SUPERSTITIOUS GHOSTS AND GHOST STORIES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10634, 12 June 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

SUPERSTITIOUS GHOSTS AND GHOST STORIES.

, Tho uuoatmy, the fji'uoßomo, tho | horrlblo and tho mysterious have always had a charm for the none and daughters of men. Even in this enlightened ninoteeuth century there are uißny persons — Indeed it may ba said tho majority of them at& for some unexplained reaßon attracted io/and fascinated by, anything that savoro of the unexplained aud unexplored I'egipDS of spiritland and the unfcnowa cot#Gwhero' f,o vyhiph our frionda botako themselves ar»d from wbioh no messenger ever brines to waiting souls either words or oheor or wollautbentic&ted information as to their ailaation and whereaoontP. The ghost, in largo capitals, is an oyer-ps'pasnfc faotorin tho minda of rjreat numbers of parsoaa, and this, too; re» gardleßß of education, theories, training or religious belief. Jpst what ia the foundation of or cause for this state of affairs has long been a subject of interest to those of an tnveotjgating turn of mind. I'haf; thorp in something unfathomable and as yot past ujidargi^nding jri thj relations between mind end matter has long been admitted by even tho most un b o ']; < wing and obstinate members of the human fann'j. A^ what shall we say of tho timoroas and oreduloua mer neH ~« thpsp who are frightened at their own shadow? i> Who pan describe the agonies they euffar, tho wretched hoii?a thrpugh whioh they merely esist, torrifjod almost into insensibility by fears to which tbey can soarooly give a name. yhero is a great and pathless roalm that wo may some day bo able to study more Intelligently than l;y our present lights. Science muy in t;i;;e be able to throw open the gates and let in a' (Jood of suusbioo upofi that which js now dark and irnptsupfrablo. Meanwhile eaporatition a belief io the good and evil influences of things unseen dominate the majority of thp inhabitants of thU world. Men and women alter their plans because of bad signs. Thoy frame their ideas and conduct their affairs upon omens and traditional beliefs, These things are unlucky, and thoae things it's fortunate. They will not commence a task on snob a day or at such an hour, because it would bring diaaetor. Evan their planting and harvesting aro regulated by the mosu, and the most unimportant nets are so timed that they w|ll pof conflict with the prevalent notions of unlucky times find aeaßons. There are in some of our large oltios buildings in whioh no old resident will conduct a business. It is .said and the statement is true, that there hare been only failures and disasters ever sinoa

tuo structures wjro completed. Tho lenaatu have died or the buoin'esa baa proved unromnnerative, or there have been failures or frauds in rogular suoceßaion. la eomo of these instances the oyil is said to havo been the result of dishonesty : in others, of dupkor crimes. In one of the cities there is a dwelling honao where no one lives for any length of lime. Doath, dobl, illncßD, disgrnco, HBrimiß aeeidonl nr a:>mo otrango and uuforouwu ciilaiuity ovortakes tlie luvualos, oud tho house is nbnbdoueil. As tho cxvucr usually exacts a good sum from the outgoing tenant, tho property )is« not been ua unproductive as one might imagine. It has, for the moat part, been taken by strangers who coald not know its bad reputation until some timo after they had taken possession. Unbelievers liuigh and dcolsre that such things are meroly cointiidoneos, but thooo who have watched tho comings and goings at that houao oro unwilling to call tho aequonco of events by that name. At all events not ono of thorn would move into that house and occupy it under any consideration, even though they got it rent f reo and were paid for staying there. There are many minor superstitions which affect different people in different ways. They will not mova into a new place on Saturday, because they will be certain not to stay long. Friday's move is unluoky oil around, and Monday's is sure to end in trouble, disappointment and loss. As a Sunday flitting would not be allowed under any circumstances, this narrows the available days down to three, which iii inconvenient, to say tho least. It is lucky to havo a dog follow one home or to come to tho house and attach himself to the family. A bird flying against the window is by eomo believed to foretell doath ; by others it is lookod upon as a measeuger bringing important tidings to the household. One woman was frightened into hysterics because a bit of bkok ribbon was blown up by the wind and fell on her doorstep ; another hajan a very important work beoause she found a bit of while string dangling from the porch lattice. Some folks are afraid of spiders, and others believe thorn luoky ; a turtle crossing the path means success to the project tho person has in mind, while a black cat is enough to upset the best lnid plans of men as well as mioo. Surely superstition and a belief in some sort of signs and omens ia by no means uncommon.