The Angels of Mons: The Bowmen and Other Legends of the WarMachen, Arthur
Science
The Angels of Mons: The Bowmen and Other Legends of the War
Machen, Arthur
Paranormal fiction; Supernatural -- Fiction; War stories, English; World War, 1914-1918 -- Fiction
He calls to the living and to the dead: "I saw the fire of Vesta, O
Romans, lit yesterday in the great steel works of Liguria, The
fountain of Juturna, O Romans, I saw its water run to temper armour,
to chill the drills that hollow out the bore of guns." This is poetry
of the old Roman sort. I imagine that scene in Rome: the latest poet
of Rome calling upon the Romans in the name of Vesta's holy fire, in
the name of the springs at which the Great Twin Brethren washed their
horses. I still believe in the power and the ancient charm of noble
words. I do not think that Giolitti and the stockbrokers will keep old
Rome off the old roads where the legions went.
Postscript
While this volume was passing through the press, Mr. Ralph Shirley,
the Editor of "The Occult Review" called my attention to an article
that is appearing in the August issue of his magazine, and was kind
enough to let me see the advance proof sheets.
The article is called "The Angelic Leaders" It is written by Miss
Phyllis Campbell. I have read it with great care.
Miss Campbell says that she was in France when the war broke out. She
became a nurse, and while she was nursing the wounded she was informed
that an English soldier wanted a "holy picture." She went to the man
and found him to be a Lancashire Fusilier. He said that he was a
Wesleyan Methodist, and asked "for a picture or medal (he didn't care
which) of St. George... because he had seen him on a white horse,
leading the British at Vitry-le-François, when the Allies turned"
This statement was corroborated by a wounded R.F.A. man who was
present. He saw a tall man with yellow hair, in golden armour, on a
white horse, holding his sword up, and his mouth open as if he was
saying, "Come on, boys! I'll put the kybosh on the devils" This figure
was bareheaded--as appeared later from the testimony of other
soldiers--and the R.F.A. man and the Fusilier knew that he was St.
George, because he was exactly like the figure of St. George on the
sovereigns. "Hadn't they seen him with his sword on every 'quid'
they'd ever had?"
From further evidence it seemed that while the English had seen the
apparition of St. George coming out of a "yellow mist" or "cloud of
light," to the French had been vouchsafed visions of St. Michael the
Archangel and Joan of Arc. Miss Campbell says:--
"Everybody has seen them who has fought through from Mons to Ypres;
they all agree on them individually, and have no doubt at all as to
the final issue of their interference"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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