New-York tribune., 1906-04-21
GHOSTLY CHESTNUTS.
Stories That Lire from Age to Age.
Andrew Lang, in The Illustrated News.

Andrew Lang in The Illustrated News
An interesting work might be written on the
History of Chestnuts." of traditional undying
stories that live from age TO age the events be-
ing fitted new characters. In the pages of
Mr.. Punch analytical reader will find the
same chestnut reappearing rather more fire.
ouently than one would expect from the high
intellectual character Of the conductors Of Mr..
Punchs entertainment. The oldest story is new
to most people, or as good as new, for they
never heard or have forgotten il. AS a small
boy, ! heard improper but very harmless
tale told of a leading drunkard in rural dis
trict. Grown up, found exactly the same story
in Beroade, a French sixteenth century hu-
morist; and / ran another, about General jack
son, TO earth in a manuscript of the time OF
King John.
What is true of funny stories is true of ghost
stories The spectre in Scott's Eve OF ST.
John leaves ''the sable score OF fingers four
on the wrist of his lawless lady love, and
"evermore that lady wore a covering on her
wrist" Sir Walter explains that he boTroWs
the circumstance from a well known Irish story,
told of a lady of the Tyrone family think 1t
is a long story, very well authenticated. consid-
ering Its remoteness in time. The point is that
the lady having made d covenant with a friend
that the first of them who died should appear
to the survivor, If he or she could. the man.
unknown TO the lady. did die. visited her in her
bedroom one morning when her husband had
gone out for an early stroll in the park made
some prophecies. which were fulfilled. and. proof
that he not figure of phantasy, laid the
inefaceable mark of his fingers on her wrist.
Well. 1 chased that spectral chestnut back
through a series Of medieval sermons (where il
figured as proof Of another and a world).
TO William or MalmeSDury, Writing not long
after the Norman Conquest. In William, both
friends were men-priests, If l remember rightly
Between the eighteenth century and the
medieval sermons lost trace Of my old chest
nut But il still running. In Martin Haiie's
Queen Mary Of Modena," wife of James II
Dent 1909 read: Just at this time OF
/ weakness and sorrow December, 161O, ''t is
perhaps not surprising that the Duchess OF
York MARY of Modena) should have had a
terrifying dream, in which the dead Lady
Frances Hiars appeared TO her. declaring her
self TO be among the lost, and in answer to The
affrfghted, How this be? / cannot believe
ftr laid hand upon her wrist (the usual place.
so extremely hot that il was impossible for the
1 duchess 10 bear it, says DR.. Lake, who relates
the incident at length No reference is given
/ 10 Dr. Lakes book which ] am anxious TO read
They always said dream then when they
meant ghost" The story made good dca
of talk which Lady Frances's family naturally
resented but / never saw il in Henry More
Glanvil Bovet, Baxter other ghostly writers
of the period. Ia her portraits Mary does not
wear "a covering on her wrist" How terrible il
would be if the ghost. for the sake of novelty
laid his hand upon friends nose.
What we want 10 know is. how does this story
attach itself to real historical people. like the
Irish lady and Mary OF Modena? There is an
other chestnut. told to-day OF living people. ano
of al least four sets of living people II take:
ali sorts Of shapes but the essence Is that some
body sees a vision OF a man. TO him unknown
killing lady, equally unknown. This happens
in various places-for example, in the bedroom
/ of man who has Just arrived at country