ain, shrewd, kindly face, to
those which were idealized until they bore a strong resemblance to the
conventional representations of Jesus of Nazareth. On making inquiries,
the writer found that these portraits represented Father Ivan, of
Cronstadt, a priest noted for his good works, and very widely believed
to be endowed with the power of working miracles.

One day, in one of the most brilliant reception rooms of the northern
capital, the subject of Father Ivan's miracles having been introduced, a
gentleman in very high social position and entirely trustworthy spoke as
follows: "There is something very surprising about these miracles. I am
slow to believe in them, but I know the following to be a fact: The
late Metropolitan Archbishop of St. Petersburg loved quiet, and was
very adverse to anything which could possibly cause scandal. Hearing
of Father Ivan's miracles, he summoned him to his presence and solemnly
commanded him to abstain from all of the things which had given rise to
his reported miracles, and with this injunction, dismissed him. Hardly
had the priest left the room when the archbishop was struck with
blindness and remained in this condition until the priest returned and
removed his blindness by intercessory prayers." When the present writer
asked the person giving this account if he directly knew these facts,
he replied that he was, of course, not present when the miracle was
wrought, but that he had the facts immediately from persons who knew all
the parties concerned and were cognizant directly of the circumstances
of the case.

Some time afterward, the present writer being at an afternoon reception
at one of the greater embassies, the same subject was touched upon, when
an eminent general spoke as follows: "I am not inclined to believe in
miracles, in fact am rather sceptical, but the proofs of those wrought
by Father Ivan are overwhelming." He then went on to say that the late
Metropolitan Archbishop was a man who loved quiet and disliked scandal;
and that on this account he had summoned Father Ivan to his palace and
ordered him to put an end to the conduct which had caused the reports
concerning his miraculous powers, and then, with a wave of the arm,
had dismissed him. The priest left the room, and from that moment the
archbishop's arm was paralyzed, and it remained so until the penitent
prelate summoned the priest again, by whose prayers the arm was restored
to its former usefulness. There was pre