The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-10-05
Was 1t Haunted?

My name Is James LeonarduS stoke.
| To this 1 might append certain letters
| indicative OF academic distinctions. But
and I say It with all modesty-ii may
be enough to refer TO my work, my
studies of primitive people, and more
| especially my tract on the Origin of tbs
Aleutians. My controversy on this 20 nj
| with Professor Pumpernickel of Heidel-
berg may be remembered; it attracted
some attention in the learned world al
| the time.
Some months ago was in London for
| the purpose of research at the museum.
During my stay I saw for the first time
a typewriter, and was greatly impressed
with its usefulness. Ny own handwrit-
ing is perhaps a little illegible 10 those
who are not used 10 II; indeed, have
always supposed that this is the reason
for the omission of several communica-
tons that / have made from time TO
time TO the editor of the Times news
paper. My wife has also taken this view.
1 now purchased a typewriter to prevent
such accidents in future. 1t was sec
ond-hand machine. L have since found
out that Ii came from the office OF the
Merry Jester, weekly paper of am
given to understands humorous char
acter. 1t is important to notice this, IN
view Of the extraordinary incident that
I am about to relate. For the rest, the
machine was in excellent condition, the
paper which originally owned it having
been in existence for six weeks.
With six lessons and a few months
practice 1 found that 1 was practically
master of the machine. l will not say
that 1 was able to type any extravagant
number of words in a minute, and, in
deed accuracy, rather than rapidity has
always been my aim, but I was able to
ho
satisfied my needs. I made a point Of
tipping everything, even signing my let
tiers in the typed character My usual
signature is particularly illegible; TO al
ter It would possibly occasion trouble
at my bank; to leave 1t as 1t is means
that editors neglect contributions from
my pen which they would be glad to use
if they only had the usual assurance as
to their bona-fides.
For some weeks I found nothing alb
normal or worthy of remark about the
machine. 1t did at first seem to have u
tendency to print one line on the top OF
another, but there the fault was prob
ably in the operator. Its manifestations
of preternatural order only commenced
shortly after the return of my boy
Charles from his tutors. Charles is at
present being prepared for the army by
Rev. William Doddersley, who receives
a limited number of pupils. CuriOusly
enough, he has not inherited even in a
small degree his fathers love of learn
ing. He has, moreover, a tendency to
turn everything into idle jest-a tendency
which I deplore and find absolutely un-
accountable Neither his mother nor I
suffer in the least in this way.
One day l was at my typewriter and
began to transcribe an article on 1.-The
Early Civilization Of the Chinese which
I had intended for publication. The ar
ticle began as follows:
Before entering upon a full consider
alton Of the subject indicated in the title
of this article, one predatory remark
must be made. It is this
/ had typed so far when I happened
to notice through the window that the
fowls had got out, and left my work to
speak to the gardener about It. While
in the garden 1 thought heard the
typewriter clicking, but dismissed the
idea as absurd. However, I found on
my return to my room that my article
had been mysteriously continued as fol-
lows:
Hearing so much about the capabh-
ties of Billy Smiles of Wandsworth, the
undersigned would be glad to meet him
any night with three weeks notice, IL
any gent will give a purse
1 was unable myself to find any sense
in this, but Charles (who for once n
his life seemed serious) said that it look
ed like a priZe-ighter's cha lenge. But
how did it get there? Is it possible that
the machine was operated in some mys-
terious manner by the personality Of is
original owner? Being the editor of a
humorous paper, he might, if in tele-
pathic sympathy with the machine, find
pleasure in introducing incongruous
matter into a learned and dignitied ar
ticle. Incongruity, 1 find on consulting
the authorities, is a factor in the pro-
ducton of a humorous effect.
My next experience was far more Sc
rious. 1 had written a long letter to
Rev. William Doddersley with regard to
Charles, regretting the boys levity and
inclination to idleness of which Mr. Dod-
dersley had complained and thanking the
reverend gentleman in warm terms for
all the care and trouble that he was
taking with my son. I typed the letter
in the morning, left the sheet on the
machine, and went out for my usual
walk. On returning 1 took the sheet off
the machine without further examining
it, put It in an envelope and posted IL
myself. The letter was sent back TO me
by Mr. Doddersley with a note saying
that he had received it, but could not
DGllcN6 lHdl II TcdllS CdAh6 nun i1E
was right. 1t was a typewriter letter
with my name at the bottom Of IL, but
it was certainly not the letter that l COM
posed myself. 1t alluded to Mr.. and
Mrs Doddersley in the most familiar
and disrespectful terms. With reference
TO Charles 1t said: my sons a dam
fine chap, though not appreciated at
home. The rectory beer is particularly
poor. and should be changed for a bet
ter quality; in that case l think ii would
be advisable TO have recourse to it about
II o'clock in the morning, thus making
a pleasant change from your rotten
quadraucs" ! was also made TO say
that / thought not enough time was
given to golf, and that I was sorry the
girls in the neighborhood were not pref
tier.
This was inexpressihly shocking 10 me.
and / wrote TO Mr.. Doddersley al once
to say so. But in this case again there
seems to be an attempt at humoT-in he
worst possible taste, but still an attemp,
And I cannot help remembering that the
former owner OF my typewriter was the
editor of humorous paper.
Are any similar instances on record?
The point seems 10 me 20 be worth ex-
animation.