The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-16
old ENGLAND.
As Sized Up by Or. Depew During
His Trip Abroad.
AN ALLEGED CURE AT LouRDEs
Proved Of Especial interest to
the Traveller.

New YORK, Sept. 16-Chauncey M. De-
pew, who arrived on the Paris, gives out
the following interview:
"The average English man or woman
will discuss any question OF religion or
politics, OF crecds or faiths, OF persons or
peoples, Of books or pictures, with cold
impartiality and absolute Indifference, but
mention home rule and I'm nine cases out
of ten you are whirling about In the be-
wildering epithets of a dancing maniac.
Substitute for those two terrible words
Mr.. Chamberlain's creative phrase: Lo-
cal self.government,' and you again have
with you philosophic friend.
"They give you on the Rhine steamers
Johannisberger or Stcinbergcr cabinets or
cheaper table wines as you may order.
though they have only one kind They
stick on liable after you have stated what
brand you want So In politics it is often
more matter of label than contents. and
phrase Is sometimes stronger than princi-
ple.
"A Conservative leader said 20 me: we
have won n great and rather embarrassing
victory without making pledge or prom
tse. We had no platform and no afiirma-
tive principles We simply assailed the
But while the Conservatives are safely
In power for six years, the Liberal Union
ist is already making matters uncomfort-
able for his Tory partner. A large pro-
gram for local self-governmont throughout
the United Kingdom, for a broad scheme
of state socialism or paternalism and
plans more or less vague for the benefit Of
what they call the laboring classes arc
maturing In the restless brains OF Mr..
Chamberlain and his friends and disturb
ing the rest and comfort of the true Con-
servatiye.
Scenes mt Lourdes.
"Being near Lourdes when in the Pyre-
nees / paid visit 10 this world-famous
shrine. AT night tho sights and scenes are
wonderful Thousands bearing torches
and singing hymns are marching over the
winding roads. Other thousands are on
their knees in the space around the grotto
praying, singingand imploring the Virgin
for help. Hundreds upon hundreds Of
candles flicker and fare In the grotto and
send a weird light upon the white-robed
statue Of the Virgin which stands just
above. In the afternoon vast procession
forms at the grotto and marches along the
river turning into the plaza. The sight of
these helpless and, except by miracle,
hopeless, men, women and children in
every stage Of distortion or living death Is
affecting beyond words TO express.
''As the procession moved down the line
Of wagons, halting and repeating these
supplications before each one, the excite
ment became painful in It's intensity The
patients grew frenzled with anxiety and
hope. The coolest and most Indifferent
man In the world could not have remained
unmoved. i have seen and felt similar
waves of emotion at camp meetings and
revivals, but they had not the added force
of this writhing mass Of praying, bescech-
ing aud despairing human sufferers.
"As was crossing the plaza after this
scene from one Of the dispensing wagons
heard my name called. IL was occupied
by lady, and was drawn by her son,
student at the College OF Physicians and
Surgeons in New York. She said that the
doctors at home had said that science and
skill could do nothing for her and she
must make herself as comfortable as pos
sible until the end, which was only few
months off. So she had come to Lourdes
with faith and hope. asked the grounds
Of her hopes, and she said; Why, a mira
Gle was performed this afternoon before
our eyes. Did you not see itS That was
the cause Of the great excitement.
wonderfui-If True.
"This was her story A young girl who
stayed at the same hotel as she did had
been unable TO walk or put her foot TO the
ground for six years She had suffered
frightful pain, and screamed with agony
when dipped in the icy water. She had
been bathed six successive days, and after
the procession passed that afternoon. had
called out that she was cured.
IL said to the medical student: What
do you know about thisH He said that he
had seen the knee bandaged at lp o'clock
that day. IL was swollen badly and he
counted 2S running sores from which the
matter was exuding in sickening way
told him must see that girl. The pill
grims were mobbing the veriflcatlon room
TO which she had been taken to see or
touch her, and the attendants We're doing
their best to keep them out and get them
away. My medical guide, with true New
York audacity called out: The dlstin-
Ruished doctor, Chauncey Depew, wants to
see the patient
Instantly way was cleared, and in a
few minutes was inside. The girl was not
there. having been carried home TO escape
the crowd. There was an English doctor,
and appealed to him. He said he had
dressed the leg az noon. 1t was swollen.
suppurating and incurabe; that he had
cut the bandagc off half an hour before
and the leg was healed. and the girl could
walk
II said must see that girl. finally
found young lady about IL years old,
with sweet, innocent, happy face She
told her story substantially as had heard
u, and that she had'bcen unable TO walk n
step in six years. / asked her IL she could
walk now, and she went several times
around the room, limping some, but with
no apparent pain. 1 then ventured to re-
quest u sight Of the knee. Her friends
said; Certainly The knee seemed quite
normal. The flesh and muscles wcre firm
and natural. Black spots marked the
places where the running sores had been,
but the sores were healed, and healthy
skin and scales covered them.
II have little faith in modern miracles,
but this case puzzled me. or course Its
voak rointa far as am Concerned IA