A SCANDAL AT ST. SULPICE.

Auckland Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2241, 12 May 1877, Page 3

A SCANDAL AT ST. SULPICE.

Tin-: spirit of practical joking, Avhieh is not of very old standing iv France, has of late been spreading with alarming rapidity, and has at last, assumed a form so repulsive as to call for the severest remedies (remarks the' Globe'). The last outrage reported from Paris is one whirh altogether passes the bounds of mere silliness, and displays a combination of malice and ingenuity in the perpetrators which may Avell discourage the friends of morality in the nation. * The story is told without comment by one of the papers, and indeed all comment, would be superfluous in so flagrant a case. It appears that a few days ago a lady avus proceeding to attend a Aveek-day service in the church of St. Sulpice. A" priest Avas saying low mass in one of the side chapels, when she entered the church, and Avifliout raising her eyes dipped her hand, according to custom, into the small font of holy water near the door. Hardly had she done so Avhen she was heard to utter a pier-ing shriek, and fell fainting against one of the pillars of the church. The service Avas interrupted and the small congregation hastened to the spot. The lady, lnlf unconscious, and in ajstate of mortal terror, Avas bewailing her fate, muttering that she Avas eternally lost, that her s>.is had been visited by a miraculous punishment, and that her hand Avas already glowing with tlic fires of the infernal regions. Her incoherent Avoids induced the bystanders at last to look at her hand, when'it Avas seen that one of the fingers Avas pierced by a small Avound. On the floor avus found a live crayfish, aud on examination two others were observed quietly walking about in the sacred water. The whole affair became instantly intelligible, but the lady Avas Avith difficulty disabused of her superstitious terrors. It is almost needless to say that all inquiries for the authors of this miserable jest have been fruitless. But it will not be forgotten that the church in question is in the vicinity of the students' quarter ; and the success'of this escapade is unfortunately only too likely to encourage other tricks of a similar kind.