The Washington times., 1922-05-28
PENROSE GHOST
ST|RS|NTEREST
Of F|NNPATRONS
Employees Of Wardman Park
Divided in Belief, But Shun.
Apartment 7OO-B.
STRANGE THINGS CROP OUT
Mrs. Rinehart Reveals Some
Occurrences, But Husband
Remains Skeptical.


psychiCs or metapsyChics. az
delivers into the realm beyond style
the science-more engrossing than
any advanced by Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle, thronged, gay Wardman
Park Inn has divided into two
camps.
Does the spirit of Boies Penrose
haunt the chambers of the seventh
floor. whence it took flight with the
old year. 1921?
"Certainly not" aver those who
by instinct or training shy away
from the recently popular pastime
of raising ghosts.
But 1t does" This in a tone
varying from the pOsitiveness of
the obstinate spiritualistic deVotee
to the reluctant admission of the
deeply impressed help" in the big
establishment.
Rineharts Divided.
Thus. the decision is left to the
Rneharts. who occupy the quarters
OF the late Senator from Pennsyl.
rania-Mrs. Mary Roberts Rine.
hart, the rld-famed novelist. and
Or. Stanley Rinehart her hus-
band, tuberculosis consultant in the
Veterans Bureau.
Here, again. opinion is divided.
DR.. Rinehart is skeptiCal OF phan.
tom manifestations.
I'D like to witness some OF
these phenomena" he said recent.
" after bell.ringings. levitation OF
a newspaper and rockings of an un.
occupied chair had been reported
10 him.
On the other hand, Mrs. Rinehart
on reliable testimony is a ready sub
Ject for intrusions of the super
natural, in spite OF her lightsome
and highly salable books, into which
none but purely mundane shadows
ever creep. Mrs. Rinehart is not
disposed to dismiss on the score Of
accident or coincidence the aprar-
entity inexplicable occurrences in the
erstwhile dwelling place of the Re
publican Chieftain.
Engaged on Ghost Play.
The most peculiar part OF the
whole affair from the standpoint OF
dramatic fidelity is that Mrs. Rine.
hart has been engaged for some time
in the composition OF a play to be
produced during the late summer in
which ostensible ghosts rap. flutter
and wall. Her milieu could hardly
The salient features Of Penrose'sI
alleged recrudescence in spiritual
form were detailed in The Washing
ton Times three days ago. They were
related by Mrs. Rinehart at a din.
nor party in her apartment some
time ago. The characteristic sharp
ring OF the defunct Senator at the
front door Of his suite. the rear
rangement OF furniture in his CON
ference room during the absence Of
the present tenants, the slow rock
ing of the chair in which he was
wont TO sit before retiring for the
night-such apparitional happenings
Mrs. Rinehart is said to have noted
and related in good faith.
To this testimony there is TO be
added a more startling narrative.
While Mrs. Rinehart was seated in
the drawing room of the suite a short
time ago, the clay pot incloSing a
Towering plant which graced a table
q short distance away split as though
from blow and fell in pieces at her
feet, leaving the earth and plant un-
disturbed She told DIR. Rinehart Of
this and several persons saw the
shattered flower.pot.
Son Hears Chair Creak.
The account also includes a visit
by Stanley RinChart, jr.. the eldest
son OF the family. who lives in Phil.
adelphia. He told his father he
svoke from sound sleep to hear
chair CreakinG in the hallway. In.
vestigation demonstrated that the
only chair giving out the noise dc.
scribed was Boies PenrOse's favorito
rocker. Mr.. Rinehart had heard 1t
for several sleepless hours. He dc.
narted the same day for his home.
The various strange episodes in the
big apartment which occupies the
end of wing on the seventh floor
related by Mrs. Rinehart to her hus.
band have called forth everything
from laughter to shudders about the
inn. Ghosts have been immemorial-
" associated with lonely places and
deserted dwellings. Yet here is
vivid tale Of spirit visitation in n
hotel built less than q decade ago and
tenanted to the caves. It challenges
more strongly than the celebrated
Antigonish farm case
The Society for PsyChiCal Research
would find in the lahoring staff Of
wardman Park Inn a group OF apt
neophytes. II faith in tho supCrnnt.
ural is desirable for membership in
that organization.
Employees Shun Suite.
Bell-hOyS, maids. Wallets and other
minor attaches Shun tho portal Of
7OO-B as they would ulagno ward
IN a hosnital. Two aged women in
charge Of the linen presses in III"
basement declare they would never
again set foot in the place.
While the oprie goings-on in the
R'nehart suite form the piece dc re-
distance for conversation among
guests Of Wardman Park Inn, the
staff has been strictly forbidden to
discuss them on pain OF dismissal
To the seeker for information the
"heIr" is deaf. dumb and hlild II
questioned. l. is known. however,
nat among themselves the leading
tonic for several weeks has been the
affirmed. denied, ridiculed and re.