The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-09-18
HOW GHOSTS
BEGIN TO
GATHER.
Hosts Of ShadoWy Folk and
Phantom Figures Generally
Seen al Parting Of Ways.

There Is no stated time when one first
begins TO see ghosts. A woman. however,
is apt { meet them any time after she
Is twenty AZ some parting OF the ways,
such as the passing OF summer into al
tumn or on some anniversary which
arouses associations. ontmes there are
apparently more ghosts than people
around us-or is IL that these shadowy
folk press closer upon our attention?
I'm the corners and sheltered places Of
summer hotel piazzas just now" said
woman yesterday, there is a notable as
sembling Of these Invisible people. silent
WITH 20 the impromptn friendships
which have already been dissolved, for IL
Is we'll known fact that summer friend
ships are made 90 be broken. or all places
In the world. unless IL be the deck OF an
ocean steamer, the summer piazza Is the
most conducive 20 that Interchange OF
condolences which one afterward SO often
keenly regrets. Ana II one has. in return
FOR condolences received. impaired the eX-
act location OF the family closet In which
ones own skeleton ghost is kept, there
is doubly haunting side 10 the nature
or these hotel piazza phantoms. Indeed,
II is much more disturbing 10 realize that
in the mind OF an acquaintance OF six
weeks there is a we'll defined description
OF ones most troublesome skeleton ghost
than 10 be morally sure that a burglar
has found the lost latchkey 10 ones
house Nothing remains now, however.
but 10 resolve 10 be more careful. not
only for the rest OF the outing season,
but henceforth and forever 10 cultivate
a ncn-connding disposition that will final
~ 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 as much as the
older woman In her condolences, the
younger woman errs I'm her ready good
comradeship with the young man whom
the freer social life OF summer resorts
throws i'm her path. 1t is usually consid-
cred fair game, on both sides, but of the
two the girl sees more ghosts than the
man when autumn and the soberer indoor
life come again.
There are many other OF these un-
hidden 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,
with wistful, loving faces. companions
and friends OF other days. when impress
sions were keener. deeper. At a recent
afternoon tea in a certain New England
town. arisiocratc, old and famed. there
fully Atty ghosts. The occasion or the
tea was the return 10 her native town OF
an elderly woman. wealthy and widowed,
who had postponed her visit for fifteen
years dreading the memory stir. Finally
sne came back 10 the old homestead,
which a married niece utilizes for sum
mer home And the niece, 10 break the
ice and help her aunt over the hard task
of missing as we'll as meeting oldtime
First of all 10 the tea came a maiden
lady or seventy summers, and with her
a shadoNy. inseparable sister. then,
sweetfaced woman of sitxy, next a
daughter without, and yet with her
mother with two outwardly i'm
visible daughters and SO the
company assembled. In a room where the
one time hut now spirit hostess had OF
yore dispensed gracious hospitality TO
them all Late I'm the afternoon Just be-
fore the party broke up-for they all
stayed throughout. in ancient fashion
some one sang Aud Lang Syne. and
the elderly guests furtiyely wiped away
few happy tears.
THE tea was accounted a great sue
cess, perhaps all the more so because OF
the unseen yet Enthusiastically evident
guests. There was a tenderness about the
atmosphere, a sense OF nearness TO each
other and a closer drawing together that
woke a glow In each heart 4.-e aunt. de-
lighted, announces that she is coming
back now every summer
"Other unbidden guests there are also,
who come throngipg i'm the quiet hours,
by the ireside. in the twilight, on ami
versaries. The ghosts of lost opportuni-
ties are the most persistent OF these,
haunting us. making us wonder why we
are here. under our present crcum-
stances. rather than elsewhere. IN soma
other. and, perchanCe. happier environ
ment. II il so easy at the time 90 I'M
dulge the hurt Indifferent or vengeful
feeling that dominates just then be-
cause of some grievance, real or fancied;
SO hard afterward 60 forgive ourselves
and TO bear up under the depression
which a remembrance of this induces
the estrangement and lifelong forfeiture
of friendship, or hopeless misunderstand-
ing which follows. For we do not always
have the opportunity Vouchsafea tu
Scrooge in the Dickens Christmas Car
OIL
"A subject SO little Of this world can
not be dismissed without word OF warm
ing Certain as is the gathering OF these
phantoms-ca them ghosts or call them
memories-it behooyes us, while there Is
vet time, 10 make sure that they will
come 10 as not with hurt reproachsul
looks. but. rather. with tender loving
glanccs that We arc glad to meet. out Of
- ,...t l,n 10 pear or