davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1902-04-13

until their daughter and only child re-
Colonel Van Ness and his family built
and moved into the mansion. The daugh-
ter married Mr.. Arthur Middleton. and
two years later the young bride and her
babe lay dead in the new home, and the
hopes of the Van Ness family died with
her.
On the anniversary of Colonel Van Ness
death six headless white horses are said
to gallop franticsily around the house at
midnight. Footsteps are heard and mys-
tcrious knockings. A lady in quaint. old
time costume fits through an upper hall.
calling the name of an unknown person.
Saw Dim Outlines of Woman.
The writer saw and questioned the last
family of caretakers, who moved out but
a few days since. The wife told of her
own experience, of seeing the dim out
lines of a woman's form beside her bed
one night as she was half awake. She
was startled into full consciousness, and
distinctly heard the visitant bid her 10
go to a place far in the northeastern part
of the city. at the corner of two streets.
She was sick. and did not go at the time
the mysterious stranger told her to go,
but two days later her husband went to
the place There was only a vacant lot,
however and the meaning of the message
is beyond the understanding of anyone.
The Washington times., 1902-04-13

The wife's mother testifies to having
seen the ghost Of the Van Ness mansion.
She, the mother. was standing In a door
opening into the front hall in the second
story when she saw rather small lady
In a very old-fashioned bonnet, run the
entire length of the long hall calling
'Stevei" Steve." The bonnet hid her
face so that 1t could not be told whether
she was young or old. She was we'll
dressed, but she ran so swiftly that it was
difficult to observe closely. The hall is
not wide, and she passed so near that the
spectator might have touched her
The attention of the writer was called
to the concrete by a mechanic. 1t is
peculiar red color and is less than an
inch thick, and the art of making 1t is
lost. No concrete made today would last
at all unless spread much more thickly.
The broken places cannot be patched by
workmen of today. Not only have build
ers and owners long since nodded into
dust, but the very art that constructed
the old mansion has been buried with the
craftsmen.
And the slowly crumbling concrete and
the fading memories and the mournful
figure of the Lady of the Mansion fitting
through the long corridors alone remain
of the splendor of this most beautiful and
NOSE celebrated of Wasnington's haunted
houses.
The Washington times., 1902-04-13

home in it was the Blaine family. There
daughter. The Lafayette Theatre now
occupies the site.
Van Ness Mansion.
The last and by far the most interest
ing of Washington's haunted houses is
the Van Ness mansion. Connected with
the very earliest history of the city, a
mansion whose rotting splendOr fills one
with a strange sense of loneliness, its
beautiful location, its grandeur, its isola-
ton, and the pathetic hopelessness of its
decay make the spectator feel with a
shudder that in this blasted and forlorn
spot there must indeed be inhabitants not
of mortal ken or kin. Within, the ruin
is sill more desolate, and the oddly
planned house with its numerous turns
and windings, its many closets and I'M
expected corners and hiding places. and
the legend of the underground passage to
which the entrance cannot be found, its
dismantled rooms with ribs grinning
where the plaster has fallen away. is all
unfit for any save ghostly tenantry.
A Tradition of the West.
In the West there is a tradition that
to move into a grand new house from an
old home entails evil fortune. Col. !. p.
Van Ness married Marcia. only child and
heiress Of David Burns. and they resided
in the Burns cottage for twenty years,
The Washington times., 1902-04-13

dition that adds greatly to the conven-
fence of the amateur at the expense OF
restricting his individuality.
The Postal Photographic Club of the
United States at recent business meeting
decided to hold its annual meet" in this
city during the week of May II and to
carry out this arrangement committees
were appointed to attend to the necessary
details. The club secretary. Mr.. G. A.
Brandt, made a highly satisfactory report
upon the present condition of the club.
showing that there are no vacancies in
the club membership, and that there are
several applications for membership on
the waiting list. The finances of the club
are in a flourishing condition with large
stock of supplies on hand and fine sur
plus in bank.
The Postal Photograph Club is probably
the most unique Photographic organiza-
ton in the country. Its membership is
limited to forty members. and these are
scattered over the Middle and Eastern
States. AT some time members have re-
The Washington times., 1902-04-13

