Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-31
A FRENCH SORCERER.
Hypuotiam Among the Peasants Causes
Some Wonderful Cures.

Some Wonderful Cures
,esropess Althsa Salvador. In Nav York World.l
In the little hamlet of Borlassiers, on
the Isle of Oleron, not far nom La no
cbelle. lives Alphouse Montaut, eighteen
wears old. called by some "tbe sorcerer."
by Others lone inspired by God" No one
contests his supernatural power, ana II
there be skeptics in the hamlet they never
manifest their increduljty.
Alphonso Is the youngest OF nine chile
dren. and although his brothers are OF
Herculean proportions, he ~ deIcate III
appearance and feeble in health.
Some months ago Boulassiers contained
only q few fisbermen's huts and farm-
houses Since Montaut has been known
the number of visitors is so great tnat an
inn and several restaurants have peen
established. An acquaintance who has Just
returned from Oleron tells me that on the
boat which crosses from La Rochelle anu
in the stages that take passengers IIonu
the steamer to the different communes
there is but one topic Of CONVERSATION
Montaut and his wonderful cures; !.
From La Rochelle TO the island IL
very short distance. but while crossing
heard of at least twenty cases, one more
remarkable than the other. Among them
that of a workman who for twenty years
had been helpless from rheumatism, and al
last his sufferings had become so great tnat
he could neither eat nor sleep. After Two
or three seances with MoDtaut he recovered
the use of his limbs and suffered no more.
Never does Montaut prescribe a meoi-
cine.
His treatment is simple, but his manner
is m ,sterious. His consulting-room Is In q
farmhouse. There is one chair for the pa
tent. another for himself. A table and the
New Testament are all that one sees. Inc
table is useless, for Montaut does not
write. but the Testament is evidently Tor
the miscen scene. Montaut looks at his
visitor. tells him the nature OF his disease.
takes his hands, or if the malady be very
grave places his feet on those OF the pa
tent. and in an imperious tone OF voice
saws: Go, YOU are healed" -,
And one after the other they leave ms
presence cured. or very much renewed, IN
the most difficult case: Complete cure Is
supposed to come after two or three
seances. Miracles are what these cures are
called by the peasants. Montaut has no
price for his healing, but accepts whatever
Is offered. be il money. food. or clothing.
Sometimes one Is obliged to wait his
turn for hours before the door of the farm
house. and the road for long distance y
blocked by wagons and vehicles OF all
kinds. The part of the country where
Montaut lives has never been so prosper
Gus. Once the people only existed; now
they live. -,
However, there are grumblers to be
found everywhere. and some of those who
come from afar to be cured return dlcon-
tented, angry. call Montaut an lmposter'
and send for the gendarmes.
Only last week the gendarmes were sent
from Marennes to Oleron, but they saw,
believed, and went away prociaimlng the
mower of the healer. Other gendarmes
with stronger minds will be sent to Oieron
and Montaut will be forbidden to wor
miracles in the hamlet OF Boulafslers. a
weapon that can be used against hlm IS his
illegal practice Of medicine. In clvliizeu
country no person without q diploma has
the right to cure those afflicted with DIS
ease.
The peasants are nervous, many OF whom
have attacks of hysteria. but the learned
Judges do not see that Montaut only hyp-
notifies and magnetizes. TO the unini-
| tiated it seems mysterious that Will power
can calm suffering, give strength TO para,
| lived limb. But we are now accustomed
| to marvels that, ten years ago, were de-
clared impossible; wise men acknowledge
what they cannot explain. and these great
physicians consciously accomplish In Paris
what the ignorant Montaut unconsciousiy
performs at Oleron. .,,,
Without doubt the peasant healer will be
imprisoned as a charlatan, but at the trial
those whom he has healed will testify IN
his favor, and the judges. will laugh at
their credulity. Jacob. the famous zouave.
had an experience almost similar to that OF
Montaut. He was q common soldier in
Algeria, and one day discovered that he
possessed the gift of healing. Coming to
Paris he established himself in the Rue
de Provence, and to. him came those
afflicted in every form. All were
cured, but the zouave was arrested
for the Illegal practice of medicine. How
did you cure them ?" SAID his Judges;
do not know" humbly replied Jacob, as
witness after witness testified to his won,
derful success. When he came. out OF
prison the Zouaye Jacob bought house in
the Avenue de Ia Grand Armee, Paris, and
with an income of $40, 900 year lives very
quietly and congratulates himself that no
one has benefited the human race more
than the so-called sorcerer.