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say that extreme age and exposure to the smoke of countless altar…
candles have caused that change in complexion which the more naive
fathers of the Church attributed to the power of an Egyptian sun〃；
but the writer ruthlessly disposes of this supposition by pointing
out that in nearly all the instances of black Madonnas it is the
flesh alone that is entirely black； the crimson of the lips； the
white of the eyes； and the draperies having preserved their original
colour。 The authoress of the article （Mrs。 Hilliard） goes on to
tell us that Pausanias mentions two statues of the black Venus； and
says that the oldest statue of Ceres among the Phigalenses was
black。 She adds that Minerva Aglaurus； the daughter of Cecrops； at
Athens； was black； that Corinth had a black Venus； as also the
Thespians； that the oracles of Dodona and Delphi were founded by
black doves； the emissaries of Venus； and that the Isis Multimammia
in the Capitol at Rome is black。
Sometimes I have asked myself whether the Church does not intend to
suggest that the whole story falls outside the domain of history；
and is to be held as the one great epos； or myth； common to all
mankind； adaptable by each nation according to its own several
needs； translatable； so to speak； into the facts of each individual
nation； as the written word is translatable into its language； but
appertaining to the realm of the imagination rather than to that of
the understanding； and precious for spiritual rather than literal
truths。 More briefly； I have wondered whether she may not intend
that such details as whether the Virgin was white or black are of
very little importance in comparison with the basing of ethics on a
story that shall appeal to black races as well as to white ones。
If so； it is time we were made to understand this more clearly。 If
the Church； whether of Rome or England； would lean to some such view
as thistainted though it be with mysticismif we could see either
great branch of the Church make a frank； authoritative attempt to
bring its teaching into greater harmony with the educated
understanding and conscience of the time； instead of trying to
fetter that understanding with bonds that gall it daily more and
more profoundly； then I； for one； in view of the difficulty and
graciousness of the task； and in view of the great importance of
historical continuity； would gladly sink much of my own private
opinion as to the value of the Christian ideal； and would gratefully
help either Church or both； according to the best of my very feeble
ability。 On these terms； indeed； I could swallow not a few camels
myself cheerfully enough。
Can we； however； see any signs as though either Rome or England will
stir hand or foot to meet us？ Can any step be pointed to as though
either Church wished to make things easier for men holding the
opinions held by the late Mr。 Darwin； or by Mr。 Herbert Spencer and
Professor Huxley？ How can those who accept evolution with any
thoroughness accept such doctrines as the Incarnation or the
Redemption with any but a quasi…allegorical and poetical
interpretation？ Can we conceivably accept these doctrines in the
literal sense in which the Church advances them？ And can the
leaders of the Church be blind to the resistlessness of the current
that has set against those literal interpretations which she seems
to hug more and more closely the more religious life is awakened at
all？ The clergyman is wanted as supplementing the doctor and the
lawyer in all civilised communities； these three keep watch on one
another； and prevent one another from becoming too powerful。 I； who
distrust the doctrinaire in science even more than the doctrinaire
in religion； should view with dismay the abolition of the Church of
England； as knowing that a blatant bastard science would instantly
step into her shoes； but if some such deplorable consummation is to
be avoided in England； it can only be through more evident leaning
on the part of our clergy to such an interpretation of the Sacred
History as the presence of a black and white Madonna almost side by
side at Oropa appears to suggest。
I fear that in these last paragraphs I may have trenched on
dangerous ground； but it is not possible to go to such places as
Oropa without asking oneself what they mean and involve。 As for the
average Italian pilgrims； they do not appear to give the matter so
much as a thought。 They love Oropa； and flock to it in thousands
during the summer； the President of the Administration assured me
that they lodged； after a fashion； as many as ten thousand pilgrims
on the 15th of last August。 It is astonishing how living the
statues are to these people； and how the wicked are upbraided and
the good applauded。 At Varallo； since I took the photographs I
published in my book 〃Ex Voto；〃 an angry pilgrim has smashed the
nose of the dwarf in Tabachetti's Journey to Calvary； for no other
reason than inability to restrain his indignation against one who
was helping to inflict pain on Christ。 It is the real hair and the
painting up to nature that does this。 Here at Oropa I found a paper
on the floor of the Sposalizio Chapel； which ran as follows：…
〃By the grace of God and the will of the administrative chapter of
this sanctuary； there have come here to work ； mason ；
carpenter； and plumber； all of Chiavazza； on the twenty…first
day of January 1886； full of cold （pieni di freddo）。
〃They write these two lines to record their visit。 They pray the
Blessed Virgin that she will maintain them safe and sound from
everything equivocal that may befall them （sempre sani e salvi da
ogni equivoco li possa accadere）。 Oh； farewell！ We reverently
salute all the present statues； and especially the Blessed Virgin；
and the reader。〃
Through the Universal Review； I suppose； all its readers are to
consider themselves saluted； at any rate； these good fellows； in the
effusiveness of their hearts； actually wrote the above in pencil。 I
was sorely tempted to steal it； but； after copying it； left it in
the Chief Priest's hands instead。
ART IN THE VALLEY OF SAAS ｛11｝
Having been told by Mr。 Fortescue； of the British Museum； that there
were some chapels at Saas…Fee which bore analogy to those at
Varallo； described in my book 〃Ex Voto；〃 ｛12｝ I went to Saas during
this last summer； and venture now to lay my conclusions before the
reader。
The chapels are fifteen in number； and lead up to a larger and
singularly graceful one； rather more than half…way between Saas and
Saas…Fee。 This is commonly but wrongly called the chapel of St。
Joseph； for it is dedicated to the Virgin； and its situation is of
such extreme beautythe great Fee glaciers showing through the open
porticothat it is in itself worth a pilgrimage。 It is surrounded
by noble larches and overhung by rock； in front of the portico there
is a small open space covered with grass； and a huge larch； the stem
of which is girt by a rude stone seat。 The portico itself contains
seats for worshippers； and a pulpit from which the preacher's voice
can reach the many who must stand outside。 The walls of the inner
chapel are hung with votive pict