The Washington times., 1913-10-28
BEWARE! |. GHOSTS!
HALLOWEEN SOON
=
Terrifying Things May Be Ex-
pected Friday Night /! Hor-
P: rors /! Shudders ! Look!

Ghosts,
Gibbering, saucer-eyed spectres with
,lammy grave clothes clinging to their
aeshless forms and paisied, claw-saaped
hands which they stretch out toward
unfortunate mortals-these are some Of
the weird and terrifying things you
may expect to see If you are SO rash
as to venture out next Friday night,
which, in addition to being the most
uCkless night of the week, will also be
Halloween
The automobile, the electric car, and
he wireless telegraph are hardly COM
oatible with the disembodied spirits so
,ond of coming forth on this half-Chris-
ian. half-pagan occasion, but it will be
many years yet before the last white
wrath quits Washington and the last
'hant' ceases to terrify the credulous
oickaninny For Washington is rich in
yhostly lore, and much tragedy and
ssome comedy are involved therein.
Grewsome Tale
Some of the most grewsome tales con-
cern a certain old house in ''Philadel-
phia Row. out southeast way. and 1t
s a place one may we'll avoid when
spirits are abroad. 1t Is three-story
brick structure, musty with age, and
Is steps and thresholds are worn with
ieet that have long crumbled into dust
Many years ago, however the place
vas one Of the brightest homes in Wash
.ngton. A girl in all the glory of youth
and beauty lived there. She lived and
owed. as girls have ever done Some
say ii was a faithless lover and some
stern, unyielding father, but at any rate
~-.hey found her one gray morning in her
Groom on the third floor, front. her throat
slashed with a razor held in her own
land, and her golden hair dyed and
R.lotted with her blood, which even to
his day stains the floor.
Curse Upon House.
. Her death seemed to put curse upon
The house. and soon strange tales were
ifioat OF the slim white wrath with a
red cash in it's throat that fitted
through the rooms. But one day busi-
sesslike unimaginative boarding-ho
teeper rented the place, and the board
.rs were attracted by a good table and
ow rates. Came then an old lady, with
IN empty purse and proud heart And
because she could not pay for her meals
md neither could she earn them, she
pat alone by her window. And when
he landlady came to evict her 1t was
,ound the old lady was dead of starva-
don.
Ask some of the old neighbors, es-
,eciaily any gray-haired colored man
hat you may find in that vicinity, and
1e will tell you that on stormy nights
me lightning flashes will reveal an old
D ady sitting white and immobile by the
window.
As if this were not enough a third
Tagedy-and such things must go by
hrees-was added. Families coming
rom out of town rented the property at
nfreouent intervals, and in one of these
here was a young man, who also be-
anne entangled in loves net 1t might
lave been the fair spectre of the girl
who had gone before which prompted
hllr a they found him
me day, hanging from moose attached
% a gas fixture in his room, his tongue
,rotruding and his eyes staring.
. The owner of the house has torn out
All the partitions and remodeled il in |
''1-any ways, but gossip says the old
'edy still sits in the window, the girl |
..'till glides from room to room, and the |
Pounds of choking and strangllng still |
.cho through the hall
Spirits There, Too.
The old Octagon House, near the Cor |
.oran Gallery of Art, and long the
-esiGence of many celebrities of a CEN |
try ago, is another place where spir-
t Is are said to dwell. Tradition says
hat a little girl fell from the banister
u the upper floor to the floor of the hall
,e!"w. and was dead when they picked
ser up. Perhaps that accounts for the
title white form that is reputed to fit |
- IaOut the old place, now showing clear
aiding If a light is turned full upon it
is inded as harmless as a child, but !
leyertheless il strikes cold chill to
hose who watch it's dancing.
Night workers who have occasion to
1alk by the southern end Of the White
:iouse grounds have often heard a
,laintive, intermittent moan from the
ihrubbery that makes black splotches
)l the spacious executive lawn. In the
broad sunshine of the next day they
af.'Fl-- that the TTGpE there are
I'll Of scheech owls, but others say that
IN unhappy spirit pTOwlS about the 81
eut green sward. and is fond Of sitting
r. the south rim of the fountain
Forced To Sign Pledge.
This may be the same wrath that
LAS been seen floating in and out
among the willows of the Mall west of
&c Monument, where IT has been seen
. pass through a tree like so much
'ug blown by the wind. 1t sometimes
Iprears To convivial JOY riders who are
cHd OF taking cab and rolling over
h speedway at 3 a. m. and in two !
Instances the result has been that way
Aard Young men signed the pledge the
l@xt day.
In the neighborhood OF Maryland ave-
lue and First street is an old mansion
}. ante-bellum days around which |
RAM ghost story centers. Nothing
engible has ever been seen there, but |
rom its deep and gloomy cellars are |
-eputed to come sounds OF groans and
nOanings that make even the strongest
quail. 4 vOlley of blows, interrupted
~ groans and pleadings and ending in
he wild scream Of a soul in torment
s the usual program, but this is largely !
matter Of hearsay, for investigation
las failed TO show anybody who stayed
. hear the whole thing through after
he hair raising noises started.
Tn : is but a sample of the tales that
3ill be !ecOunted on Halloween night,
and mysterious wailings and rappings,
and fitting wraiths and gOblins may
y expected as matter of course.