AT CHRISTMAS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 246, 6 December 1940, Page 6

AT CHRISTMAS

(Continued from last issue)

Another ghostly visitor of recent times appeared in the form of a music-hall comedian. In his lifetime he had delighted thousands of people with wit and humour. And everyone had known of the tragedy which wrecked his private life. His wife and only son had been drowned at sea. But with only his work to live for, this gallant comedian restrained his deep sorrow and continued to make his audiences laugh.

Shortly after he died, following a sudden attack of pneumonia, the music-hall where, he had appeared regularly for many years was adapted for use as a cinema theatre. The original structure was not changed to any substantial degree, and apparently because of that the spirit of the departed comedian was earthbound to,the: building.

It was only a few years ago, on a night before Christmas Day that the manager of the cinema was making his last rounds before locking up. As was his custom he walked into each ot the side rooms, one: of "which had been used as a dressing room by the famous comedian. In this particular apartment the air seemed tainted with the odour of stale: grease paint. The manager paused, feeling strange • ly reflective. Memories of oldtime entertainments came to him, and he wondered whether cinema really offered better facilities for wholesome amusement than the Victorian music hall.

Then, as he walked towards, the door, with his head full of strange fancies of bygone days, a grim spectral laugh filled the room. Standing before him, and waving him back, was the: figure of the comedian, ghostly white, but seemly dressed in the old unkempt clothes which he had always worn on the stage.

Then the manager must have fainted, for some hours later he

was discovered in a semi-con-scious condition by the night watchman. But he retained very clear memories of the comedian's" strange reappearance.

Ghosts always seem to regret the passing of ancient customs. Sometimes they are said to warn ambitious men against science and invention.

A clever inventer recorded his diary that he had been visited by .the ghost of a shepherd in whose cottage the inventor was conducting secret experiments. The ghostly ,shepherd apparently advised the modern inhabitant of the cottage to give up his work and take to rural occupation. . According to the diary, the inventor was impressed by the warning, but, after vainly attempting to make money at farming, he returned to his former occupation of endeavouring to discover a new explosive.

He succeeded in his experiments,, .but his success was marred by tragedy., for the chemical mixture which he had formulated exploded too soon and killed the inventor and partly destroyed the cottage. m 9 * « In hostelries and cottages near the mysterious reaches of rivehs, seafaring men relate accounts of ghosts which return to mourn over the passing of "yards and arms." When the weather is stormy and ice hangs from the funnels of giant liners mystic messages are conveyed by the spectral sailors, warning* modern navigators against overconfidence.