The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-22
A HOWE FOR GHOSTS.
Plan TO Benent Nagabond SpecIres and
Protect Trnantless Houses.

MY friend Bienks. the real estate agent.
is uniformly fluent hut not always con
vucing" said the amateur psychologist
from Poughkeepsie, as he thoughtfully
tucked the unreceipted rent bin out Of
sight when ask him why an unoccupied
house runs down. ne teTls me that it is be-
cause no one is Watching 10 take the stitch
in time a. it were-to stop tho small hole
before 1t becomes a big leak. put in a screw
to keep the hack gate from falling oil its
hinges, and slip an extra brick under the
corner POST when the piazza threatens
to tumble down
"Of course there is measure Of truth
in this We know, moreover. that trampS
and lead pipe thieves Rravitate naturally
toward nm empty dwelling, and that its
window glass irresistibly attracts small
boys with stones.
Yet after all. the mere material damag &c
they do could easily be duplicated by many
a family You and know happy-go-hcky
people who live in an atmosphere Of desuuc-
ton. no house they tenant gets no prac-
teal help from them.
-Bu; though they tore it down and burned
H. one room at time tho remnant at any
period could never convey that suggestion
Of forlornness and utter desoation which
is impaired 10y an inhabited house
There is something in the feel Of an
empty house that is perceptiblc TO the
most hideboind consciousness Blindfold
any human being set him down in an un-
familiar room, and senses more refined
than those Of sight and touch and hearing
will tell him whether II Is lived in or not.
Doubtless the psychic forces that give
the warning are built mp of enanations
from the people who formerly dwelt in the
place However that may be- these forces
left over fragments 81 personality. We
might term thcm-are obviously alert
and active.
They must do something 70 pass away
/ the time. II eeems a fair conclusion that
/ except on the infrequent occasions when
/ somebody comes in, they do mischief
Assuming then, that these invisible ten
ante wreak more destruction than would
/ come about from natural decay or hv tho
I hand Of man. the question Is how 10 re-
/ strict them 20 harmless activities The
answer suggests itself when we recall the
prpuouSitt Of ghosts FOR solitary places
Il grant that ghosts have been known
io haunt inhabited houses But do not thew
even then invariably ~et up Headquarters
in ana unoccupied room,
Fancy how pleased they woild be 10
N
that there arc outdoor ghosts. soiourner-
I'm cemeteries or wanderers on tho open high
way
bat how do Ne know that many Of these
are NOT poor homeless speCtres who though
thev shrink from asking favor- would lump
at a chance 30 get under cover You see
ms idea2 I propose that house which
circumstances require IN remain unoccuped
for ans long period shall he thrown open
TO ghosts
Have n generally understood that they
are welcome 10 come IN. Then let the p-y-
chic force- play against their grisy ribs
and be banged TO them, The ghosts will
not mind and with the psychic forces thus
agreeably employed the house will be
SPARED from wreck and ruin.
L am bound 10 confess, however the
amateur psychologist added that with me
this consideration weighs less than the
certainty Of having always at hand material
FOR study Psychic forces have grown
shv since women took 10 finauce And
should hardly know how 10 find a ghost
! iust now. short Of engaging Mr. lawson
/ ~ Boston 20 ro out rrd titcl uo mo