GHOST IN A CASTLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20988, 26 September 1931, Page 2 (Supplement)

GHOST IN A CASTLE.

STORY OF WOMAN'S CURSE.

CHAIR THAT IS ALWAYS EMPTY

DINNER LAID FOR SPECTRE. For 250 years dinner has been laid for a ghost in a Dublin castle. Empty plates and a napkin are put 011 the table before an empty chair and solemnly removed after the meal. Behind all this lies a strange story of a kidnapped heir and \a woman's curse.

"... Eleven, twelve thirteen." A nervous murmur travelled round the dinner-table. "Thirteen!" the guests repeated anxiously.

Then tho host spoke. " You forget, ladies and gentlemen," he said reassuringly. " Fourteen—including the ghost." All eyes turned to tho vacant chair, says the correspondent of the Daily Express. Everybody heaved a sigh of relief. Those present were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Gainsford St. Lawrence, who live in Howtb Castle., Dublin, and who have dining with them, every night they arc at home, a guest they have never seen. Woman's Vow of Vengeance. It was here that the correspondent heard the story of tho only spectre in tho world that has been served with dinner daily for 250 years. Mrs. St. Lawrence staled that she is determined to have tho family spectre at every dinner at Ilowtli Castle during her lifetime. The custom first began in the days of Queen Elizabeth. Many years ago one Mistress Grace O'Malley, returning homo from a royal Court, arrived in Dublin after a tiring channel crossing, and decided to rest at Howth Castle before going on to Connemara. The gatekeeper was informed of her arrival, but presently the servants returned to tell her they could not get in. She went to the gates herself, and then realised that tho occupants of the castlo were not " at homo " to her. As one writer of the time put it, * f Mistress O'Malley was seized with a great rage and vowed vengeance for the insult." Then she noticed the boy heir of the family playing alone in the grounds. Sho gave whispered orders to her men. The boy was seized, bundled into the carriage, and in a few seconds the horses were galloping toward Connemara. Butler in Lovß with Ghost. A week later Mrs. O'Malley sent a letter to the parents. It read:—... As a lesson in etiquette and good breeding to all who live in Howth Castle there shall bo laid for mo each day at dinner a place, and a chair drawn up and although I shall never in person eat with you, vet in spirit I shall occupy it, even when I die, as a reminder that never should a friend be turned away. Otherwise a curse will descend on your house for all time." Tho letter ended with a threat that unless tho undertaking was given the heir would die. The boy's parents had no alternative, but to agree, and ever since, down through the ages, tho undertaking has been observed. Jlrs. St. Lawrence stated thai, the ghost has often proved useful in appeasing tho superstitious when there are 13 at the table. " Sometimes tho servants quibble," she added, " but everybody soon grows used to it. And we shall certainly not stop tho custom."

There is the tale of the. butler who fell in love with the ghost. He always moved the empty chair solicitously up to (lie table, and folded the napkin with particular care. Often lie would say, " Thank you, milady," when the dinnef was over.

Many people have made offers to sit. in the spectre's chair, but this has never been permitted. „