The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-07
a FRENCH sORCRRER.
Hvpnotism z mong the Peasants
Causes Some Wonderful Cures.
From the New York World

Causes Some Wonderful Cures.
From the New York World.
In the little hamlet of Boulassiers, on the
lie of O!eron. not far from La Rochelle. in
France, lives Alphonse Montaut, is years
old, called by some "the sorcerer," by others
lone inspired by God" No one contests
his supernatural power, and if there be
sceptics in the hamlet, they never manifest
their incredulity.
Alphonse Is the youngest Of nine chill
dren, and although his brothers are of Her
culean proportions he is delicate in apear-
ance aud feeble in health.
Some months ago Boulassiers contained
only a few fshermen's huts and farm
houses. Since Montaut has been known the
number of visitors is so great that an inn
and several restaurants have been estab-
lished. An acquaintance 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
steamer to the different communeS there is
but one topic of conyerSation-Montaut and
his wonderful cures.
From La Rochelle to the island is very
short distance, but while crossing | heard
of at least twenty cases, one more remark
able than tie other. Among them, that of
a workman, who for twenty years had been
hSipASSS Alphi luu lttSU III
sufferings had become so great that he
could neither eat nor sleep. After two or
three seances with Montaut he recovt red
the use of his limbs and suffered no more
Never does Montaut prescribe medicine.
His treatment IS simple, but his manner
is mysterious. His consulting room is in a
farm house. There is one chair for the
patient, another for himself. A table and
tue New Testament are all that one Sees
The table is useless. for Montaut does not
write, but the testament is evidently for the
miseen-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 lent. and
in an imperious tone of voice says, go, you
are healed I
And one after the other they leave hisE
presence, cured, or very much relieved in
the most difficult case. Complete cure is
supposed to como 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
1t money, food or clothing.
Sometimes one is obliged to wait his 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 Montaut lives
has never been so prosperous. Once the
people only existed; now they live.
However, there are grumblers to DO found
everywhere and some of those who come
from afar to be cured return discontented,
angry, call Montaut an impostor and send
for the gendarmeS.
Only last week the gendarmes were sent
| from Marennes to Oleron, but they saw
| believed and went away proclaiming the
power Of the healer. Other gendarmes.
with stronger minds, will be sent to Oleron
| and Montaut will be forbidden to WORK
ronlac in, thn hn, OF -
| weapon that can be used against him is his
| illegal practice of medicine. In civilized
| country no person without diploma ha,
| 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 hypno-
| tizes and magnetizes. To the uninitiated il
seems mySteri JUS that will power can calm
| suffering, give strength to paralyzed limb.
But we are now accustomed to mArvels
that, ten years ago, were declared impossi-
| bic; wls9 men acknowledge what they can
not explain, and these great physicians con-
sciously accomplish in Paris what the TO-
norant Montaut unconsciously performs at
Oleron.
| Without doubt the peasant healer will bs
imprisoned as charlatan, but at the trial
those whom he has healed will testify in his
favor, and the judgeswill laugh at their
| creduhty. Jacob, thefamous zouave had
an experience almost similar to that of
Moutaut. He was a 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. 81 do
not know" humbly replied Jacob, as wit
ness after witness testified to his wonderful
success. When he came out of prison the
Zouave Jacob bought house in the Avenue
de la Grand Armee, Paris, and with an in
come OF $4,000 a year lives very quietly
and congratulates himself that no one has
benefited the human race more than the So
called sorcerer.
| RAnnNrrrr A rrrr-. q