The morning call., 1890-09-07
A FRENCH SORCERER.
Hypnotism Among the Peasants
Causes Some Wonderful Cures

In the little hamlet OF Boulassiers. on the
Isle of Ofef0n, not far from La Rochelle,
lives Alphouse Montaut, IS years old, called
by some 1.-THE sorcerer," by others " one in
spired by God" No one contests his super
natural power. and if there be skeptics in the
hamlet, they have never manifest their in
credulity.
Alphonse is the youngest of nine Children
and although his brothers are of Herculean
proportions, he is delicate in appearance and
feeble in health.
Some months ago Boulassiers contained
only q few fishermen's huts and farm
Since Montaut has been known the number
OF visitors is so great that an inn and several
restaurants have been established. An ac-
| qualntance. who has just returned from
| OlerOn tells me that on the boat which
| crosses from La Rochelle and in the stages
| that take passengers from the steamrrto
| the different c0mmunes there IS but one
tonic CT nversati0n-MOntaat and his Won
| derful cures.
From La Rochelle to the island is a very
short distance, but while crossing l heard
OF at least twenty cases, each more remarka-
Die than the other among them, that OF
workman, who foi twenty gears mad been
helpless trCni rUtnatisuI, and at last his
7'ttellngs haf became so great that he could
1e5ber F2j H"5 sP Alter two or three
scaHces W p aiOa It he recovered the use
OF MS iIsiaf l33 cred no more.
Never dee Mons ut prescribe a medicine.
ais trea .ioeA simple, but his manner
1 IS lssIsts-ie.s ing room is IL q
! faTH. 81. ibeya sOne chair 1or a patif1ff
! aualheC ST himself A table and the NeSr
/ Testament are a hat one sees. The table
| IS usgless igr afaaiaat does not write, but
tie TestJ5ns ~ 5 evidently for the mise-eu-
! s1e1e MoEt5r looks at his visitor, tells
hifr tae Et.5 81 his disease, takes his
hhaGs, CT, 4 the malady be very grave,
PAGES his feet on those of the patient, anu
IN an imperious tone Of voice says, Go, yOn
| are healed"
And enc after the other they leave his
| presence, cured. or very much relieved, in
| the most difficult case. Complete cure is
| supposed 10 come after two or three seances.
Miracles are what these cures are called by
the peasants Montaut has no price for bis
healing, but accepts whatever is offered, be it
money, food or clothing.
Sometimes one is obliged TO wait bis turn
for hours before the door of the farmhouse
and the road for long distance is blocked
by wagons and vehicles of all kinds. The
part OF the country where M0ntaut lives has
never been SO prosperous. 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 discontinued
angry, call Montaut an impOstor, and send
for the gendarmes.
Only last week the gendarmes were sent
from Marennes to Oeron, but they saw, be-
lleved and went away, proclaiming the
power zof the healer. Other gendarmes
with stronger minds will be sent to Oleron
and Montant will be forbidden to work
miracles in the hamlet of Boulassiers. A
weapon that can be used against him is his
Illegal practice OF medicine In civilized
country no person without diploma has
the right to cure those afflicted with disease.
The peasants are nervous many of whom
have attacks OF hysteria, but the learned
judges do not see that Montaut only hvn-
notices and magnetizes. To the uninitiaied
1t seems mysterious that wilLpower can calm |
suffering, give strength to a paralyzed limb. |
But we are now accustomed to maryels that |
ten years ago were declared Impossible. |
wise men acknowledge what they cannotcy. |
plain, and these great physicians consciously |
accomplish IN Paris what the ignorant Mon |
taMt nnconsciously performs at Oleron.
Without doubt the peasant healer will be |
imprisoned as charlatan, but at the trial |
those whom he has healed will testify in his |
favor, and tbs judges will laugh at their |
credallty.. Jacob. the famous zouave. had |
Montaut He was a common soldier in Al
geria, and one day discovered that he nos |
ssessed the gift of healing. Coming to Paris
ne established himself in The Rue
de provence. and to him came those |
sIllic,ed Int IN a., every form. All were
Illegal practice of medicine. How did Won
cure them?" said his judges. 81 do not |
Know" humbly replied Jacob. as witness
after witness testified to bis wonderful snc.
cess. when he came out Of prison the Zou-
ave Jacob bought house in the avenue de
Ia S era no Armee, ralis, and with an income
OF $40, 600 year lives very quietly, and con-
graduates himself that no one has benefited
the human race more than the so-called sor
ceror.-Paris Letter to n. Y. World.