The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-06-25
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(By ". B. Seabrook).

fee. in the Piazza jdl Spange, with
my elbow propped On table Uttered
with pamphlets advertising various
attractive excursions that could be
made in the neigElborhood of Rome,
such as a "Trip 10 Tivoli with Sig
more Tani, - "Aldng the Appian Way
IL Automobile" |"A Day among the
Alban Hills,' ct C., my eyes were sud-
denly arrested b y red-bound broch-
ure entitled:
4 LITTLE J OURNEY TO PUR-
GATORY. Personally Conducted by
Father Victor J6uet.
I thought it must be joke-book,
maybe carieaturist's concentrated
edition of Elbert Hubbard's "Little
Journeys to the Homes Of Great
Men" but no: it was sincere, albeit
friendly invitation to 60 to He'll; and
I went. Instead Of crossing the Styx
in Charon'S boat, I crossed the T1ber
in a ,ram-car. and instead of passing
through q gloomy vavern-like portal,
guarded by Carberus, I entered the IN
fernal regions via modern church IN
the vicinity Of the new city court
house. Doubtless [ am not the first
who has chosen a similar route to per-
dition.
Farther Jouet is priest who has
devoted his life to the collection OF
objects bearing marks and finger
prints Of alleged supernatural origin,
tending to show that purgatory is a
definite geographical spot IN the uni
verse and that the unhappy souls,
who have been plunged therein to eS-
pliote their sins, live literally in lake
of fire. These relics he has preserved
in a museum at No. II Lungo Tevere
Pratt. next door to the church above
mentioned: visitors are shown the
church first, as a sort Of preparation
for the extraordinary sights which are
to follow. It is decorated with Tres
Goes and paintings representing the
torments Of the lower regions, and
above the altar is q realistic pano-
rama illumined by red lights, showing
= sea of flames, in which men and wo-
men are struggling.
Twelve years ago, beside the altar
an event occurred which Father Jouet
and many, other Romans regard as
miraculous endorsement OF the
priests project to prove to the world
the material existence of purgatory.
One night at an hour when no one
was in the church, a candle fell from
the altar, setting afre some velvet
curtains; the blaze crept along the
wooden railing, anI finally spent it.
self against plaster wall where the
\ woodwork ended, without doing tur-
ther damage.
Next morning when Father Jouet
and his confreres discovered the ac-
cident, they set about at once to clear
away the ashes and have the place re-
paired. "This section Of the wall
Will have to be replastered, see how
curiously it has been discolored BY
the fire and smoke" remarked one
of the priests, and then suddenly
raised his hands in amazement to-
ward the stain.
The flames had traced picture on
the wall: Not a grotesque, phantas-
maceric, shadowy smoke-efect. re-
quiring an effort Of the Imagination
to desc5rn, but human face and tig-
ure outlined as clearly as if depicted
by the painters brush, an old man
clothed in red robe, wearing on his
head a bishops mitre, and standing
waist deep in flames.
"A soul in purgatory.' cried
Father Jouet.
And a bishop,'' whispered the
others.
That same morning Father Jouet
visited the Vatican and communleat-
ed his strange discovery to the Pope.
Now. as all the world knows, Leo
XIII wa, strong On natural sciences
and not much of believer in latter
day miracles, so he turned the matter
over to q committee Of eminent pant
ers for a cold. technical examination.
Tie artists readily admitted that 1t
was a real picture, and lost no time
III arriving at quite simple explana-
ton Of the phenomenon: it was an
old fresco. they said, representing
bishop or cardinal Of the early church
being burned at the stake as mar
tyr: it had been effaced by time, or by
a thin coat Of plaster or lite wash:
and the sudden heat coming. III con
tact with the wall had brought out