The word "count," in its second occurrence, was inserted by the printer in
the wrong line; when it is restored to its proper place, the passage
presents but little difficulty.
JOHN TAYLOR.
* * * * *
BLACK IMAGES OF THE VIRGIN.
(Vol. ii., p. 510.)
Your correspondent, MR. HOLT WHITE, throws cut a suggestion relative to the
origin of the black doll as a sign at old store shops, which is ingenious,
but not very probable. The images of black virgins are confined, I believe,
to the south of Europe, with the exception of the celebrated shrine of
Einsiedeln in Switzerland. The origin of the colour appears to be oriental,
as MR. W. surmises. I send the following extract, in answer to his query on
the subject. It is a quotation from Grimm, in M. Michelet's _Introduction
to Universal History_; and, as your readers must be all familiar with the
language of the gifted historian, I will not make the attempt to convey his
brilliant style into another tongue.
"Une des idees qui reviennent le plus dans nos meistersinger, dit
Grimm, c'est la comparaison de l'incarnation de Jesus Christ avec
_l'aurore d'un nouveau soleil_.
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