New-York tribune., 1901-09-17
AT THE PARTING OF THE WAYS.
WHEN GHOSTS BEGIN TO GATHER AND
WHY ONE SEES THEM.
I'M

There is stated time when one first begins to
ghosts. woman. however is apt to meet
them any time after she is twenty at some part
ing of the ways. such the passing OF summer
into autumn some anniversary which aro1Ises
associations Ofttimes there apparently more
ghosts than people around us-or is il that these
shadovy folk press closer upon our attention?
I'm the corners and sheltered places OF summer
hotel pazzas just now. said woman yester-
day. there is A notable assembling or these IN
visible people, silent witnesses to the impromptu
friendships which have already been dissolved, for
ii is a well known fact that summer friendships
made to be broken. OF all places in the world,
unless it be the deck of ocean steamer, the
piazza is the most conducive to that IN
terchange of condolences which one afterward so
often keeny regrets. And if has, in return
for condolences received, impaired the exact loca-
ton of the family closet in which ones own skel-
eton ghost is kept, there is douby haunting Side
to the nature of these hotel piazza phantoms In
deed it is much more disturbing TO realize that
in the mind of an acquaintance Of six weeks there
is well defined description of ones most trouble
some skeleton ghost than to be morally sure thae
a burglar has found the lost latchkey 10 ones
house. Nothing remains now. however, but to re-
solve to be more careful not only for the rest of
the outing season, but henceforth and forever to
cultivate non-confding disposition that will final
ly make a discreet and sensible reserve in ones
habit, thereby giving memory fewer haunted places
The subject of the summer girl has long since
been worn threadbare. But the fact remains that,
quite much the older woman in her conf
dences the younger woman errs in her ready good
comradeship with the young man whom the freer
social life of summer throws in her path.
1t is usually considered fair game. both sides.
but of the two the girl ghosts than the
man-when autumn and the soberer indoor life come
again.
There are many other of these unbdden guests
than the reproachful ones Elderly people-and
women more than men. because their lives as a
rule are less active-see hosts of phantom figures.
wistful, loving faces. companions and friends
of other days when impressions were keener deep
er. At a recent afternoon tea in certain New
England town. arstocratic. old and famed, there
were gathered about thirty people and fully
fifty ghosts The occasion of the tea was the re-
turn to her native town of an elderly woman
wealthy and widowed, who had postponed her
visit for fifteen years. dreadng the memory Sur
Finally she back to the old homestead, which
a married niece utilizes for a summer home. And
the niece to break the ice and help her aunt over
the hard task of missing well as meeting oldtime
friends. gave this tea.
First of all to the tea came maiden lady of
seventy summers. and with her a shadoWy, in
separable sister: then, sweetfaced woman Of
sixty, with two outwardly invisible daughters;
next, daughter without, and yet with her mother;
and the company assembled, in a room where
the one time but row spirit hostess had of yore
dispensed gracious hospitality to them all. Late
in the afternoon just before the party broke up
they all stayed throughout in ancient fashion
some one sang 'Auld Lang Syne.' and the elderly
guests furtively wiped few happy tears.
THE tea was accounted great success, perhaps
all the more because of the unseen yet un-
mstakab bly, evident guests There was tenderness
about the atmosphere a sense of nearness to
each other and a closer drawing together that
woke glow in each heart. The aunt, delighted.
announces that she is coming back now every
''Other unbidden guests there also. who come
thronging in the quiet hours by the reside, in the
twilight on anniversaries The ghosts of lost
Is1iri
haunting US making wonder why here,
under our present circumstances, rather than else
where in some otl er and, perc4ance happier
vironment. is easy at the time to indulge
mates just then because of some grievance. real
or fancied so hard afterward TO forgive ourselves
and bear up under the depression which re-
membrance of this induces-the estrangement and
lifelong forfeiture of friendship or hopeless mis-
understanding which follows. For do not al
ways have the opportunity vouchsafed to ScIpoge
In Dickens Christmas Carol
A subject little of this world cannot be dis
missed without word of warning Certain is
the gathering of these phantoms-call them ghosts
or can them memories-it behooves us, while there
IS vet time 10 make that they will to
us not with hurt reproachful looks. but, rather,
with tender, loving glances that glad TO
meet, Of the misty past be 1t near or far.