> The Ola Guard. too, is well in evil
dence-admirals on the retired list. IA
nous beaux and bon vivants-all help too
swell the typical Washington frst-Gight
audience. There are great occasions when
Admiral schley fairly divides honors with
the star actor before the footlights as he
bows from his box, and others. when the
Admiral of the Navy himself is carefully
scrutinized to note the effect on a hero S
susceptibilities of the emotionalism of a
celebrated actress.
The fashionable artistic element in
Washington covers a wide range. Mrs
Van Rensselaer, Cruger, the Julien Cor
don" of literature. now and then graces a
box. accompanied by some clever Senator
and his wife. and. passing through Wash
ington. Mrs. Edith Wharton appears at
the play and remarks the Interpretation
of Pinero by one of his most accomplished
opponents.
Now and again Henry Watterson strolls
into playhouse and proves himself the
same excellent critic of the drama as of
politicians, while a courtly. clean shaven
gentleman is pointed out as our Minister
to Spain. Bellamy Storer. and the Partisan
abroad is represented by Chartran. the
portrait painter in his orchestra stall.
The three hours or so passed at the play
make harmony out of discord and soothe
the nerves that have been upset by 4 long
days course of sprouts from Capitol lIill
and the racetrack far beyond-through
the White House and departments to he
hunting rendezvous After the play dozcrs
OF suppers. big and little. unite the spec
tators at the restaurants and form the
appropriate epilogue.
The Washington frst-nighter may have
been born in England or America. Russia
or the Argentine Republic. China or Cali
forna. Paris or Chicago. the mid-we of
our own land or PARKWAY Persia. He may
be a diplomat or a Congressman. a man
of leisure or an artist. a worker or ar
idler. He cannot be crystallIZeI into any
one type or grouped under one head
He is of his day and generation, since
he represents the Washington of the pres
ent. which is composed of the essence of
so many communities sort of social
salad in which there is Il little of every
country ard every section ald copsid-
eTablo slice of all our principal cities.
The Washington first -nghter up to date,
is sometimes resident and again a tran
silent stranger, booked only for few
weeks or few months; but ne is none the
less peculiar unto the highways and by
ways of the capital of the United States
in 1902
The Washington times., 1902-04-13
By L. A. WILSON.

by. memories of reyelry and Joy or the
darker imprint OF cruelty and crime.
OF these, one of the best known is the
octagoE house, on the corner of Eight
eenth Street and New York Avenue, a
solid. plain building erected by the Tay-
loe family a century ago. 1t was in it's
glory in the days following the war OF
1872, when lovely Dolly Madison held
court there after the burning Of the
White House. The pretticst legend con-
corning it is that every midnight the
old brilliant scenes OF gayety are re-
enacted by the ghosts of the old regime.
Then he watcher in the building may
hear phantom carriages drive to ~he front
Of the house. may hear the calls Of the
coachmep, the footmen announcing guests,
and all the incidents Of stately bail.
Never Saw the Ghost.
But the very charming and gracious
lacy who is assistant secretary for the
Architects Club, whose headquarters are
here. said that she had frequently stayed
until II O'Clock in the octagon room. but
had never yet heard the sounds alluded
to. nor had she ever seen the ghost OF
the unhappy girl. Miss TayIoe. who. be-
cause she had married beneath her, either
The Washington times., 1902-04-13

n HERE rs new race being developel
in social Washington-that OF the
first-nighter at the theatres-and
so marked is its progress this Sea-
son that the familiar figures of Broadway
are being fairly riyaled
Once a frst-nighter. always a first
nighter," has passed into an axiom in the
metropolis. and once a first-nigh,er in
New York, Boston. Philadelphia. Chica-
go, St Louis, or Cleveland always q first
nizhter in Washington. is its variation at
the National Capital.
The Washington first night Is, in fact,
considered social function; the bulk OF
the audience is recruited not from the
professional element. but from fash
ionable society at large. Dowagers, ma
irons, and young girls come from their
drawing rooms, Via the dining rooms:
members Of the Metropolitan and the
Army and Navy Clubs from their coy
corners; paterfamilias from his library,
and Tie beaux of the town from their ia
vorite haunts.
The diplomat leaves his smoking room.
the Congressman his den or cafe. and to-
ward SIS o'clock a goOdly contingent of
all Washington" comes whirling In cab
or automobile or in the convenient and
democratic street car from the residential
quarter OF the town along Connecticut
and Pennsylvania Avenues down II and f
Streets to the theatres.
The ladies usually come with uncov-
cred heads. lightly draped or bare. save
for some ed0rnment OF the couture; the
men in regulation evening dress. Now
and again a smart Lrougham or an cleo
tric bus carrying a family party varies
the procession of carriages and herdics,
and, perhaps. oEce or twice week the
now wcii-known equipage of the White
House bowls swiftly along up to the en-
trance OF the theatre. The "colored"
fooiman leaps from the box, touches his
hand TO his stin hat, ornamented with
the Continental cockadc In the form of
red, white. and blue rosette, and opens
the door of the carriage for Mrs. Roose-
welt and her friends. or semi occasionally,
for the President himself, prepared, in
enjoying TN evening at the play, to for
get the continuous interviews of the day
and tomorrow.
The natty footman ushers the members
OF the Presidential party into the box re-
The Washington times., 1902-04-13

