LOUISE LATEAU.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 132, 12 November 1875, Page 13

LOUISE LATEAU.

Le Monde contains a very good article upon Louise Lateau, apropos of the recent investigation of her case made by the members of the Belgian Academy of Medicine. Dr. Warloniont the head of the commission, after having declared that the stigmas were really most wonderful and perfectly genuine, endeavored to trace their origin to natural causes. In doing this he utterly fails. The Monde cleverly observes that when Antiochus., the spoiler of the temple of Jerusalem, was overthrown and whipped by angels even to blood, it was not necessary to declare that Ms back ached considerably, but the statement gave no scientific explanation of the matter. It is not necessary to know that Louise Lateaai suffers, but what we want to be enlightened upon, is whether her malady is natural or supernatural. Dr. Warlomont says, the " stigmas are not produced by natural means," ergo they are produced by means beyond nature. It is all very well giving a higli sounding name to the malady and calling it " neuropathic stigmata," but what is required is a proof that it is " neuropathic stigmata," and this can only be given by a cure or its reproduction in some other human being by artificial means. Dr. Warlomont wants to assure himself that Louise does not eat. He will probably be allowed to verify the fact, but what will be the result of his examination ? In all probability he will only invent some new hard name for the malady, and as usual explain nothing. If Louise Lateau is an impostor, it must be said that she is an astonishingly patient one. What she can find worth her while to obtain by submitting her unfortunate person to galvanic batteries, leeches, cupping- glasses, etc., we cannot imagine. If she enjoys that kind of thing, her ideas of pleasant entertainment differ entirely from our own. She must be either an impostor or otheiwise. The scientific world of France and Belgium declare that she is not an impostor. What is she then ? Le Monde very emphatically asserts that she is only another of the many thousands of holy women who preceded her, and who, like herself, have been subject to supernatural visitations. — ' Catholic Review.'

The fetes in celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the episcopal consecration of Mgr. de Kettlei*, at Mayence, were very fine. The city was superbly decorated, and there was hardly a house without its special adornment. A large number of the higher clergy, of the nobility, and of the gentry took part in the celebrations, while the enthusiasm of the classes below that grade was something marvellous. Scarcely a citizen of Mayence dissented from the universal expression of joy manifested by the populace on this happy occasion. At Newry, lately, the fifteen hundred men connected with the confraternity of the Holy Family held up their medals and ribbons in. their right hands and solemnly promised " never again to drink in a public-house on Saturday nights or on Sundays." Those who have taken this vow are generally working men, and already the publicans are complaining of a great falling off in. business.