The Complete Short Stories. O. Hooper Henry

exit, — after playing out his role, — he should not return in a different characterization and in chiffon garb.

      If he is not recognized in the new one upon his entrance it is no evidence that the same spirit does not animate both, and the perfection of detail and artistry in both characterizations is convincing proof of the same dominant spirit.

      While the stories necessarily reflect in their style the high aspiration that prompted them, they prove, as O. Henry’s Ghost so vividly remarked, that a leopard can change its spots.

      Flashes of the O. Henry who wrote “The Man About Town” are found in the bits of personal conversation from O. Henry’s Ghost, and the old and new are blended in the following birthday greeting: “I give you my gladsome wish for a comrade and gratitude for opening the doors to a scrivener. If it was the olden days I should have been foolish enough to say ‘Have a drink to celebrate.’ Now I shall tell you to take a whiff of ambrosia fit for gods and shall join you with a gladsome spirit. Here’s how!”

      The sledge hammer blows wielded by the personality of O. Henry can only dull to insensibility and bring forth a murmur of “I think” and “I believe,” while the darting shafts of O. Henry’s Ghost will pierce the clouds and bring forth the chorus of “I know” to those who, having eyes — see — and having ears — hear!

      It is today the same as when Plato said:

      “Strange times are these in which we live, forsooth :

      When old and young are taught in Falsehood’s School!

      And the one man who dares to tell the Truth

      Is called at once a ‘Lunatic’ and ‘Fool.’”

      But at any rate, they go forth at the request of O. Henry’s Ghost and with the belief that the beauty of thought will be a joyful remembrance of one who was known as O. Henry.

      Parma.

      June 27th, 1918.

      158 Ocean Boulevard,

      Atlantic Highlands,

      New Jersey.

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       Table of Contents

      THE COMING OF THE STORIES

      From the first we used the Ouija Board not as a toy, but as a serious medium through which we received guidance in our affairs and teachings of the Great Law of Life, for which we were searching. We were determined to have only the truth, and so we eliminated the frivolous and deceiving, who are ever on the watch for the ignorant user of the “Board” — to amuse themselves with his credulity, or through sheer devilish-ness to lead him to disaster — material and spiritual.

      Those with whom we talked were Great Invisible Teachers — who were on the Earth plane to help humanity — and a close relative whose development we followed with intense interest, and to whose advice in critical moments we owe much.

      This was the situation when early in September, 1917, we were told that if we would sit at the “Board” each afternoon about four-thirty o’clock, with a positive determination to receive only that which was worth while, and shut the door at once to anyone whose offerings did not reach a high standard, we would receive things that would surprise us.

      Accordingly, on September 18, 1917, we waited results — they came as follows:

      “My little talent I suppose you will consider insufficient/’

      “Who are you?” we asked. “Useless to give name “ came the answer. “If you do not know when the story is finished, it is N. G.”

      “I wish to tell the world what is theirs for the asking. To try and give them a new viewpoint in place of their erroneous ideas.’

      “I did not know as much then as I do now. Before I wrote what the Self saw only — now it is what 1 know.”

      “We’ll take a chance — go ahead,” I said.

      Then followed a story called “The Contest.”

      How do we know it was the spirit of O. Henry? We will let the record speak for itself. The truth always carries conviction, except to minds the doors of which are double-barred.

      It was evidently the first time this Spirit had used a Ouija Board, for he was not sure of the location of the letters, and after the first paragraph said:

      “My force is insufficient; it tires me to spell each zt’ord so sloivly.”

      We told him to go as fast as he liked. He soon learned how to apply his force, and all went smoothly.

      When the story ended, I wrote the name “O. Henry” on a slip of paper and asked if I had guessed correctly. The reply was “Yes.”

      We were so impressed with the story that I said, “It is good enough for the Atlantic Monthly.”

      The comment was, “If they take it, my revenge would be complete. That is for the Elite! I did not belong.”

      The next day came first what was evidently a title, “My tussle with the Devil.”

      We asked, “Who is speaking today?”

      “An imaginative fellow,” was the reply.

      “Is it the same with whom we talked yesterday?” we asked. “Yes; it is a joy once more to weave a plot.”

      A little later, when the work was resumed after an interruption of several days, O. Henry’s Ghost began with:

      “I am glad to see you.”

      “Did you miss us?”

      “That’s what!” was the answer.

      The day was rainy and the story rather serious, or so it impressed us, for we asked:

      “Why don’t you give us a cheerful story?”

      His reply silenced further suggestions. It was:

      “Kindly allow me to express what I feel/’

      O. Henry’s individuality was clearly marked from the first and we had no doubt about his genuineness, but an incident which occurred one afternoon may serve to convince the skeptical.

      Several times we had been bothered by the interruptions of a boy Spirit called William Mumm, who was possessed with an over-developed sense of humor. Often we knew that O. Henry was being crowded by others who thought that they should be given a chance to express themselves, and once or twice the writing stopped until things quieted down. On this occasion Mumm broke in with; “Henry is giving too many orders.”

      On being told in a forceful way what we thought of his interference, he said, “My word! That was a hot shot! I won’t butt in again:” — and he didn’t.

      Later, when we asked O. Henry whether others were present, he said, “They are hanging around, but not butting in”

      As we got better acquainted, there was more conversation of a personal nature before the story for the day was started.

      To the question whether before he “crossed over” he had had any real Truth, he said:

      “No, my teaching was hell and damnation.”

      We, of course, were curious to know how he discovered us. His answer was in line with what we had been taught — that each person appears as a light, shining with increasing brilliancy as one learns the Truth and lives it. He said:

      “Letting your light so shine led me here — I desired to tell what I felt and knew, and sought an avenue; your beacon beckoned me, and your teacher bade me enter”

      Once when we mentioned a financial pressure