New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-25
ala INFANTITA."
4 MIRACLE-WORKING DOLL OF MEXICO-
IT HAS A COSTLY SHRINE WHERE
PERSONS OFFER UP PRAYERS.
From The City Of Mexico Two Republics.

From The City Of Mexico Two Republics.
few days ago a coach containing priest
and assistants carrying a mOnstrance. who were
on their way 10 dying person 10 administer the
service the Church renders to the dying. Tel!
into ditch. horses and all. The excavation was
a very deep one. and the fall one which would
generally be considered fatal. but driver ard
passengers escaped without hurt. the coach
not injured 20 speak Of. and the horses. al
though they had TO remain for hours in the
water exposed to the danger Of drowning. are
said to be in a fair way TO complete recovery.
There is story connected with this apparently
miraculous escape which Is well worth telling.
incredible though it may appear to many. The
coach was a private turnout. and had prac-
ticaily never been used before. 1t had been inn
ported at a considerable expense by a wealthy
family. and was lent for the occasion because
the wife Of the owner had expressed "A wish that
the first use OF the coach should be used To con
Yey the blessings 0f the Church to some one who
stood in the greatest need Of IT, But 70 tell the
story so as 10 be fully understood. il will be
necessary to go back considerable time.
There lives in the southern part II Mexico. in
IA street not far from the National Library.
maiden lady Of great personal piety. whose mod
est home has become "A shrine for many Of the
most prominent Mexican people including high
ministers Of The Church. not on her own ac-
count. however. but because she is the owner ~
a wonder working image. which is the object uf
as fcrvcnt alteration as is bestowed on the
miraculous painting Of the Virgin IN Guada-
lupe Church. This image i one Of the little dolls
rrprcSe ntng the Nrglr Mary. which are fNNni
IN nearly every Mexican household. and pArtlcu-
larry in the apartments occupied by the fem
mime members II the family. II was given -
the present owner many years ago Ivy nun
who taught hey IN convent school. Strange 20
say. the nun does not seem to have been at all
aware II the miraculous power possessed 10y
this image formed lay human Lands. for II Il re-
lated that she was surprised 1T her pupil mod
,sty. when of all the nice things offered her 10
choose "A present from. she would have none. but
asked instead for the doll. which lay. forgotten
ard neglected. in the closet 81 the nuns cell.
Tho girl however. felt herself wonderfully at
tached ia The clay image. and bestowed upon II
All the devotion ~ her young nature. Her dcvo-
ton. indeed. became so exclusive that she be
came different from other g1is u her age. and
positively refused 10 b" woo"d and won. which
would have been no difficulty. as she vas com"ly
20 look upon and belonged 10 a well-to-1o fam
lis How she eyer b"camc acquainted with the
fact that the image she So highly cherished was
more than an ordinary doll and gifted with tn"
power 60 answer prayers addressed To H. The
present writer has not learned. but u Is under
stood that the present reputation 4 The image
has been earned 10y years Of wonder working Il
is looked upon by many p.opl" who 10y no means
belong - the classes generally suspected II TX
nOrauCc and superstition as IN" most ''hri'nt
repr, sentative II divine power On earth ana a
prayer 10 H.. "Iufar'l'a." as he doll ls ieF'r-
entity called is considered a. efficient a7 fh'
alteration " any . tn established wonder
working shrinc- that have tho cXpr'ss authority
II the Church
LOANED TO THE FAITHFUL.
During Tho % ginning II The ca'""r = ,he
image IFS oW-er would lend 10 - thpsr who irli
IN need u mir lculouf interference "a "a" course
II nature. fl ls claimed that ihr pf"s"urr ~
ia. image IN q sickr,om rarely failed - bring
recovery TO those whom The physicians had lc-