Evening star., 1927-09-23

washington Irving. 17S6-1S5e. is the
"A "ef History " of New York BY Disdrieh knick
erbocker, hilarious burlesaue which ,Icl, -, wa
booker a place in the language. Probably
his best known stories are The Sketch
il is from the latter that the present ghost
story Is taken.)
My grandfather was bold dragoon
for it's profession that has run in
the family. Having seen varied serv
ice and being such bold dragoon. you
must know that my grandfather was
man not easily to be humbugged
On his way to England one evening
my grandfather rode jollily into
Bruges, a queer, old-fashioned Flem
ish town, and it was at the time of the
annual fair. All Bruges was crowded
My grandfather rode jollily along, as
said, in his easy, slashing way, for
he was q saucy, slashing fellow and
ioked the women right and left in the
street, all of whom laughed and took
it in amazing good part. Well, every
inn and tavern was full. and my
grandfather applied in vain at one and
another for admittance.
Finally he rode UP to an old rickety
inn that looked ready to fall to pieces
Il
dragon was an event in an old inn
frequented only by the peaceful sons
of traffic. An old patron of the inn
smoking a long, clean pipe, showed
disapproval. The landlord, to please
his old customers, assured the dragon
that they had mot garret" to give
him. They were full.
NY grandfather was not a man to
be- browbeaten. He threw the reins
on his horses neck, cooked his head
on one side, stuck one arm akimbo,
and said: Faith and troth! I'll s.eep
in this house this very night" And
he gave a slap to his thigh, by way OF
emphasis-the slap went to the land
lady's heart.
The bold dragoon followed UP his
vow by jumping off his horse and
making his way past the staring com
pany into the public room. There was
some further show of resistance, but
my grandfather was an old soldier, and
an Irishman to boot, and not easily re
pulsed, especially after he had got into
the fortress. So he blarneyed the
landlord, kissed the landlords wife
ed the barmaid under the chin-and II
was agreed on all hands that it would
be thousand pities, and a burning
shame into the bargain, to turn such
q bold dragoon into the streets. II
was agreed to accommodate him with
an old chamber that had been fol
some time shut up and was reputed tt
be haunted.
In a little while, as was his usua
way, he took complete possession oi
the house, staggering all over IT. intt
the stable to look after his horse, intc
the kitchen to look after his supper
He had something to say or do with
every one; smoked with the Dutchman
drank with the German, slapped the
landlord on the shoulder, romped with
his daughter and the barmaid. Tht
landlord stared at him in astonish
ment; the landlords daughter hunf
her head and giggled whenever HI
came near, and as he staggered alons
the corridor with his sword trailing BY
his side, the maids looked after hin
and whispered to one another, "Wha
q proper man.
Well, this bold dragoon sat UP lat.
drinking with them all, and finally
was shown to his quarters up a larg,
staircase. An old-time chamber it was
sure enough, and crowded with al
kinds of trumpery. 1t looked like al
infirmary for decayed and superannu
ated furniture. No two chairs wer'
alike. High backs and low backs
leather bottoms and straw bottoml
and no bottoms; and cracked marbl,
tables with curiously carved legs, hold
ing large balls in their claws, a.
though they were going to play a
ninepins.