Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1848-12-02
FROM WIlITESlDE'S
ITALY IN THE 10 TIL CENTURY.
THE POPE in CONoLAvE..RECEPTION OF

THE POPE in CONCLAvE.-RECEPTION OF
NEW CARDINAL.
1t is very amusing, because novel to
stand near the door of the grand chapel,
and look at the cardinals as they enter one
by one at short intervals; accompanied by
a chaplain in full black clerical custom, fol-
lowed by an attendant in russet brown,
with bag, and their footmen in bright
liveries, whose coats hang loosely upon
their shoulders, as if made for their grand
fathers. The party draw up in the outer
hall to settle the tail of his eminence the
bag is opened, robe taken out and adjusted,
and let down to sweep the ground in a
long, graceful train. The dress of cardi-
nal on such occasions is not only rich and
splendid, but peculiarly elegant and becom-
ing. The colors ON certain festivals vary;
red, purple, white. Sometimes during a
religious ceremony the tippet is removed
and laid aside; why, never could find
out. This l would regret, as it looks beau
tiful enough, yet / am consoled by observ-
ing that what is underneath is even finer
still. But must enter to see what car
dinal does when he struts in SO proudly,
like peacock with his gaudy tail. He
sweeps along between files of obsequious
Swiss the noble guard receive him as
prince of the blood. The moment his emf
nence crosses the threshold of the sacred
enclosure he drops gently on his knees
while engaged in pious meditatlons, the
fine gentlemen of the palace (who wait on
the Pope in black court-dress, lace rufiles
and swort), not to lose time, settle the dress
i IL 4 4 80 |, Il III
out the tail properly. When his eminence
rises all is right, and he may move on,
which he does with solemn dignity not,
however, to his seat, but to salute his holi-
ness the Pope, who sits apart in solitary
grandeur under canopy, with two priests
at each side to fold his robe, and take off
his mitre and put it on again, and hold the
book, with pair of huge wax candles
lighted in broad day, to enable his holiness
might suspect the Pope had neither arms
nor hands, for he never touches anything,
except when a cardinal kneels before him,
when he graciously extends his robe, on
which a cross is embroidered, to the devout
man to kiss, which when the cardinal (who
never kisses his slipper) has done, he rises,
make profound obeslance, and then grave
ly moves to his place on one of the cush-
ioned benches which surround the enclo-
sure. Here difficulty would arise as to
what should be done with his long tail,
which looked so beautiful as he strutted
along the floor. This is guarded against by
prudent arrangement. There is a lower
bench, on which is seated the attendant in
russet who carries his masters bag; this
practitioner rises, adjusts the cardinals
robe, enables him conveniently to sit down,
and then seats himself, ready for any emer-
gency, at the feet Of his eminence. Occa-
sionally the members of the Sacred Col
lege, during religious ceremony, rise and
descend to the floor; the men in russet are
the alert, watch the tnilo and untwis'
them, SO that not the least discomposure
happens. The new cardinal was now in.
troduced by two of his brethren. How
fine he was! His crimson stockings, ant
scarlet robes, and shining buckles, and dia.
mond ring delighted me exceedingly. He
went through all .he ceremonies cleverly
and grew quickly into pillar of the
church. Sometimes the whole company
of cardinals stood up and with much for
mality bowed to each other, as if for the
first time making acquaintanceship. Agar
they whispered confdentially, what secre
know not but when the new cardina
was made, they had all severally to EN-
brace him-a serious business to get through
This is done by each laying both arms OF
the shoulders of the other, as if the cardi
mails were about to wrestle (Which, som
say, they do for power, and OCCASIONAL,
one of the wrestlers get heavy tall.) Thi
embrace is to prove their affection for tn
new conner land, no doubt, that affection
must be very sincere), who thenceforwar
is as great parsonage as they are.