New-York tribune., 1901-10-27

ana herbert Vivian sYo PIP. xvi, S04. Long
In this collection Of entertaining articles
parity reprinted from various English period
tcals, Mr.. Herbert Vivian and his wife have
described a number of interesting and little
known features Of religious observance from
various byw2ys Of eligous culture There is
no attempt 10 do more than give amusing and
picturesque accounts CT quaint scenes, and of
the glEnpses they afford into the habit of mind
Of the people. Mr.. Vivian has travelled widely
and seen many things, and these pages from his
notebooks bring before Us many picturesque and
Strange outcroppings Of the religious impulse
IN humanity.
The LEGAL cbservances and the reverence for
local relies IN the Catholic Church myriad.
There is certainly more charming and
naive than that for the little doctor" in Rome
at Christmas ti-ae-ar observance all the more
joyful and Eirscrle for the season and the fact
that il is peculiarly chilGren's festival. The
little doctor is tie wooden image of the Barn-
bino, Christ child, supposed to have been
cared from tree on the Mount Of Olives. On
January II IS displayed in its own special
chsPeI 81 the Ara Coel Church, and the people
tbrcng TO it fer tie cures It is repCted to work
a peculiar feature CT the occasion is the ser
mons delivered then in the church by children
sermons. Of course prepared for them by friendly
priest or num- but delivered the intense salts
fao-icn CT their parents:
Much as they love the Bambino, it is always |
the Virgin who claims most OF their sympathy |
The tears start TO their eyes and they shudder |
dramatically they talk Of the poor poor |
Madonna and what suffering she must go |
thrcllgh later on. Suddenly, in the midst OF a
sermon the little preacher Will drop on her |
knees, clasp her hands shut her eyes tight, ana |
nurInur prayer. Then all at once up she oops
again and resumes her discourse with renewed |
possessed than the boys. who generally forget |
everything they meant TO say, and stand smil- !
ing Yacanty at their audience.
The Bambino who is a gorgeously decorated |
little person with Italian baby face, goes
out sometimes three or four times day 10 visit |
sick patients He travels in a magnificent satin |
lined case, but, alas, the splendor Of his estate |
at the beginning Of the last century is much |
reduced Then he had a civil Hst-for he was a |
rrince-and his own stables, carriages and
horses: but now he must be sent for in an
ordinary carriage; and this diminution Of his
state is said 10 have had unfavorable effect
upon the pageant loving Italian populace. An
other remarkable Roman image is the Madonna
Of SAINT Agostino the recipient Of countless
votive offerings from people who have been
cured by its power, and have loaded it down
with jewelry. The great Black Virgin Of Atocha,
in Madrid has her own court, chamberlains and
attendants with the Queen for her first lady in
waiting, and great and magnificent wardrobe,
which she frequently changes. From time i'm
memorial the Queens Of Spain have given her
their wedding dresses. Our Lady of LoretO is
another magnificently endowed parsonage,
carved by Saint Luke, and dwelling in chapel
filled with the offerings Of the faithful for five
centuries and decorated by Veronese, Guido and
Raphael. II IS a far cry from these to the
tishermen's Virgin at Arcachon. in dark room
of the little village church, clad in white muslin
and surrounded with thank offerings in the
shape of lifebuoys boat models and that
have saved the lives Of the grateful worshippers
but the devotion and the trust are equally
shaken.
The Spanish love for display and devotion to
religious ceremonial find impressive embodi-
Tnent in the various festival and other outdoor
processons-the Holy Week procession in Sc
vile being what the Eivians call the most
elaborate expression CT Christian ritual to be
found anywhere in the world The numerous
religious confraternities participate in this with
groups of images prepared for the purpose
gorgeous and realistic tableaus, with life sized
figures clothed in costly robes, some reputed to
be Of miraculous origin and Of supernatural
powers. The occasion is one of great popular
Demonstration:
According 10 notions the turmoil Of this
procession, with its armies Of nasqueraders,
Roman soldiers, NaZarenes, tpstaffs, military
bands emblems, torches and candles, saVors
more Of a carnival than Of the celebration Of the