Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-09-25
CURIOUS CASE OF SUPERSTITION.

VI Stairs 4OOE III buc nue. Qe Ia ferTOl
iere, with only maid servant, was e,
customed to spend several hours ever
day before the altar dedicated TO S
Paul, in neighboring church. Som
villains, observing her extreme veal
ness. resolved, as she was known to b
very rich. to share her wealth. One {
them accordingly took the opportunit
to conceal himself behind the carve
work of the altar. and when no perso
but the old lady was there, in the dus
of the evening, he contrived TO throw
letter right before her. She took it up
and not preceiving any one near. SIP
posed it came by miracle. In tnis sh,
was confirmed when she sew il signed
Paul, the APOSTLE" expressing th,
satisfaction he received By her prayer
addressed to him, when so many newly
cannonized saints engrossed the devo
tion of The world, and robbed the prim
tive saintssof their wonted alteration
and to show his regard for the devotion
he promised 10 come from heaven with
the angel Gabriel. and to sup with he
at eight in the evening. 1t seems scarce.
ly credible that any one could be de-
ceived by so gross fraud yet to what
length Of credulity will not supersti-
tion carry 10 a weak mind The infat-
uated lady believed the whole; and
rose from her knees, in transport to pre-
pare an entertainment for her heavenly
guest.
The supper being bespoke, and the
sideboard set oat 10 the best advantage,
she thought that her own plate, worth
about f400, did not make so elegant
an appearance as might be wished and
therefore sent to her brother, a counsel
lor in the Parliament of Paris, to bor-
row all his plates. The maid, however,
was charged not to disclose the occa-
sion, but only to say that she had COM
pany for supper, and would be obliged
to hin if be would lend his plates for
the evening. The counsellor, surprised
at the application, well knowing his sis
ter's frugal life, began to suspect she
was enamored of some fortune hunter,
who might marry her; and thus deprive
his family of what be expected at his
sisters death. He, therefore, positive
ly refused to send the plates, unless the
maid told him what guests we're expec-
ted. The girl, alarmed for her mis-
tress's honor, declared that her pious
lady had 20 thoughts of a husband,
but St. Paul, having sent her letter
from heaven, promising that he and the
angel Gabriel would sup with her, she
wanted to make the entertainment as
elegant as possible.
The Counsellor Immediately suspec-
ting that some villains had imposed up
on her, and sending the maid with the
plates, proceeded directly to the CON-
Enissary of that quarter. On the mag
istrate going with him to the house ad-
joining, they saw. just before eight
O'Clock, tall man. dressed in long
vestments, with white beard, and a
young man in white, with large wings
on bis shoulders, alight from a hackney
coach and 60 up to his sisters apart
ment.
The commissaiy ordered twelve of
the police guards to place themselves
on the stairs, while be knocked at the
door and demanded admittance. The
lady replied that she had company and
could not speak to any one. But the
Commissary answered that he must |
come in, for he was st. Peter, and had |
come to ask St. Paul and the angel Ga
briel how they came out of heaven
without his knowledge. The divine
visitors were astonished at this, not ex-
pecting any more Saints to join them
but the lady, oVeroyed, at having so
great an apostle with her, ran eagerly
to the door, when the commissary, her
brother, and the police guards rushed
10, presented their muskets, seized her
guests and conducted them to prison.
On searching the criminals, two cords, |
razor and a pistol, were found in St.
Paul's pocket, and gag in that of the
angel Gabriel. Three days after, the
trial come on, Rhen they pleaded in
their defense that one was soldier in
the French Infantry, and the other
BARRIERS appfentice-that they had no
other design than to procure good sup.
per at the widows expense-that it be-
ing carnival time, they had borrowed
these dresses. and the soldier having
picked up the two cords. put them in |
his pocket-that the razor was that with !
which he constantly shaved himself
that the pistol was to defend them from
any insult from which their strange
habits might expose them in going
home-and that the apprentice, whose
master was tooth-drawer, merely had
the gag which they sometimes used in
their business. These excuses, frivo-
lous as they were, proved of some avail,
as they had manifested no evil design
by any overt act, they were both ac-
quilted.
But tie Counsellor, who foresaw
what might happen through the defect
of evidence, had provided another
stroke for them. No sooner, therefore.
were they discharged from civil power.
than the apparitor of the Archbishop of
Paris Immediately seized them and con-
veyed them to the ecclesiastical prison.
In three days more they were tried and
convicted of most scandalous profa-
natiQR by assuming to themselves the
names, characters and appearances of |
holy apostle and blessed angel. with an
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