Ambassador is attracted only by some
special star" such as Mrs. Patricl.
Campbell, whom he aDplauds with both
hands" The British Ambassador is too
indsposed TO visit the theatres this sea-
son. and Lady Pauncefotc keeps him COM
paHy at home while Mrs. Crackanthorpe
the beautiful daughter Of General Sichles,
and wife CT the Third Secretary of the
British Embassy. chaperons the Hon.
Misses Pauncefotc.
The italian Ambassador and Nine Mayor
des Tlanckes occasionally occupy orches-
ira seats, as do the Austro- Hungarian
Minister and Nine. Hengclmuller while,
as the sister OF Rostand. author OF
''LAfglcn" and "Cyrano de Bergerac, -
Nine. dc Margerie is naturally a constant
theatregoer. Very smart" in costume
and as dark as her husband is fair. the
wife of the First Secretary of the French
Embassy is conspicuous among fashion
able first -nighters.
The Russian Ambassador favors few
performances, and is attracted only by
transccndant merit. but his adopted
daughter. the Countess Marguerite Cas-
SIM, is frequently present, escorted by
one of the SECRETARIES. and attended by
her dame de ccmpagnic. in which case
she occupies an orchestra seat At other
times she figures in a box with some gay
party of young friends. aud wearing one
Of the enormous floral hats in which she
appears to such advantage.
There are a dozen or more secretaries
Russian. Italian, German French. Eng
lish Swiss. South American. who ara
habitual attendants at first nights OF all
these perhaps the most inveterate thea
tregoer is Signor del Viso. one of the
most hospitable members of the Corps
Diplomatique, while Boston is represented
BIZ those budding diplomats Messrs. Char
lie" Richardson and BERTHE Winthrop.
and New York by the new appOintee
abroad. the youthful widowor, Mr., Bar
clay Rives.
Those handsome and clever sisters.
daughters of former Senator Farwell of
Illinois. Aesdames Reginald de Koyen and
Standardization. occasionally appear side
by side in box The former is brunette:
the latter rather fair than dark and one
Of the great beauties and bellies of the
day- One may be wearing blue and the
other rose pink in the evening. Mrs.
The Washington times., 1902-04-13

Stilson Hutchins with head uncovered
for the orchestra stalls and covered for
the boxes. is a belle at the play. The
accomplished daughters of Mrs. Barney.
the artist. one Of whom is an amateur
actress of rare ability. are often in a box
as are the Misses Letter.
General and Mrs. Miles occupy orchestra
seats by preference well down in front,
and the Adjutant General and Mrs. Corbin
appear in "A stage box. thus unfolding the
traditions of the previous Administration.
The Belgian Minister Baron Monchcur.
and his charming bride. formerly Miss
Clayton the daughter of our Ambassador
to Mexico. are with Mr.. and Mrs. Ned"
Padelford, and not far away are Mr.. and
Mrs. Pierre Lorrillard. so we'll satisfied
with this their first winter in Washington
that they proposed returning to the Capt.
tai from Tuxedo Park whenever they do
not elect to pass the season abroad.
Stroll out into the lobby during an entr'
acte and the full extent Of the cosmopoli
tanism and continentalism and metropol
itanism OF Washington in season comes
upon the lounger. Luxuriously clad Mon
solians are not lacking. and Europeanized
Ja5s are cycling Russian secretaries-of
embassy askance-there is war in the air.
while the gloved hands of the Spanish
Charge d'Aftaires are engaged in lighting
a fresh cigarette, and Representative
Ned Morrell of Philadelphia, his sill
YER sabled hair curled tight about his
handsome head. is calculating the mystic
rics of the right of way to Representative
Oliver II. p. Belmont. whose French
chauffeur and Egyptian valet and other
household gods have been transported %
Pennsylvania from Fifth Avenue. and who
has substituted the Metropolitan Club
pro tenn fer the Knickerbocker.
Here. too, are Mr.. S. J. Rowland. keen
on racing. and Mr.. Edward Buckley, who
has exchanged the metropolis for the
Capital and is monarch of all he surveys
in one of the most comfortable bachelor
establishments this side of London. MIR.
Frederick May and Col. Henry May; the
Legare brothers. both famous whips;
Woodbury. and Gist Blair; that mighty
hLntsIran, Clarence Moore, master of the
no dnds; Odin Horstmann and handsome
Jack Woolsey, famous in the cotillion-
these are only few of Washington's first
niGhters.
The Washington times., 1902-04-13

