The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-12

Dy ear, ne possesses the dUllly 10 ~
peat any composition after hearing 1T
but once or twice. He is able to
repeat rag time as readily as state
ly waltz or classic composition. The
ability of the boy is most amazing,
and all who hear him play the piano
are impressed.
Not only is he able to repeat COM
positions. but he has been heard to inn
provise music of such striking tender.
ness and pathos as to bring tears to
the eyes of the listener.
The boys hands are entirely at home.
on the keyboard of the piano. and he
can touch a note in an instant without
feeling his way.
Marty is now nineteen years of age,
and he has not seen the light OF day
since he can remember In early in
fancy he was stricken with blindness
in a disease. Medical treatment was
of no avail, for all possible means were
employed to secure a restoration OF the
boys sight.
But if he has not had the common
advantage of the race he was endowed
with remarkable instinct When but
child he went about and engaged in
the same sports as his more fortunate
companions, his little sister, Annie,
however, being constantly at his side.
When he became old enough he was
sent away to the state school and
learned to read raised letters and per-
form other small feats taught at the
school. He was then taken from the
school for an interval, and it was then
that he was seen for several months
about the streets of st. Paul selling
papers with his little sister.
He was then sent back to the school
and has remained there ever since. He
is regarded as one of the brightest and
most intelligent pupils at the state
school, and his musical ability has
earned him a reputation.
Hears of ST. Anne.
One evening a few weeks ago Marty
and his little sister Annie were visit
ing at the home of a friend, and after
the boy played on the piano for While
conversation drifted to the cure of
blindness Marty was an eager listen
err. The shrine of ST. Anne de Beaupre
was mentioned, and a visitor who was
present told of how her uncle had been
miraculously cured of blindness at the
famous place. She had visited the
quaint village in the Canadian prov
ince and told of it's unique character.
st. Anne de Beaupre is village
within a few miles of the falls OF
Montmorenci, in the Ottawa river. The
village itself is small during most of
the year. During few months OF the
year, however, when the pilgrims come
by the thousands, it has changed as
pect The quiet streets are the scene
of throngs of manned and crippled peo-
pie, come to be cured Of their aff1ie-
tons. Hunchbacks, club feet, bow legs,
and all manner of deformities are to be
seen. Blind men led by attendants are
conspicuous In the throng. The streams
of afflicted hobble on crutches or limp
painfully along.
So many come to the little village to
visit the small church In which the
precious shrine and relic are kept that
it Is necessary to separate the arrivals,
giving each small group its turn to en-
ter the sanctuary. $500
When the cripples have their chance
they approach the church devoutly,
crawling up the steps to the entrance,
striking their heads against the stones
as they ascend They then progress to
the shrine of the Virgin Mary, to the
shrine Of the Savior, and then finally
to the shrine of st. Anne. Having COM
pleted the circuit they stop before the
latter shrine and gaze at the relic of
the sainted Anne de Beaupre, which
consists of one of the bones of her feet
That the shrine has miraculous
power is attested by a huge heap of
crutches and other implements used by
afflicted mortals to aid them in place
of God-giyen limbs. Hundreds of
crutches are to be seen in the collec-
ton and they represent cures of all
kinds.
Resolves to Make Pilgrimage.
Having heard this story Marty re-
solved to make a pilgrimage to the
shrine. Little Annie was eager to go
with him. The two have travelled to-
gether before and are ready to face the
difficulties of the long journey in hope
of regaining the sight of the boy.
Marty eagerly anticipates the outcome
of the trip Marty and his sister, An
ME Marie posed for T h e Clio b e s
photographer yesterday at their home,