The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-05-12


merciless stare of the crowd. In their queer,
unsccustomed dress, they locked conscious and
foolish. and smelled away vigorously at their
bououe.s. which they held with various degrees
of awkwardness. and looked down on their
newlv.wasbed feet in uneasy contemplation.
Immediately on enterinc, the Pope had his
train tucked up. and a napkin pinned about
him. in place of walters apron. He then
washed the hands of the Apostles, who, one
after the other, took their seats at the table,
each behind his particular statuette. Then it
was first clearly manifest which was which
AS usual, there had been proper attention paid
to character. Back of the figure of Peter, sat
an energetic, determined looking priest Johns
place was filed by the youngest and mildsst OF
the party; while ] am sure everybody waf
gratilied TO see sufficiently ugly, hard looking
parsonage go skulking into the place of Judas
With but two or three exceptions, they were a
most ill-fayored set Of men, and--the truth must
be told--anything but venerable, sanity, and
apostolic in their air. AS the Pope began his
duties by serving the soup, there was fresh
and violent outburst of excitement and curiosi-
ty in the pit. | was at first scandalized by
what appeared to be game Of leap-frog, car
nried on in the midst of the solemn rites, and in
that it was an ingenious continuance of some
young gentlemen of limited stature, who, by
hosting themselves up by the shoulders of those
in front, were able to catch momentary view
of the stage.
The Pope-who, in his tucked.up gown and
apron, and with his short waddling gait looked
in honest truth, like fat, rudy faced land.
lady-was attended by richly dressed prelates,
who handed him the dishes, kneeling reverent.
ly; and whenever he approached the foot Of
the table, the Guardia Mobile stationed there
lowered their swords, lifted their casques, and
bent nearly to the ground-making the scene
queer and homogeneous to the last degree.
must confess that was obliged, repeatedly, to
hide my face and laugh. should have laughed
had died for it.
A priest read something aloud, from some
religious book, to which nobody appeared to
pay the slightest attention the Pope seemed
rather to hurry through his duties, serving
course after course, with rapidity little ia.
vorable to healthful digestion, and pouring
wine very generously.
Soon after the serving of the dessert he be-
slowed his blessing, and retired with his pre-.
lates and guards.
Though the thirteen had not manifested any
painful degree of restraint in his presence, they
yet seemed to enjoy their meal none the less
for his absence The perpetual taking off Of
their tall paper caps, as he served them with
meats and wine must have interfered some
what with the principal business in hand
They certainly did very good justice to very
good dnner-indeed, it was the general mi
preston that they had previously tasted, in
order the better to relish this feast sacred and
extraordinary.
When the dinner was at length concluded,
thirteen large baskets were brought in, and
each Apostle slowed away for himself all that
pertained to his seat at table-remains of food,
wine, bouquets, knives, forks napkins, and
spoons-with the gold and silver medals pre-
sented by the Pope ut the lduanda, no inconsid-
cradle perquisites and showing that it is worth
poor priests while to play an Apostles part
for the nonce. | should not wonder it, for even
Judas's role, there were at least fifty appli-
cants and for those of the more popular dis
ciples, such as Peter and John, doubtless the
competition was tremendous.
am sorry to have to record that st. Andrew
and st. Mark had some little difficulty about a
napkin. 1t seemed that st. Mark had acct
dentally dropped his napkin, and had after
wards laid hands on that Of ST. Andrew, which
he was caught in the act of packing away in
his basket But | am happy to add, that on
the lost napkin being found, the matter was
amicably settled
Half an hour after as we came out OF the
Pauline chapel which was brilliantly illumi-
mated we observed st. John, with an amabili-
ty in keeping with his character, dividing his
bouquets among a group of friends.
In the evening Of this day. we heard the
Mierere in ST. Peters, standing outside the
choral chapel through whose open doors the
solemn, full-tided food came pouring and surg
iug-sweeping abroad over the vast basilica,
and swelling up into its shadowy arches and
mighty dome After the Miserere, very Gu
rious ceremony took place-the washing of the
high altar with wine The cardinal-priest and
canons of the church, various orders of priests,
acolythes, and young choristers pour wine upon
it, and wash it with aspergah, or brushes. They
do this, and the succeeding drying with sponges
and napkins chanting, and going in rapid suc-
cession up and down the steps, and before the
altar, each giving it dash and q wipe as he
passes. There was small amount Of sOlemnity
in the ceremony-indeed, some of the boys
seemed to consider il rather in the light of a
bit of fun; but the darkness and mourning of
the church - whose pictures were covered,
whose crosses yelled in black and q peculiar,
monotonous wall in the chant-gave strange
wildness, an almost awful mystery to the scene.
At the conclusion of this altar washing, the
most holy relics were exhibited for tho adora-
ton of the faithful, from high gallery, above
the statue of st. Veronica. These are solemn
ly declared to be, a fragment Of the true Cross
a part Of the lance which pierced our Sariour's
side--and a true Likeness Of Chria, imprinted IN
bloody sweat on a handkerchief, icith whieh 81.
Veronica piped his face, Uhen he was on has wdy
10 CALGARY This last is called the Volto Sanio
or Sacred Face These famous relics are set
in glass cases, framed in costly jewels, and
kept with the most jealous oare--Dever shown
to the people but from a great height--for other
reasons very possibly, than their great sacred
ness. | was rejoiced to see that few beside
priests and the poorest peasants knelt in idola-
try, real or feigned before the glittering decep-
tons-the impious impostons
This evening we also visited the Trinitd DEF
PeRegr,ni-a hospital where pilgrims are en-
tertained during Holy Week, and where feet
washing and waiting at table are carried on
extensively, and in real earnest by noble men
and ladies-prnces and princcfses. There are
separate departments for male and female pill.
grims and our party was obliged to divide
the gentlemen going one way, the ladies an
other. No pilgrim is here received, who does
not bring certificate Of having como from u
distance Of not less than sixty miles; and from
the wsy-worn, weather-beaten, and filthy APP
pearance Of those saw | should suppose they
had walked at least five hundred. The sights
witnessed that night were death to all my
romantic ideas Of sanity pilgrims in flowing
brown robes with rosary and staff. Somehow,
had always associated good looks and de-
cent degree Of cleanliness with this class Of
devotecs but such ptiably poor, wretched,
and repulsive set Of women, meter before be-
held collected together. Wild, coarse, uneouth,
unwashed, uncombed, covered with the merest
rags at loose ends altogether, some were old
aud decrcpid, none very young, all hideously
ngiy. Three or four had children with them
t~l.. AL L.. lnnt al