A PILGRIM MIRACULOUSLY CURED.

Dunstan Times, Issue 785, 4 May 1877, Page 4

A PILGRIM MIRACULOUSLY CURED.

—o Not lor" ago the French clerical papers published special telegrams announcing the miraculous cure of a pilgrim named Riviere. Tins poor fellow had suffered for many years from a complication of ills. He was afflicted with paralysis, ho had an ulcer in his left leg and lie was deaf and dumb and

half blind. Ho went down to Lourdes, and had no sooner drank of the “ Holy Waters ” of the shrine than ho was instantly and completely curcdof all ot his numerous defects; ho could onco more dance, sing, hear, and see as in his tender years. Tho miracle naturally made a great sensation and when the fortunate pilgrim returned homo to Maranes, in the Maino-et-Doiro ho became the subject of general attention especially on the part of the Church authorities, who kept him in clover for some time. Unfortunately there was a sceptical doctor in the neighborhood who desired to examine Riviere, and it was arranged that an examination should take place ; but on the day fixed for it the happy pilgrim was nowhere to be found. This sudden disappearance was about to be attributed to another miracle, when he unexpectedly turned up between a brace of gendirmes who had arrested him for s viudling. It then transpired, according to the man’s own confession, that he was a very old offender, and had feigned the aforesaid infirmities as used to be done in the notorious Coin* des Mir ides of former times, with the object of imposing on public credulity and charity ; in short he was a professional beggar. It must be confessed that his success was a miracle in its way.