Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-02
A Crucifix in the Convent at Newport,
Belgium, Strangely Spared by the
Shells. An Example of Many
Occurrences That Simple
People Regard as
Miraculous.

ceiving and sending messages by other than
the familiar known methods OF communicate ton
Medical men are familiar With the physical
condition known as ''hyperesthesia, or excess
Of sensbility. This affection would naturally &C.
cur In an excessively violent degree under war
conditions. Men would then be attuned to
receive communications from those who had
passed away more keenly than at ordinary
times In considering this possibility we must
not forget that the unseen forces that break
through the veil that separates us from the
other world may be evil as we'll az good
We must also consider the evidence &C.
ceptcd by many high authorities that the mind
or personality or soul OF a man. whatever you
may call it, fingers in the vicinity OF his body
after his apparent death. 1t is impossible to
say at what moment death occurs. Medical
observation indicates that portions and organs
OF the body die one after another, sometimes at
considerable intervals, and there is no way OF
telling when the last faint flicker Of life de-
parts. After that there is reason for thinking
that the conscious spirit may linger for time
about tho body in the places familiar to 1t.
Where should We be more likely to find these
disemboded personalities than upon the bat.
tefeld? 1t Is an aweinspiring thought that
above these vast plains OF the dead there may
be lowering spirits hardly detached from their
mutilated but still palpitatng bodies, urging
and imploring their living comrades to avenge
them. -
In addition to the stories Of soldiers ghosts
and apparitions many other legends of a super
natural character have arisen in connection
with the war. One Of the most interesting OF
bert. town in Northern France. The Church
Of Notre Dame in this town was nearly shot to
pieces by German shells. Upon the ton of
the tower was statue Of the Blessed Virgin
holding the Infant Saviour in her arms 1t was
the most conspicuous object in the whole town,
A German she'll partly smashed the iron work
that held in place the pedestal Of the statue.
with the result that it fell into an extraordinary
position at right angles to the tower
1.-THE local French" says a correspondent of
the London Times. believe the day when tina
holy figures fall will sec the end OF the war"
Why the devout peasants should look for.
ward to the fall OF the holy figures as happy
omen seems at first hard to understand, but
probably they regard the fall as sacred atone
ment which will bring peace to humanity
Other sacred figures have been spared al.
most miraculously by the frightful storm OF
shells that has turned whole towns, built OF
stone with solidity unknown in America
into heaps Of rubbish At Newport, in the un
conquered area Of Belgium. a shell DESTROYED
one wall OF a convent, exposing the opposite
wall, on which lung immense cruxiaY
There were hundred chances to one that the
shelf would destroy any object in the position
OF the crucifiX, but the sacred emblem was
marvellously spared.
1t is interesting to record such episodes. If
only because they evidence the states OF mind
that are aroused by this war.