The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-04-23
A Wisconsin Editor Visiting the Pope.
From Charlie Robinsons letter to the Green
Raw Advocate

ninety 1T time. vi these the quota OF
Americans is thirty week and d Rome
istull OF our people, many OF whom desire
TO see the Pope, our chances did not look
very fattering when | sent in the names OF
my party for presentation in the early
part OF this visit. We we're as usual for
sunate, however, for in due time came an
official nc lice from the Chief Chamberlain,
or Maestro de Camera, to the effect that we
were to be presented TO the SAINT Iere at
IL O clock OF the forenoon of the Sunday
next that we would enter the Vatican ty
the Papal Stairs that gentlemen should
wear full Dress evening costume, or uniform,
and that ladies should be dressed in black
with black wells ami that the presenta-
tion of any petition or writing, or the 20
Jiciting of the autograph Of His Holiness,
or her annoyance of that kind, was pro
hibited. Americans who are making the
, tour of Europe hurriedly almost universally
travel with lot more than two suits, both
of them plain, and not bearing any re!a-
ton sThatever TO full dress. ;" This was
my case aud the puzz.er was to acquire
the requisite dress within the few hours
which interviewed between the arrival Of the
notice and the time OF rece ptlon-the no.
tice having come on he morning Of the
Sunday itself Ia these emergencies the
walters of the hotels are generally applied
TO. Throughout Europe, in the better
class of hotels, they attend at dinner in
full evening dresr, even to the white era
vat and many have been the travei6rs
who have been indebted to them for their
correct appearance at court. friend OF
{ mine, however, at another hotel, hearing
that my party were to be presented that
day, kindly sent me his full suit, quite
new. and fitting me precisely. Another
point OF etiquette was to have carriage
without number, "a, If We Were to go
with one or the ordinary street carriages,
which were numbered, We could no. 20 to
the grand entrance, but would have 10 halt
some distance OF and walk there but that
was readily supplied by the hotel, and we
started off Gu fat. Arrived at the Vati-
can, we found large number of carriages
nlready there, and heing ushered up the
stairway, haviag shown our notification,
passed through long series of rooms aud
found ourselves IN the grand waiting
room, in company with many Others per-
haps eighty in all. They were mostly
Europeans; | think there were not more
than half dozen Americans, ourselves
Included. Every one was in costume, e,
rigner. The ladies, almost every one, an,
eDme OF the gentlemen, had more or les
Tosarles strung upon their arms, it beln;
the custom TO take this occasion TO hay,
them blessed by the Pope Some had tx
penslVo cruclfxes. Of silver and pearl aus
silver and gold crosses The room il
which We were, had no furniture except ;
few seats; was nicely warmed by Goa
stove, which re found very agreeable ant
the Eails vera hung with paintings, one @
which represented the miracle by whicl
q n n L.,
been preserved, few years ago, at thu
iaiilng in Of a church floor on which ;
large number Of people had assembled.
was curious enough to notice discrepan
cy IN statenient-havjug seen anothe
picture OF the event in the church it,, If
where 81, Peter IS represented as uphold
ing the PHpe and preserving him trou
nafm In this enc in the Vatican, how
ever, the Holy Virgin herself is the on
who lntgiiercs in his behalf. After witt
ing some time, one Of the chamberlain
took US IN charge, and, passing through
another series OF rooms, conducted u mt
the presence OF The Pope himself. He wa
etandIng at table, on which there wen
some wflllBg materials, an1 an up!iltc,
crueliix attached to one corner Ut it
lh9re was no especial ceremony, he having
TO all appearance, risen from reading o
writing when We entered, TO greet Us which
he dld with peculiar charm Of expressiol
and manner. lie was dressed in mantI
or robe OF white cloth, with heavy anr
broad sash Of white silk around the wais
ana fastened at the side, with the end
falling nearly 10 the foor: on his head Wa
small hkuIl>cap OF white velvet; snC
there hung around lis neck gold chain
anu cross. He Is of prcd;um SIZE, rattle
stoutiy butt, with siivery gray hair, and
very Benevolent and winning expression O
tace. The presentations commenced a
once the chamberlain received the MOTIF
cations OF the several parties Us they cam
forward, and thus learned their names, in
rroduced them TO His Holiness. who hat
.omething 10 say to each one OF them
Ihoae VINO were dCvGut Catholics immcdi
nteiy knelt to the floor and kissed hi foot
others kissing only lis hand. | think al
kneit upon one knee, as is the ettiaueftf
whether they be catholics or not. and mos
kissed his hand. Some Of them, who. per
naps, bad made pilgrimage here, and tt
whom this may have been the event OF
thelr lives, seemed greatly affected linger
ing Tong with their heads 10 the foar, and
We're unwilling to go away fron, him. aa-
dressing him in sobbing and appealing
tones; these be heard patiently. and saw
Dc something kindly to them, passed
them along to make room for the others.
One man, IN violation Of the terms of the
note admitting him to an audience. handed
the Pope paper and beseeched him for
MS autograph, even accompanying the ac,
with pencil. which he almost thrust into
the Pope hands. But it was un>ucce>s
full, aud he passed on percntorily, but wi, h
no show OF dlspleasure. After the pre.
sentatlonS were over, the Pope made an
address to the as>emblage. Il was IN
French, ana to my great regret | could only
eaten word here and there without IN
Outstanding it all but | was told hat i
was exceedingly happy III its general tenor
and manner of delivery, and being address
ed TO mixed company was devoid Of an,
expression which could offend the pecnIiaI
religious creed Of any Christian he de
sired The prayers Of all for himself; h,
prayed Tor all people Of ali the world; al
were exhorted to seek the Lord aad adhere
10 hls laws; be pronounced benedictlor
upon the company present, and invoked
the favor OF God that they might reacl
their several homes IN safety, and find then
friends IN health and happiness. During
thiS part OF the ceremony, those who an
ucrStOOd, seemed o1Iita ,brorI,aj In he al