The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-11-21
CkeGnteLIiseurer.
SUPERSTITION.
, Scene In a Spanish church
Pretending 10 Cast Out Devils.


A,rrsnsd in Ibis wealthy city. About The
I4tb or 18th OF this present month Of Oc-
,obsr Il was privately announced, chiefly
N he faithful women OF the congregation
Tbich regularly thropgs the Church Of
4. Holy Spirit, in the street of San
Fr,nci,co. that Young woman OF II or
!; year. Of age, OF the lower class, having
trsp afflicted with hatred OF holy things
the poor girl probably was subject to
,pileptic tiS, and cried out and became
e5uyaised when she heard the notes Of
liz organ in ehurch-the senior priest OF
me church above mentioned would cure
her o! her disease, or, TO use that gentle.
mans own language, 'Avaunt, physi-
cilr, and mountebanks; see how the
Church will cure this poor girl, who is
!, present possessed Of 400 devils
iTho.e who are acquainted with Bar
,,loua know we'll the Gale San
francisco, one Of the well.to.do streets Of
The ci,v, and its church, EIpiritu Santo,
not Door mans, but fashionable church.
Far eight days, the last day being the
l7,h inst, a LILLE stream Of persons Of
all ranks and OF either sex, might have
been seen at the unusual hour for church
yoipvI Of midnight threading its way to-
ward the church. The principal door
visa kent closely shut, but the faithful or
crelulous, the open scofer, and the lover
of signs and wonders found admittance
bya side door 10 the exhibition which l
am about to describe. The church was
dark, but .irkIy light was she'd by wax
lights on the sable forms Of some so or
10 persons, who clustered round the
prss5i.ero. or sanctuary, in front OF the
altar. Within the little inclosure, or
sanctuary, separated from the crowd by
light railing, lay, on a common bench,
With q little pillow for her head TO re-
cline upon, 4 poorly-clad girl, probably
u the peasant or artisan class; her
brother or husband stood at her feet to
restrlin her lat times) frantic kicking BY
aolding her legs. The door Of the yes
~ opened; the exhibitor-G mean the
p;is.-came in. The poor girl, not
rilhout Just reason, had an aversion to
aoly things or, at least, the 400 devils
SHIN her distorted body had such an
Grsr,iOu; and in the confusion of the mo.
nsn., thinking that the father was "a
aoly thing" she doubled up her legs,
screamed out with twitehing mouth, her
breast heaving, her whole body writing;
1ud threw herself nearly of the bench.
The male attendant seized her legs, the
Eoman supported her head and swept cut
be: dilheveled hair. The priest advanced
nd, niuSling familiarly with the sh1d.
!srinC and horror.stricken crowd, said,
pointing At the suffering child, now sob.
Oing and twitching on the bench, Prom
lie me, my children, that you will be pru-
dent, and Of truth, sons and daughters
zine, you shall see maryels.' The prom
ise was given. The exhibitor went to
procure stole and short surplice, and re-
turned in a moment, taking his stand at
lie side Of the possessed Of the devils,
E!th his face towards the group OF
students. The order OF the days pro-
ceedinEs was first a lecture TO the
by,.Anders, and, second, the opera
ton Of exercising the devils. The
priest commenced his running common.
iI'y on, or explanation Of, the strange
phenomenon lying painting, foaming at
the mouth, 10 the gaze Of the stupid and
Ihuddering crowd Of his fellow men and
women. The priest began by lamenting
Nth tears that it is unhappily, the fash.
ion Of the people in this day and age to
eek the aid Of doctors, sleepWalkers, or
'piFituSlists, aud quacks Of all descrip-
lions, when they have hard at hand the
aid Of religion, and an aid and remedy &c.
cure and all sufficient He continued
his address by saying that the means Of
which he should make use in the present
Gaze were not the strongest in his power,
for 10 use the strongest was not now al
lowed. He then said, This young girl
enjoys 4 most perfect tranquility and
calmness SO long as she does not catch
.its OF holy things, such as the holy water,
the priests dress, the altar, tho church,
81 hear the sound ofa bell, the roll Of an
organs notes resounding through the
aisle, You know continued the priest,
tSa, so great is the girls aversion to
aol! things, myself included, that
she 1Oea into commissions, kicks,
screams and distoss her body the
moment she arrives at the corner
Of this street, and her convulsiVe struggles
reach their climax when she enters the
sStted house Of the Most High He
sada! with the following words: This
gil hu often had the same infrmity in
sy.gons years, and the devils have been
t0nit.nty expelled; but owing TO the lax
'sy Of religion in these latter days, they
is'utn again to possess her body Act
Ssant flashed, the e1oreism commenced.
!G'ning TO the PROSTATE, shuddering,
a2'' unhappy object Of his attack, the
Priest commenced, In the name Of God,
q tie Saint, Of the Blessed host, Of
'''! holy sacrament OF our Church, |
sHfe thee, Rusbel, come out OF her,
4A-Rusbep is the name Of q devil, the
s'u having 257 names in Catalonia.
!aa' adiured, the girl threw herself in an
lIouy Of eonvulsion, till her distorted
.sss, toam.bespattered lips, and Writhing
4aa, grew well.nigh Stitf, at full length
'poa the aoor, and in language semi.ob.
Ssne' 'emi.yioleut, screamed out, 4
Ioat ehOo.e to come out, you thieves,
Saap' robbers Fulfill your promise,
sa,osI said the priest. You said yes.
t'ai[ you would cast 100 more Of your
sSHsd spirits out Of this most hapless
Eli body. Can't you speakT rYes, l
came from the poor girls ioamfug
Y, ear- Yes, said the enra, you
va devil Of honor; you are a man Of
~ SoFd,' out OF the crowd stepped 4
sHl!y.lttiFed Spanish gentleman, and
S; Bat, father, how can you pray to
- praise the devil7 Ihave read some.
naee be is = liar and the father Of lies,
S ~ Dc keep his wOsd2 Yes said the
SaI be l. 4 man Of his word. Fulfll
NJ Promise, Rusbel.' Never shouted
asVtl or the girl, now laISed into an
w q frenzy. You shall,' said The
1ther; and the suffering al, Ike A
E, NE and wounded snake, her Dies ali |
~ sanged, her bosom hsayinS, vormed |
Wltted into the arms OF The sillv