Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-08-14
SATAN In A BOWL OF MILK.
A SulphuPOus Sensation in Pater-
son, n. J Was Lena BRkker Be
wttohed9

wttebedg
The New York Herald says:
Paterson, N. j., relieved the mo-
notony of suburban summer events
yesterday, by telegraphiug the sui
phurous fact that, like the swine of
old that were impelled into the sea
and destroyed, it was possessed"
Reportorial assistance was at once
furnished from the metropolis and
aregular devil hunt was at once in
augurated. To interview the party
whose first call upon Adam and
Eve was productive Of exasperating
and enduring ills to the entire sub
sequent family, was an occasion not
to be sneezed at, and the opportu-
nifty was hailed with avidity.
Acting upon the vague infOrma-
ton Of the telegraphic item a re-
porter hurried to the scene of this
latest proclaimed manifestation
from the world beneath. The clew
to the locality, though slight, proved
all sufficient, for the story was rife
among the gossips Of the town. OF
course rumor had begun to magnify
the facts, and the impression pre-
vailed in society that the Old Boy
had been playing the deuce with all
the female children of an humbly
circumstance couple of Hollanders,
by the name of Baker, residing on
River street. That something had
happened to disturb the domesticity
of the Bakers was apparent on
approaching their modest domicile,
for Father Baker and his vrow
and the children were at the front
yard gate, surrounded by bevy
of neighbors.
To ask if Satan was in was the
uppermost impulse, but feeling that
he was venturing on delicate ant
unfamiliar ground, the reporter
masked his mission by casually in
curing for Mr.. Wilhelm Baker
A chorus worthy of the ancient
Gree Theater shouted, "There h,
isw And there he was, dressed il
his Sunday best, smoking a pipe
and outwardly suggested by his ap
pearance that he had been summa
rily induced to renounce his worl
in consequence of the recent extra
ordinary addition to his family
Mr.. Baker proved unequal to tn
task of answering interrogatorles
but if events had dumblounde,
him they had unbridled the tongu
Of his spouse, a square-knit DutcI
dame of the old china tea seryic
pattern.
HOW IT HAPPENED.
els it true that your childrei
have been bewitched?"
"Oh, yes; Lena vas vitched las
Monday-and she got 'em very baC
didn't you, Lena ?"
The child addressed-a slende
girl Of fourteen - wrenched he
fingers out of her mouth and col
roborated the maternal statemeu
All doubts as to the authenticit
of the main story were thus happil
dispelIed. There was the girl, an
the devil was certainly not far OF
though still provokingly inyisibl
to the naked eye.
"Tell us how it happened
Lena"
After a few predatory gulps an
gasps the child related, with muc
embarrassment and amid frequel
maternal promptings, how a certai
woman, living near by, had pr
vailed upon her to drink a cup
milk, which, although swallowed
the conventional manner, strange
neglected TO digest, but laid vii
solid pressure just below the brea
bone, causing unaccountable di
tress. This was followed by o spa
modic seizure-in fact, "regul
fits"--the mother averred, and Il
girl's tongue grew too big for b
mouth and was forced outsid
black and bleeding. She howlC
with pain, and could not be he
still day or night.
Eventually the left arm becar
paralyzed and hung helpless. Th,
II was that the mother came to t
startling conclusion that the mi
which the woman gave to Lena W
"witched." Her opinion W
shared by the old man, who oou
not explain the perpetual twitchi
and other symptoms exhibited c
cept upon this hypothesis.
''What did you do~
ave took her to the Dut
Church, and the minister 81
prayers out of a book, and then
took her to the doctors and got
some medicine"
This statement seemed to less
the coveted chance of interview
the intruding member from t
l.wer district