News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1892-11-03
is 1T A MIRACLE ?

IS 1T A MIRACLE?
IF NOT, HOW DO YOU ACCOUNT FOR 1T ?
PICTURES WHICH HAVE DRAWN THE
ATTENTION OF THOUSANDS WHO WON
DER WHETHER THEY CAN BELIEVE
THEIR OWN EYES.
The following is taken from the
Chicago Saturday Blade, and is pub
lished by request. We have no
doubt that the article has been high
ly colored by the sensational report
er; yet it will be read with interest.
The letter which follows the article
is from a p. o. clerk at that place, in
reply to an Inquiry concerning the
miracle"
CANTON, Mimi, Sept. 20. - The
Blade correspondent has visited this
city, which has during the last month
become the religious Mecca of the
Northwest. The place is being Wis
tied daily by hundreds of people from
all parts ofthe Northwest, and travel
ers getting as far west as st. Paul in
many instances take a day off to see
the place and find out for themselves
what truth there is in the story of a
picture of the Holy Virgin with a
child in her arms having been formed
Oh one of the window-panes in the
Catholic church.
The picture is there, as everyone
who has looked for it will admit, and
according to the stories circulated
by the good people of Canton its pre-
sence cannot be accounted for by
other than miraculous means.
1t is a very impressive picture.
Your correspondent visited the place
when services were being held in the
church, which is in charge OF Father
d. Jones, an oldish man probably 80
years of age. He has had charge oi
the church ever since it's inception,
some ten years ago.
Immediately on approaching the
| building the picture was beheld. Il
| appeared to be that of -four persons
| a man and "a woman in the center
quite distinct; a child on the left, i
| the woman's arms, and another fig
ure on the right. The latter was in
| distinct.
About an hour after entering tb'
church the picture vanished and thai
of a plump, rosy-cheeked little gir
appeared. The Blade correspondent
saw the eyes grow dim, and about
half an hour later it appeared to bC
the picture of full-grown woman
with a child at her right. 1t retain
ed the latter form for several hours
until 6 D. IN. The peculiarity of the
picture seems to have escaped the no
tice of the newspaper correspondents
who have been sending out accounts
of the picture and the miraculous
cures which a glance has effected, but
the writer can vouch for its accuracy
as it was witnessed by over hundred
other people. People living in Can
ton say that the changes are quit
frequent.
The window was carefully eXamin
ed on the inside, but nothing but
plain fiat glass could be found, whicl
was perfectly clear. There is no pos
sibIe chance for shadow to be cas-
on the glass and thus form the pic
ture, as the whole window may b
covered and the appearance on tn
outside is not changed.
A great many persons were conveI
sed with during the day, but each ol
fered his own views on the subJecl
On Tuesday travelling man aske
permission to wash the picture fror
the glass, feeling sure that he coul
do so. The permission was freel
granted. but after scrubbing for neal
" an hour the drummer desisted, a
!, his washing had no effect. He is no.
almost q convert to the beliefthat th
picture is the result of a miracle.
In Canton itself and vicinity this
, the belief generally entertained, an
: with much reason. They have see
n number of miraculous cures effecte
by simply touching or looking Q
the glass, and as no satisfactory e.
r PLANTATION of the presence has -y'
p been vouchsafed, notwithstandin
the many offered, their belief is bI
] natural. A visit was paid to ii
/, church recently by one OF Blsho
e Cotter's priests, who came at the o
hest of the Bishop himself. III
). priest is a man of considerable scie
Q ti6c attainment, and after careful
f examining the glass said that 1T a
o peared to him as though the pictu
r was the affect of molecular polarlz
e ton.
& He stated that, in all probablllt
: while the glass was being cast,
n party similar to that in the pictu
o stood by, and in such a posltlC
II that their image was reflected
o. the glass. The effect of the sur
d rays during the ten years the gla
is has been in the dome of the Catho
church at this place served to brll
the picture out. j..
is The above is the most sclentl
+ and satisfactory explanation th
/, has vet been offered, but it is shi
ID tered when it is remembered that {
or picture is not always the same; tn
ne while at times it is a party OF fo'
ID at other times it shows only two p
ne sons.
nt The really miraculous cures tn
is have been Drought dpOuo Wy ~ ~, -
n. cannot be entirely ignored. 1
nd story of the appearance is about
a follows:
n: On Saturday afternoon, July
or 1892, mass was being held in
MT church as usual, being concluC
la about ) o'clock. After it was o
ch the priest, Father Jones, left
bv church and went to his resider
nd About half an hour of instruct
he was then given to the younger c
dren, after which they went to tl
ly. homes, with the exception OF I
dis small girls, one of whom was Law
he Laum, daughter of j. G. Laum,
me one saloon-keeper of this place. II
yer stayed in the church little Ion
is than the rest of the children and