The times., 1901-05-26
THE ORACLE OF THE CANDLES.
a Curious Incident During the Cars
Recent Illness.

From the New York Commercial Advertiser)
During the Illness of the Gar, some
time ago, very curious incident occurred
at the St Nicholas Church In st. Peters
burg which illustrates the superstiuous
character of lower-class Russians and
their faith in the icones, or images of the
saints.
A number of women went to the church,
knelt before the images of st. NicholaS
and prayed the saint to inform them, Dy
the "oracle of candles" how many years
the Emperor would I'VE
This is the manner of the oracle: Ihe
candles used are of such size that they
burn for two hours on the average FOR
a newly born infant a hundred candies
are lighted for an older person hun
dred minus his actual age in years. The
number of candles still burning after the
expiration of two hours is supposed TO
give the number of years of life yet IN
store for the person in question. The
Cars age being thirty-two, the pious
women lighted sixty-eight candles and
awaited the outcome in anxiety. When
the two hours had passed a cry of joy
rose from the kneeling throng, Tor nfty-
six candles remained alight, indicating
that the Gar would attain the ripe age
of eighty eight years
This incident recalls a similar one which
is alleged to have occurred a century ago
in France. Joseph ii of Austria, brother
of Marie Antoinette, visiting the French
court, was surprised to learn that neither
his sister nor her husband Louis XVI,
had visited the famous abbey of st. Denis,
the burial place of all the Kings OF
France The Austrian Emperor proposed
a nocturnal visit incognito, and the three
royalties, with the PrinceSse de Lambelle,
presented themselves at the abbey at /
o'clock in the morning. Word had been
sent to have the abbey in readiness 10
receive some foreign visitors and the
prior shrewdly suspected that the Aus
trian Emperor was one of them, but was
immensely surprised to recognize their
French majesties in the party. The VS.
itors were conducted through the abbey
and the catacombs of MerovinSians, car
lovingians. and the Capetans were pointed
out to them to the horror of all but Jo-
seph IL, who was used to the same sort
of thing at home.
Passing an open door leading to a
lighted descending staircase the Emperor
asked what lay beyond, and was informed
that the passage led TO the crypt contain
ing the bones of the Bourbon Kings Inc
Emperor insisted tpon visiting the crypt
At the foot of the staircase the way was
found barred by G long, narrow object
covered by black velvet pail, on which
were embroidered the arms of France;
with tears, feurs De lis, double LIS ana
crowns. -,
What is thIs?" the King asked. The
prior answered: :,
"The cotIin of YOUR Majesty's immedi-
Grated era usage the Body of the last King
remains at the foot Of these stairs untll
| the arrival of his successor. You see
this chandelier The number OF IT'S amps
| is equal to the number of years of the
Kings reign. They. are kept lighted day
and night, and great calamity would
| befaIl should they, be extinguished:
| AT this moment q sudden gust OF WIND
extinguished most of the lamps. only
seventeen remained burning. This was In
| the year I776. There was cry OF horror
Ifrom the visitors The. queen threw hSr-
| self into the arms of her husband; %no
| led her away, while the Emperor oodliy
ga rried Nine de Iambelie, who had tainIr
| ed. There was little conversation during
| the drive back to Paris Seventeen added
/ to 1776 gave the fatal date-li95.
| this sort is that they always appear dIter
| the catastrophe, never before. Ihis one
| was not heard Of until long after the ReV-
| olution but it is interesting, neVertheIess-