served for them. arranges the chairs.
| draws back the curtains. and distributes
the programmes; then, stationing him
self in the passageway just outside the
boz. stands on guard and within call
catching glimpses of the performance
through the open door. The President
crjoys the play as he does everything
else. demOnstratively: Mrs. Roosevelt
often smiles and seems absorbed in the
story told behind the footlights. They
both make what is known as AN excel
lent audience"
The members of the Cabinet are equally
irregular in their attendance. and at pres
ent Secretary Root alone may be de-
scrlbed as a theatregOer. The Senator'S
who figure most conspicuOusly AT the play
are Hanna, Lodge. Depew, and Wetmore.
who are oftentimes seen In boxes, al
though Senator and Mrs. Depew occa-
sionally occupy orchestra chairs. The
play is. in fact, the favorite recreation of
the Lafayette Square Senators 49, Hanna
and Depew.
Depew is perhaps the best listener;
occasionally he throws his head back,
laughs aloud, and, figuratively speaking,
nudees his neighbor. Few OF the younger
Senator'S enjoy play SO much externally.
Senator Lodge seems to be INDUCING In a
critical analysis OF its merits. weighing
every word: Senator Hanna grasDs the
broad effects and rcvels in the humanity
of the story rather than in its embroidery.
Senator Beveridge's comments are occa-
sionally truly sententious.
There are Western Senators who sit
quiet and unObserved. passing in and out
without the calcium light of recognition
being thrown on their movements. and
these might easily be mistaken for local
busineis rlen out for the evening
The boxes at the play are often as good
as a comedy. Shining lights OF the blu
tocracy Of Dupont Circle and Massachu-
sets or Rhode Island Avenues sit in one,
tringcd by the minor members OF the
Corrs Diplomatique, with perhaps a
bachelor Minister or a detached Charge
d'Aifaircs. The ladies' Of the house OF
Letter and Townsend are among these,
and often have family parties
The Ambassadors occa siorauy aDrCar.
although the German Ambassador is more
partial to concerts aud musical perform
anccs than to the drama. The French
The Washington times., 1902-04-13

Home and to some the suggestion may
come that the author of this pirtura
would make better record ny giving
to the public new pictures instead OF old
pictures with new names.
The selection of a proper title for 4
picture is not the easiest thing under the
sun, and many an artist OF merit who
could give the public much pleasure by the
expression of his message has fallen short
in the selection OF a title Much has been
written about the want of harmony be-
tween the picture and the title. and some
realize fully that it is much easier to
make beautiful picture than to select
a title that will strengthen the theme
instead of weakening it, In the "PhIIa-
delThia Salon" for 1901, | noticed this
title belonging to picture sent by for
eign exhibitor, Wherefore that faint
smile OF thine, dreamy, shadowy. Ade-
line" and while the picture is forgotten
the jingle OF the meaningless title re-
mains with me as a horrible example. /
The Washington times., 1902-04-13
6The XaNHesJf
! ! Man5lOn
O. #

