MR MILNER STEPHEN.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3642, 15 March 1883, Page 4

MR MILNER STEPHEN.

Writing about Mr Milner Stephen, the Chvistchurch Telegraph of 10th instant Sll ys .-—"Those who attended the first public" exhibition of Mr Milner Stephen's so-f.-itlled healing powers at the Academy of Music, in this city, will probably call to mind a cases which* ho enumerated amongst others, and spokeof in thefollowing words:— "That very morning a young lady was brought to'hiin, 13 years of age, who had been'ten years with her foot three inches from the "ground, and, in the presence of eight people, he instantaneously lengthened her leg so that he could not slip a card under her foot as she stood upon theground." Tiie particulars of the case, as announced by the great magician, were thoroughly correct in every particular with the exception of the result, as though professedly cured, the one chiefly interested, the unfortimate patient, was and has been ever since unconscious of the fact. The young lady referred to is the d'ui"-ht'-T of Mr Col Her, of the Royal George Hotel, East Belt. The father gives the following particulars of this extraordinary 'perfect euro : '—' Hearing that Mr Stephen was reputed to heal a! I manner of diseases, and my daughter Isabella having suffered for years with contracted leu , , through paralysis, 1 interviewed him relative- to the date on which he would treat my child. On my tclb'ng 3lr Stephen the nature of my daughter's sufferings, he at once said, ' 1 can cure her instantly. 1 have had several cases of a similar nature, which I have treated most successfully.' An appointment was made for the followin o- morning, and, in company with my wife, 1 took my daughter to Mr Stephen's private rooms. As there appeared sonic probability of ouv having to wait in consequence of tho number of patients present I took occasion to go into the city, leaving the child and her mother in the room. On my return, Mr Stephen immediately Said on"my entnince, ' Oh, Mr Collier, I have made a perfect cure of your daughter.' I said, 'Thank God.' _My daughter, who was seated in a chair, smiled, and as my wife said nothing I thought it was right. Mr Stephen then produced *a book, which he recpicsted mo to sign, as he said he liked patients or friends of all those cured to give their signature to that_ effect. On the spur, of tho moment, as ray wife and daughter intimated nothing to the contrary. I appended my name to his patients' book. Mr (Stephen then said. ' I treated a similar case btrfoiv, and the father of the child was so pleased that ho took a diamond ring oil' his finyer and presented it to me, besides tho usual fee.' Ho also added, after I had paid him :his fee of two guineas, ' If you were a rich man I should expect you to make me a handsome present.' I told him that I was not very rich, but I should not mind •rivhiy him uO guineas if my daughter was completely cived. He then gave me some magnetised oil and water, with directions forits use, and told me to bring him the child on a subsequent occasion.. On my daughter rising from the chair to leave, I noticed that she walked, as usual, with great difficulty, and drew Mr Stephen's attention to the fact. He said, ' She is perfectly cured, but it will take some days for the oil to soften the muscles of the leg.' Having said that it was my intention to briny my daughter to him at Wellington, as I heard he was not coming here, he said —' Do you think with the great healing power I* have received from on High that I would pass by Christchurch, and leave the afflicted to suffer r On the second occasion my wife, with my daughter, interviewed Mr Stephen, who again said my daughter was cured. Not feeling satisfied I took niy dauirhter a third time, and, after waiting Eomu time, Mr Stephen came to my child and said, ' What is the matter with you, my dear:' She told h ! m that she was su'ffcring from a shortened leg. He then passed his hands up and down the affFeted limb, and said to her ' You are perfectly cuml.' I asked him how many times did it take to peii'onn a perfect cure. He said • only once.' I then said, ' Don't you know my daughter has been here before '? He said 'No.' I asked him if he remembered, and he again replied in the negative. On 3jij- irivinjj" my cliiufjhte-r's name, lie referred to* the bouk, and said ' Oil, I recollect; this is the first case I treated.' Seeing_ my datitrhtcr was no better, I then gave him a small piece of my mind."