New-York tribune., 1906-07-15


IS haunted. firmly believed -
l. throughout the length and breadth X
of England 1t may be difficult to
realize here IN America that at the beginning k
OF the twentieth century there should be high 3
" educated people who are convinced of the ~
existence OF ghosts. The Skepticism which ~
constitutes characteristic a feature of the -
present age, well as the growing taste for
T'sychcal research and materialisrn, would,
Il might be assumed prove sufficient to
counteract any such superstitions of med-
e.al times.
Such however, Is not the case. Credence
IN the supernatural II Europe seems, far
from diminishing actually TO increase with
the growth OF logic, science, and enlighten-
IneTlt- II IS noteworthy that It IS not alone
among the relatively ignorant that the fear of
srOOks Is strongly developed but also among people
who have received instruction of the highest order
and even among those who, either bv popular will
or by what IS described as divine right, have been
set up to direct, guide, and govern their fellow
creatures.
This may appear altogether inconceivable to
matter-of-faet and sensible Americans. But to
those OF the latter who disposed to condemn a
belief IN supernatural vlSltatIons foolish, would
ask If they would possibly experience an uncannv
feeling if forced by circumstances to reside in a
house which had been the of a sensational
suicide or of a murder2 What wonder then that
royal and imperial persOnages should entertain the
same kind OF sentiments, with regard to their
bloOd-stained palaces especially when it IS borne
n mind that the blood has, IN almost every
instance, belonged to their more or less remote
ancestors:
Monarchs do not relish the notion that they share
with ghostly occupants the tenancy of their royal
and imperial abodes. While they resent any attempt
To dispose OF the idea by means of ridicule, they
taboo every reference TO the subject and endeavor
10 suppress all mention thereof This, however,
Is difficult TO accomplish. People will persist in
talking. especially when. every now and again,
slzcpticisrn to the existence of specters dis
turbed by apparently authentic evidence of their
presence in one or another Of the palaces
Invalided by Ghost at Windsor
THUS when King Edward and his consort were at
4 Windsor just before Christian of Denmark'S
death. OF the maid-servants who, for number of
Years had been the employ of the Queen. became
10 be ghost IN Saint Johns Tower, that she had to
he sent home under medical care and, to this day,
has been unable TO resume her duties.
Edward VII affected ascribe her fear to foolish
talk about ghosts. and with the object of putting
stop this, and OF preventing general exodus on
the part Of the royal dOmestcs issued orders that
anv future reference to specters at Windsor Castle
would be severely punished Consequently, when,
about q month later, sentry OF the Coldstream
Guards while on duty the East Terrace, shortly
before davbreak fired FIVE shots at what he insisted
10 have been the spectral figure of man garbed IN
long flowing robes, gliding up the stone steps, he
was subjected TO long term OF confinement to
barracks.
But II IS not only people of the less cultured classes
who claim TO have seen spOOks at Windsor Castle
Tor instance, Mrs. Davidson, wife of the Arch
bishop OF Canterbury, who with him IN this
country couple of years ago vouches
for the fact of having seen King Charles l.
-assIng through the closter OF the deanery
n saint Georges Chapel The apparition of
-1s unhappy sovereign, who lies entombed
the vaults beneath the chapel, was at
r=red by her as having occurred on the -
t--ring Of January 80. which IS the ami. -
-sarv of his execution. The testimony