Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-09-12
FIFTY CENTS IN ADVANCE.
VOLUME 20, NO. 43.
Curious Case Of Superstition.

uOor IN tDc Nuc W - teftV'cf's WV" '"y
a maid servant, was accustomed 20 spend
several hours every day before the altar ded-
iea,ed TO ~. Paul, in q nsishborips church.
Some villains. observing her extreme weak.
meas. resolved, - she was known TO be very
rich. 10 share her wealth. One OF them ae-
cordipgly took the opportunity to conceal
himself behind the carved work OF the altar.
and when no person but the old lady was
there, in tie dusk OF the evening. he con-
triyed TO throw letter right before her.
She took !, up, and no, perce'ins any ono
near. supposed /, came bya miracle. In
this she wa. more confirmed when she saw
/, signed &" Paul, the APOSTLE" expressing
the satisfaction he receives. by her prayers
addressed TO him, when - many newly can.
noni1ed saints engro-ssd the devotion OF the
world, and robbed she primitive saints OF
their wontsd alteration and 20 show his
regard 70: the devotion. be promised 10 como
from heaven with the angel Gahrisl. and
sup with her q, eigh, in the evening. It
.eem. scarcely credible that any one could
he deceived BY 80 gro.s fraud yet 10 what
length Of creduli,y will not superstition
carry q weak mind TIE infatuated lady
believed the whole. and rose from her knees
in transport. To prepare an entertainment
for her heavenly guests.
The supper being bespoke, and ;be 'Id''
board .et out TO the bcst advantage. che
thought that her own plate. worth About
fiOO. did not make 30 elegant an appear
ancs q. nigh, bo wished AMI therefore
cen, 10 her brother. q counsellor in the Par.
lnment Of Paris, b borrow oil his plate.
The mad. however. was charged not to dis.
close the occasion. but only to say that 'ho
had company 70 supper. and would b
obliged to hip II hs would lend his pate Tor
tho evening. The counsellor, surprised h
tho application, we'll knowing his sisters
frugal lie, began to su-pect that 'he was
enamored Of some fortune hunter. who
nigh, mrry her. and thus deprive hl' fam
ily OF wha, he expected. The girl, alarm
ed f1r her MISTRESS honor, decl'red that
her piou. lady had no thoughts u a hu'.
band, but 81. Paul. have sent her letter
from heaven. promising that be and the
angel Gabriel would SUP with her, she want
ed To make the entertainment as elegant ~
possible.
The Counsellor Immediately suspected
that some villains had imposed upon her {;
and sending the maid with the plate. pro-
ceelei directly to the cumm''ary OF that
quarter. On the magistrates going with
him to house adjoinins, they .a~. jass be.
fore eight o'clock. = tall man. dressed In
lon: ye-tmen,s, with white beard. and
young man in white. with Ars, wings on
hi, shoulders. alisht from hackney coach
and 60 up to his sisters apartments.
The commi..ary ordered twelve OF tho
police guard To poe. themselves on the stairs,
while he knocked at the door and demanded
aimi,,ance. Tho lady replied that she had
company. aud could not speak to any one.
Bu, ,hc commis,ary answered that ho must
c,mo in. for he WI. 81. Peter. and had como
10 ask st. Paul and the angel Gabriel how
they came on, OF heaven without bis know.
isdso. The divine visitors were a'ionishcd
a, this. no, expecting any more saints TO
pin them but the lady, o'erjoyed at ha'-
ing 50 crea, an apostle with her, ran eager
rly TO the door. when the eOmmissry, Ter
brother, and the police guards rushed IN,
presented. their nuskets. ',iied her snsu,
and conducted them to prison.
On searching the criminals. two cords. q
razor, ania pistol were found in st. Pauis
pocket. and gag in that OF the angel ia
briei. Three day. after. the trial came on :
when they pleaded IN their defence that one
Wa, n soldier IN the French infantry, and
the other BARRIERS apprcn,ice-thas they
had no other design than TO procure good
supper at the widows eIpense-sbat u be-
ing carnival time. they had borrowed these
dresses, and the soldier having picked up
the two cords, put them in bis Pocset--'has
the razor was that with which he constantly
sha,ei him.eli-that the pistol was TO de-
feni themselves from any insult to which
their strange habits nigh, expose them IN
going home-apd that the apprentices. whose
master was tooth drawer. merely bad ths
gag which they sometimes u-ed In their
business. These eIcuses, iriroloas a. they
were. proved Of somc avail as they had
manifested no evil design by any overt act.
they were both acquitted.
But the Counsellor. who fore-sw What
might happen through the defec, OF e''-
dsnce, had provided another stroke ior them.
No sooner. therefore, were they discharged
from civil power, than tho apparitor Of tho
Archbishop Of Paris Immediately seized them
and conveyed them to the ecclesiastical Pr'.
son. In three days moro they were tried
and convicted Of . mos. scandalous prot.
aps,ion by assuming to themselves tho na-
mes. characters aud appearances 0t . holy
apostle and blessed angel. with an intent to
deceive pious and well.uesnipe woman.
and to the scandal Of religion. They were
accordingly publicly condemned to be whip
ned, burnt on the shoulder with red.hos
iron, aud sen. to the gslleys for fourteen
years. q sentence which Was in few days
faithfully pot in execution.
A certain editor IN Psri, was % sure OF
receiving q chsilens, for every manuscripts