some one of artistic ability had
drawn the preseniment on the glass. ana
when the crowd across the street grew
TO such proportions as TO practically
block the sidewalk. it was thought the
Joke CD had proceeded far enough. and
soap and water were brought forth and
the window was washed. the pane was
thoroughly secured, but when the servant
Mad concluded her labors the picture
| still remained
Securing preparations were used, but
| even these did not remove the face from
i the WINDOW and then "A superstitious
| dread began TO take hold Of the crowd
across the street. and of the servant VINO
| refused most natly TO make any further
| attempt to remove the face. Chemicals
were next tried, but with the same re-
suit. and the face still remains to at
| tract the attention OF the multitude.
\ STRIKING LIKENESS.
While the family were engaged In an
| cndeavor to remove the face from tho
window II suddenly struck them that the
| features were those OF young lady who
| occupied that room up to snort tlme
| ago. and who was accustomed 10 SPEND
| ing a great deal Of time at that window.
pr Nichols began casting about In MS
brain for a scientific explanation OF the
n nomcnon. and being something Of Az
| amateur photographer. came To the con-
| eluston that lightning. operating upon TIE
glass when moist. had made wh"t ~
| ,nown In photography az et'piats
photograph of the lady behind the Ians
and thoueh that had been some time ego,
| Tic sun had Just succeeded In DEVELOPING
| the plate.
No other explanation being offered,
many have accepted Ds. Nichols's theory
as a correct one but others there are,
ana they are numerous. who refuse TO be-
lieve that the picture is the result Of any
natural causes They are superstei)us 10
a degree. and attribute the phenomenon
70 the supernatural, and assert positively
that the face at the window Is the return
Of spirit. asserting that IL possesses the
features OF a young lady who died In mat
room some years ago BE Tint as II s5ay,
the picture Is there, and IL refuses TO fado
away.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PICTURE.
The picture is beautiful In It's general
contour. Ii represents young woman.
beautiful but dark. with mantilli
thrown over her coiffure and ,irsling
gracefully about her shoulders, and many
have expressed the belief that IL Is the
reproduction OF the head Of Spanish
beauty.
A somewhat similar phenomenon occur
red I'm the front window OF residence
| on clay street some two years ago. ana
| that attracted considerable attention.
| That. however. was the reproduction OF
a hand al the window. and n, too, cehed
all efforts to wash II OFF. but gradually,
under the suns rays, faded away.