The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1873-10-01

edict's College, he accorded Mr.. Sny-
der the lifelong right to act as Sexton
oftbe Catholic Cemetery. After Fa-
ther Augustine removed, about three
years ago, two of the children, respect
lively i've and seven years of age, were
attacked with some mysterious dlsor-
der, which did not seem fatal IN Its
tendency The parents were poor,
and did not 60 to the expense of en-
Moving The services of physician I'M
I'll some time after these symptoms ap-
peared, and the matter run on for sew
a,al months. The father said that i'm
medately after some little excitement,
without sign or warning, the two girls
world commence acting in very
strange and peculiar manner; although
their actions we're entirely different,
one of them evincing q tendency to
bite the legs of chairs and tables, and
cav.rt around the room on her hands
and knees, and never speaking. The
other one, on the contrary, would be
full of unnatural life, her face flushed,
her eyes large and bright, while size
would dance and caper around the
room, talking glibly and laughing con-
tipually. He said they would handle
Goals of fire as they would pebbles,
uniting them in their mouths and on
their persons without burning them !;
while they would, unframed, thrust
their hands into blazing fire.
DR.. Aver corroborates the father in
what he says. 1t was by DIR. Ayers
repeated visits and close observation
that the occasion of the breaking of
the spell was noticed. Strange and
improbable as it may seem, it was oc-
casioned by the pronunciation of a
word Many OF our readers will laugh
and hoot at this improbable story, but
we can assure them that it was tested
carefully and closely by DR.. Aver first
and afterwards Ivy DR.. Bryning, and
they pronounce it a real and actual fact,
aud one that had come within their
own personal observation. The pro-
nunciation of the simple words 81
want" without prefix or affix, was suf-
ficient, and from that moment they
were perfectly rational. A short time
ago DR.. Bryniug was called to the
house, bnt upon his arrival there found
both children had just passed out OF
the spell. The father stated to DR.
Bgyning that lie might bid the family
good day and step down the road on
of sight and await his coming, and i
the children evinced these peculiar
symptoms after his departure he woult
call him. He hardly got out of sigh
when tie father fastened after him an(
brought him back.
Both the girls were in the spell, ont
crawling around on the floor, bitin!
the legs Of the chairs and tables, while
the other was laughing, talking an,
dancing around the room in the mos
unnatural manner. The legs of thu
chairs and table bore evidence of TIN
frequent spells of the one that was il
the habit of biting, by being gnawet
and bitten ont as horse manger. H
tried to catch the little girl that wa
dancing around, but she evaded him il
the most skillful manner, continual,
talking to him, laughing heartily, bu
in manner that would make tn
flesh creep. The other girl paid no at
tention to him, but kept contin nall.
crawling from one object to another
biting them all as she passed. He fl
nally caught the little girl; when sh
said:
''Don't touch me; let me alone.
want"-and that breaking the spell
she turned color as white as drive
snow. and both burst out crying an
retired to distant part of the room
their arms around each other, an
could not be prevailed upon to So
another word. DR.. Bryning says
was the most pitiful sight in the cours
OF his professional career.
The parents are of q most superst
tions nature, and firmly believe tbs
1t is wltchcratr, and while it is Gel