Evening star., 1927-12-01
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
BY PLINY THE YOUNGER.
THE HAUNTED HOUSE

fpliny the Younger lived in Rome AM
wrote letters about the Eternal City a.
cynical comments; he was born in 62 A n
and died in 1l3. These letters are delight
in this one often referred to merely az
Letter to Sura." there ia an excellent ghos
story OF ancient times
Our leisure furnishes me with the
opportunity OF learning from you and
you with that of instructing me
Accordingly, l particularly wish tc
know whether you think there exist
such things as phantoms, possessing
an appearance peculiar to them
selves, and certain supernatural
power, or that mere empty delusions
receive n shape from our fears.
For my part, l am led to believe
their existence, especially by what
hear happened to Curtus Rufus
While still in humble circumstances
and obscure, he was hanger.on in
the suite of the Governor of Africa
While pacing the colonnade one
afternoon, there appeared to him n
female form OF superhuman size and
beauty. She informed the terrified
man that she was Africa" and had
come TO foretell future events: for
that he would go to Rome, would ill
offices of state there. and would even
return to that same province with the
highest powers, and die in 1t. All
which things were fulfilled. Moreover
as he touched at Carthage, and was
disembarking from his ship. this same
form is said to have presented itself
to him on the shore. 1t is certain
that, being seized with illness, and
the future from the past and
misfortune from his previous pros.
perity. he himself abandoned all hope
of life. though none of those about
him despaired.
Is not the following story again
still more appalling and not less
marvellous? | will relate 1t as it was
received by me:
There was at Athens mansion.
spacious and commodous, but of evil
repute and dangerous to health. In
the dead OF night there was a noise
as of iron. and. if you listened more
closely. clanking of chains was
heard. first Of all from distance
and afterward near by, Presently a
specter used to appear. an ancient
man sinking with emaciation and
squalor. with a long beard and bristly
hair. wearing shackles on his legs
and fetters on his hands.
Hence. the inmates, by reason OF
their fears, passed miserable and hor.
rible nights in SleeplesSness. This
want of sleep was followed by disease,
and. their terrors increasing. by death.
For in the daytime as well, though
the apparition had departed. yet a
reminiscence of it deflitted before
their eyes. and their dread outlived
its cause. The mansion was accord
incly deserted, and. condemned tc
solitude. was entirely abandoned to
the dreadful ghost.
However. it was advertised. or the
chance of some one, ignorant of the
fearful curse attached to it. being will
ing to buy or rent it. Athenodorus.
the philosopher came to Athens and
read the advertisement. When he had
been informed of the terms. which
were so low as to appear suspicious
he made inquiries. and learned the
whole of the particulars
Yet none the less on this account
nay. all the more readily, did he rent
the house. As evening began to draw
on. he ordered a sofa to be set for
himself In the front part of the house
and called for his notebooks. writing
implements and a light The whole
of his servants he dismissed to the
interior apartments. and for himself
applied his soul. eyes and hand te
composition. that his mind might not
from want of occupation. picture te
itself the phantoms of which he hat
heard, or any empty terrors.
At the commencement there was