The site OF a house on I Street, just
| off Connecticut Avenue, has been one OF
the reputed haunted places of Wash
| ington. 1t was built on century ago by
a tailor, who had married a very beau
tiful girl, of whom he was jealous. The
wife disappeared, and the tailor gave out
that she had gone to visit relatives. Soon
afterward he went away and never re-
turned. Later, when repairs were being
made, the remains of the unfortunate
woman were found hidden in the house.
Misfortune followed successive occu-
pants of the house. and servants declared
that the shadowy apparition of woman
in white was to be seen outside the win
dows, reckoning. The tragedies which
filed the lives Of both owners and resi-
dents eliminated in the destructive fire in
which the wife of Secretary Tracy lost
her life. The new house. built after the
fire, has no ghostiy associations.
Haunted House Near Capitol.
The story of house south of the Capt.
tol and facing it. with its murder from
jealousy in the cellar and the figure of
woman in black, who enters from the
street and goes upstairs. disappearing in
an upper room, was given in detail in
The Times about a year ago.
The house in which Mr.. Seward and his
son were ATTACKED on the night OF Presi-
dent Lincoln's assassination bore repu-
tation for being unlucky. Mr. Stewards
daughter died from the shock of the at
tack upon her father and brother. Sub
sequently General Bclknap and his fam
lily lived there. and the last to make a
The Washington times., 1902-04-13

was sent to the Philippines to inspect
the postal service OF those islands and
as usual his camera formed part OF his
baggage. His departure from San Fran
cisco was pleasantly remembered by his
friends in the Camera Club, who char
tered a small steamer and accompanied
the outgoing transport a short distance
on her way. The pictures made of the
departing transport are used by Mr.. Err
win as the Introductory slides in his pop
ular lecture, The Land of the Jap, the
Chino. and the Filipino
Mr.. Charles A. l.. Pearson, of Woods
field. Ohio, a well-known contributor to
Photographic magazines, has recently
been appointed as an assistant examiner
in the Patent Office. Mr.. Pearson at one
time contributed a series of articles to
the Camera" on the manufacture and
use of plain Paper" an almost forgot
ten process in these days when the anna
teur finds nearly everything in the line
of photography ready for his use, con-
The Washington times., 1902-04-13

TXCEPTING some extreme material
r lists. there is no human being who
IL will absolutely deny the possibility
or even The probability of the eX-
istence of beings in a state not ordinarily
perceptible to human senses; but there
are few who will express belief in any
account of a specific instance of the ap-
pearance to mortal sense OF these mystic
rious phantoms of another world.
There is, perhaps, no other subject of
discussion received with such absolute be
lief in the general and such entire skepti-
cism in the particular. Yet for this very
reason. possibly. there is no class of folk
lore which attracts greater attention than
ghost stories.
The Origin of Ghost Stories.
Ghost stories usually cluster about a
house that was once the home of some
individual of marked character either for
good or bad The arbitrary will or great
cccentriCity lives in the memory of the
weaker dispositions about, and finally
rystallizes into an apparition or a dem
5nstration which is tribute to the force
and power of the dead. There are a few
houses left in Washington which are said
10 retain ghostly reminders OF days gone
The Washington times., 1902-04-13

realize that it is impossible to please
everyone in the selection of title and
enc OF Turner's masterful marines for
which no artist has achieved a greater
fame, ard to which he had given the title
lilo. Another Whale" was dismissed by
Tom Taylor, the art critic OF the Lou
don Times" with the single remark. 'IIo,
Another Lobster Salad"
Mr.. J. ". Erwin. of San Francisco. is
in the city and has called at the Camera
Club to meet and exchange greetings
with his fellow amateurs. Mr.. Erwin is
an enthusiastic amateur photographer
and a prominent member of the San
Francisco Camera Club, and at one time
served the club as its president. The
lectures of Mr.. Erwin in this city during
the season of 1899 and the season of 1901
will long he remembered by all vino had
the pleasure OF listening to his interest
ing illustrated lectures.
In his official duties as an inspector Of
the Postof!ce Department. Mr.. Erwin
The Washington times., 1902-04-13

flung herself, or was flung by her brother.
from the top of the great spiral staircase
to her death on the floor at the foot.
She is said to haunt the scene of her ter
rible death. OF another tragedy. the
murder of beautiful slave by British
officer. no details can be had These are
the principal events that make this old
mansion the theatre of ghostly rehearsals
OF events long gone by.
Heard a Deep Sigh.
Only once" said my informant, the as
sistant secretary, did ever observe any
thing | could not account for. was
sitting alone in the octagon room when I
heard very deep sigh behind me.
turned 20 see who it could be- but there
was no one. Again heard the same deep
sigh, this time right beside the desk where
] was seated In few seconds there was
a third sigh. l confess to having had a
feeling Of nervousness. and rose TO leave
the room, when the door opened and The
secretary walked in | spoke to him in
great relief but neither of us could asrer-
tain any cause for the sounds. The room
as you see, is solidly built. with thick
walls. and the windows and doors were
all closed