The sun., 1896-06-21
TILLY-SUR-SEULLES VISION
THE FAMOUS APPARITION As SEEN
BY Il NEWSPAPER SkEPTIC.
He Views II for Ten Minutes and Hnveluus
tarily Dropped to His Knees-The Vision
Seen by Louise Poliniere.
From The London Standard.

as Seen by Louise PoIiniere.
From the London Standard.
Tho correspondent sent BY an Anglo-Amerf-
can journal published in Paris to Tilly-sur.
Seulles, with the object OF obtaining reliable
information concerning the apparitions alleged
TO have been witnessed there, and already re.
ported In the Standard, has visited the spot
where they generally take place. 1t is a field
of oats considerable portion of which is now
trodden down by the thousands Of persons who
have visited 1t.
On the first occasion the correspondent was
accompanied by NJ. Yon. well-to-do ironmons
ger of the village, holding an official position
among its Inhabitants and occupying the
post Of Municpal Councillor. who saw the appas
rition on the 9th of April. He Is mau of mid.
die age. in robust health, and although noms
inally Catholic, no great churchgoer. Accord.
ing to the correspondent referred to, his story
is that, rambling about, in o perfectly scepti.
cal framo of mind, in the afternoon on the field
in which tho Virgin had been reported TO have
been seen. he was suddenly aware of tho appa-
rition Of q figure, seemingly carved out Of gray
stone, which he at once. recognized as that Of
Our Lady. She held the infant Jesus on her left
arm, and wore a crown Of antique pattern. not
of any of the shapes usually given her in paint
ings or sculpture. but more tlara-shaped. being
higher In front and in the centre than toward
the sides.
He saw this vision for ten minutes. during
tho whole of which he regarded IL without
emotion of any sort. although he admits that
he was involuntarily forced upon his knees.
He further says that on tho evening Of tho
same day he suffered from physical illness. al
though not from mental trouble. So little
Ind this vision impressed him that on both oc-
spondent he is described as having Ing stood stood
Sa bis a h ne With his
even when most OF those present were on their
knees and praying aloud. and also when one
tion. Although a man Of some education and
OF exceedingly broad religious views. he Will
estson merey e eontenns hmsei seH %h
stating plainly what he himself saw. He has
not the sS. aRIaar0n 'San although he
The came correspondent has also examined
hoHse th t. S whom Sn. WAS made
eoAnt i. Of the impression she produced on himI
girl, hlacE-eyed and biac haired. snn.burned.
that she Is not OF the Norman peasant type,
M but wears an appearance not incGnsistsnt with
her mistress. SAYS she Is a good servant for her
age and size. The cure bears witness that she
comes regularly TO church. and that is all there
length. and found not the slightest trace Of
She is simple little peasant girl with more in:
telligence and wit than common. a fac. perhaps
due TO the alien blood which suspect TO DO
present in her veins.
'She told her story quite simply, with n
laugh at the expense OF Caen doctor who
frequently comes over to examine her, with
view TO declaring her mentally dcranged,
and who, she thought. would he looking in
Tomorrow to see II she had not turned into q
little boy in the mean time There is no non.
Virgin first while picking, up frewood in the
acld on tho afternoon OF tho "Wednesday in the
Holy Week. She declares that before tho
vision appeared she felt hersel: forced against
her will to the side OF tie field in whose h,lge
grows that now famous elm. Frightened and
sobbtns, she fell on her knees. and immediate-
" saw the figure OF Our Lady smiling at her
from beneath the tree. Sho pulled out her
beads and began To tell them. Tho Virgin
was iminovablc. made no communication to
heT and presently began TO disappear. Tho
girl says she has scou nppariton somo
twenty times since. but not always the same
accompanied by the infant Jesus at times
she appears crowned sometimes uncrowned,
on some occsasions Nearing n wreath OF roses,
IN others holding sceptre, sometimes carrying
q rosary, at other times with empty hands.
Most usually she wears the scmblance OF the
wel-known figure entitled The immaculate
tonccption.' On ono occasion Louise saw
hanging az, her side the figure of the dead
'hrIst with arms outstretchcd as though
nailed to the elm tree. Although since tho
first occasion. Louise does not experience any
mental fright. hor body inyoluntarily trem-
blcs, and on returning home she Is invariably
seized with uncomfortable fits OF weeping.
This docs not, she AYERS, arise from either feaR
sorrow: 1t is to her inpxDlicalle