Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-04-02
TBE WOMAN WHO NEVER EATS

For a twelve-month past past Mrs. HAYES, of
the town Of Chester, Warren County, n. T., has
been made known to the public, through the me-
dium of the Press, as a very wonderful woman.
The community was certified that she had lived
two years without eating. 1t was very great
marvel. But one greater could possibly he I'M
agined, viz: woman who could live two years
without talking. But in the absence of the lat
ter phenomenon, all quid nuncs satisfied them
selves with Mrs. HAYES. She was not only an
inexplcable puzzle, but an out-and-out mira
Gle. Much of her time was spent in state OF
trance She talked much of God and religion,
and set herself up for a prophecies Her sus-
tentation she did not fail to attribute to the di
rect agency of the Almighty in attestaton of her
supernatural mission. Those about her were
struck. Physicians certified to her absolute
abstinence, and committees testified that they
had watched her week in and week out the re-
suit being theis positive certainty that she ate
nothing. Thousands of people flockcd to see
her, and went away with the settled conviction
that there existed neither motive nor possibility
of deception. The witnesses of her condition
were respectable and trustworthy. Who could
disbelieve them? Who could suppose that the
Prophecies would herself deceive? The idea was
preposterous. What could woman away up
in Warren County, among the everlasting Adj
rO1uhCkS, gam by CncalUH ptOpic oDOuN thc
matter of her bread and butter? The thing
was out of the question. Did any sccptic ask
ho,o she could live so long without food, he was
informed tibet she dill so live, and was not that
enough? At length, however, this impressive
dispensation came to an end. A Committee
was found of little faith. Mrs. HAYES had sent
many previous Committees from her presence,
after long and patient watching, filled with as
constituent and conviction. Consequently her
confidence waxcd strong. She desired never to
be without Committee to observe her case, and
testify of her miraculous preservation. The
other day six gentlemen were summoned to her
bedside for that purpose, who were to remain
with her, two at time, day and night, for twcn
ty-onc days, when, as she informed them, great
and miraculous change would take place in her
condition.
a change, great, but not miraculous, occurred
in less time. Her watchers caught her in the
act of eating. In fact they saw her rcgalng her
self on meat and crackers
1t is unnecessary to say what followed. The
explosion Of the mposture could not be deferred.
Certificates, testimonials and facts all blew up
together.
There is strong likeness to be observed
throughout the whole family of impostures.
Whenever an impossible humbug is proposed
as an excuse of the public creduity, any one
who ventures to suggest doubt is put down
by facts. There are hosts who have seen every
miracle with their own syes. TO question the
phenomena is to impeach their veracity DO
you suggest the impossibility, for example, Of
table dancing the polka with chair. you are
put down by shower of facts. A dozen re-
spectacle individuals tell you they saw it.
The truth is that in all such cases there is
nothing so unreliable as facts. The facts ad-
duced are not facts at all. Whether those who
assert them Beloved their own statements is
question hardly worth deciding. If they do
they are to be pitied. What became of all the
facts in the case of Mrs. HAYES Disspated in
an instant by the appariton of crackers and cold
corned beef-Ner York Times.