Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1892-09-22
THE CANTON WINDOW.
The New York Herald Makes
Some Investigation of the
Mystery.
The Theory of the Polarization
Of Light--More Than One
Picture Seen.

man and a woman in the center.
quite distinct a child on the left and
another figure on the right.
About half an hour after entering
the church the picture vanished. anG
that 0fa plump rosyeheeked little
girl appeared. Isaw the eye grow
dim and about half All hour later il
appeared 10 De the picture Of full
grown woman, with a child al her
right II retained the latter form
until / left at 6 p m
] examined the window carefully
on the inside. and could find nothing
but a plain fat glass, which was per
fectly clear. There Is DO possible
chance for a shadow TO be cast on the
glass from the inside, a you may
cover the whole window and the ap-
pezranoe on the outside VIII not be
affected il the least
I~conversed With many persons dur
ing the day and each one had his own
views on the subject On TUESDAY a
travelling man asked permission TO
wash the picture from the glass, feel
ing sure that he could Co So The
permission was freely granted, but az
ter scrubbing for nearly an hour The
travelling man desisted- He is now a
half convert 10 the belief that the
picture is the result Of a miracle.
In Canton itself and the vicinity
this is the belief generally enter
tanned The people have seen a num-
Der Of marvellous cures by simply
touching or looking al the glass, and
as no satisfactory explanation Of the
presence Of the picture has Yet been
youehszfed, notwithstanding the
many offered, the belief Is only
natural
a visit was paid to the ehunsh by
one Of Bishop Cotters priests, who
came al the request Of the bishop
himself. The priest IS a man Of con-
siderable scientific learning. and after
carefully examining the glass said
that 70 him it appeared a. though
the picture was the efectofmOlecular
polarization. He said that in ali
probability while the glass was being
cast. 5 party similar TO that in the
picture stood by. and in such a posi-
ton that their image was reflected on
the glass The effect Of the suns
rays during the ten years the glass
has been in the dome Of the Catholic
church at Canton served 70 bring the
picture out
The above is the MOSt scientific and
satisfactory explanation yet offered,
but even il viii rot stand water whea
il Is remembered that the picture i
not always the same, but that at
some times il Is that Of party Of
four and again al other times shows
only two persons The really EniTac-
ul0us cures that haveapparently been
brought about by il, also. cannot be
thrown aside too lightly The story
Of the appearance as related is about
as follows:
On Saturday afternoon, July %,
1852 mass was held in the church as
usual. being concluded about4o'clo-k
After it was oyeF the priest, Father
Jones. left the church and went TO
his residence. About half an hour Of
instruction was then given 10 the
younger children. when they went 10
their homes, with the exception OF
two small girls. q Of whom was
Lorinia Lzum, the daughter Of ]. G.
Laum, the one saloon keeper OF the
place They stayed in the church a
little longer than the remainder OF
the children, and it is now presumed
must have suddenly caught 4 glimpse
Of the picture
At any rate, a few minutes later
Father Jones was surprised by their
rushing into his room, sobbing
zfrightedly and stating that they
had cen something very queer in the
church Father Jones endeayored to
get an explanation from them, but al
last decided TO visit the church and
find out for himself what was the
matter.
The three therefore again entered
the church and the picture was
pointed out TO the priest The win
dow On which it appeared is situated
directly in the dome Of the church
and consists Of round glass about
two feet in circumference. 1t Is Of
| clear glass, about an eighth OF an incl
in thickness. ard. in fact, OF common
everyday glass
Father Jones says that the glass i:
the same one which was put in the
church at the time of its oonstruc
tion, and that he knows no change
has been made. Other members Of
the congregation agree with him, and
say that the glass has become too
familiar for them TO be mistaken.
4 report is being spread in Cantor
By those who affect no belief in the
phenomenon that il is scheme or
the part Of Father Jones and J. g
LaIm, the saloon keeper, 10 reyiy,
interest in thu church. 1t is related
that about ayear ago a controversy
arose which ended in a dissension o.
the members of the church. Laun
had been elected TO a high position BY
Father Jones, and some OF the con
gregation, believing in temperance
objected. Their objection was MOI
needed, however, and several mem
bers left the church. Their example
has been followed by Others. and tbs
church at present has not nearly tn,
standing which il had two years ago
IT is reported that on this account
Father Jones and Lalm in some va,
brought aboEt the appearance Of tbs
picture. In Canton but few credit
this story, but il serves TO show JUS
how the matter is viewed.
Wedding Trip In Balloon.
So