The daily gazette., 1881-01-29
MODERN MIRACLES.

THE sKETCHED SHIP THAT "MATERIs
Allied" AND THE SANDAL THAT
SAVED A CARAVAN.
The Paris Rappel says In the fif
teenth century the Jews were greatly
prosecuted III Spain, and on one oc.
casion number of them were lying
IN prlsion In an inland Spanish TOW n,
Condemned to death and expecting the
speedy execution of the sentence
Among them was grand rabbi enioy-
ing the name of Ben Simah Durand =
All at once his cou ntenance was seen
to become radiant; he took piece of
charcoal, and having roughly sketch
cd ship on the wall, the rabbi turn
cd to his companions in misfortune
and said: "Ye who have faith put a
finger on The ship" All accordingly
did SO, aud the ship forthwith became
a real vessel, which sailed away with
Ben Simah and the other true beliey-
ers to Algiers. 1t is not TO be suppos-
ed, however, that the individual who
abstained from following Ben Simah's
behest remained behind to die. Being
a great rabbi himself, he was able to
perform miracles on his own account,
and no doubt disdained to benefit by
those of others. Scarcely had Sen ST.
| mah's troupe taken their departure
than this gifted indlvidual-Ben-Ko Koua
by name-stooped down, picked up
the neg glected charcoal, and portrayed
with it lions form with as much
success as his rival. The lion became
endowed with life, Ben Koua mount
cd ON his back, and the pair proceed
ed direct to Mostaganem. This may,
with justice, be called miracle. Its
most wonderful featu Q, however, is |
not that the sketches should have de-
veloped into realities, though such |
events are not to be seen every day,
but that the ship which had to travel a
Co siderable extent of .and before
reaching the sea, should have expert |
enced no difficulty in doing 80, While
the lian, on the other hand found it |
was just as easy to cross the water.
Wonderful as this may be-, however,
the genulneness of the miracle can
scarcely bo considered open 10 doubt as
all tue names are given-Ben Simah
DuraEd, III fact, being tbe ancestor ell
the Durand family which acquired
great celebrity in connection with the
events which preceded our conquest of
Algiers. We might quote any Dumbor
of siIuilar cases, but will only mention
one, tho hero of which was . NJ Muosu.
certain Sidi-A bd.el. K ader-el-
Dhlall, who enjoyed great reputation
Islam, and Ia still iLdsed re- |
Vardsd as tho patron of travellers, This
miracle Is much more recent than the |
being little more :han one |
huudred years Old. The Ahd-el- Kad T
In question was engaged Que day n
haranguinR a numerous assembly when
hs was suddenly seen to take of one of
his wooden sandals, which he threw ,
against a wall. The sandal OF an ordi-
nary man would probably have been
broken and pieces would have fallen 10
he ground The holy mans foot cover {
uQ, however, went straight through the 6
" ali and disappeared, his second san. n
ial also pursuing the same course. Nat
lrally enough the audience were greatly
stonndsd, but the explanation was not {
Ong delayed. 1t seea- ed that caravan
was bo ng attacked by trl2anas, and th3 |
he traiers had invoked the Abd.el- b
< ador', ass stance. The first sandal N
truck the leader OF the brigdnds on the a
aw. The robber would probably have
lot u Ultimately been deferred from pro-
,eedl ng with the ritil1g OF the caravan D
" the rece ption OF one sandal on lis a
heck, but W hen the secoOd launched as ii
n ths first case, by an unsesn hand, ii
anne ty ug through the air and hit him VI
n axautly the same spot, the bandit
ait th re was something uncanny abou
ne Aft ,ir and therefore let the caravan q
n ON lts way. As little doubt can, oil | "
ourse exist as TO the miraculous nature D.
\ of that of the previous one' Il