ASLEEP FOR TWENTY YEARS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 8 July 1903, Page 50

ASLEEP FOR TWENTY YEARS.

AWAKES ONLY TO DIB

PARIS, May 28.

Marguerite Boyenval, of Theneiles, near Saint Quentin, who had been in a cataleptic state since May 21, 1883, awakened on Wednesday. For some time past she had been suffering from phtbieis, and it is believed that the effect of this malady on her system conduced to her reawakening. She moved her hand on Saturday for the first time and groaned slightly.

When Dr Charlier took hold oi her arm she said, "You are pinching me," and subsequently replied to questions by " Yes and "No."

. She waa, however, in a state of the greateat weakness, and gradually sank, dying yesterday morning at half-past 9. Marguerite Boyenval's lethargy was caused by fright. She had had a child, which died shortly after its birfh under circumstances which led to the opening of a judicial investigation. One day in May, 1883, while Marguerite was ironing, a neighbour said 'to her:

" The gendarmes are coming to arrest you I" Marguerite had a series of fits, and gradually fell into her long slumber. Marguerite Boyenval was about 36 years old, and was a simple French peasant giri, her mother being the wife of a mason, who abandoned her coon after marriage. A child was born to Marguerite in May, 1883. The babe died a few days later, and rumours were spread that she haa murdered it. The police -determined to investigate the matter, bfct Marguerite sank into her sleep before they began. Dr Charlier had charge of the case from the beginning. In 1896 the girl was described as being white as a statue and as corpselike as a mummy, her body wasted away almost to a skeleton, and her 'bones soemingf to be covered with parchment instead of skin. The body was rigid, and only the pulse beats showea that she was alive, Life was sustained by washing the eirl's body in milk every day and pouring a few drops of milk or spirits into the sleeper's mouth through a reed. The mother allowed anyone to see her for a email fee Many prominent physicians visited the patient during her 20 years' sleep.

[easnrementi : Length, 40in; oircu inference, between bay and tray, s}in; width, lB 1111 * 1 brew, 12in ; points, 6.6 in.

Daughter of the Mayor of Milton, who laid the foundation stone of the Milton Coronation Hall.

Measurements : Length, 42in ; circumference between bay and tray, sJin ; width, 37jin ; brow, 12Jin ; points, 9.7 in.

Measurements: Span, 87frin; length, 87in; girth of coronet, Him; between brow and tray, 9in; above tray, Sin.