The union Democrat. [volume] (Sonora, Calif.) 1854-1946, 1870-12-31
SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF RIO MONO
Interesting "Reminiscences. OF the Pen,iG.

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Interesting "Reminiscences OF the Ponsiff.
Toward the end of the sixteenth century a
combmaker, Alberto Mastai, of Brescis, with
whom the world did not 60 well, went to live
at Sinigaglia. Fortune smiled on him in his
new home: the combmaker tiourished, and be-
came so rich that he obtained the hand of a
young lady of fortune named Feretti, and st
the same time the rank of Count. Such is
the origin of the house of Nastai Feretti.
Girolami Mastai Feretti, descended from the
latter, married daughter of Count Salazzi,
and the issue of this marriage is Gian-Maria
Mastai, born in 1892, now Plus TX.
From his infancy he seems to have been
weak, subject to epileptic fits, and difficult to
manage. When a boy he was sent to college
at Volterra, presided over by the learned as
tronomer, Inghirama; but his chronic injis-
position did not permit him to derive much
advantage from that seat of learning. On re-
turning home, however, his health greatly i'm
proved, and as he grew stronger, he manifest
ed keen desire to enter the army. To fit
himself for this profession, he devoted much
| time to athletic exercises, and soon became
remarkable for his military bearing. Those
familiar with the appearance of Plus IN, as
| seen in St. Peters or the Sistine will scarce
" be prepared to hear that in his youth he
was noted for his dandy dress, appearing al
ways in a semi-military uniform, wearing
boots and spurs, and seldom seen without
cigar in his mouth. Being very handsome
withal, tolerable poet aud good musician.
he soon became an object of admiration to
many, and Of affection to some girls; but, al
though more than one loved him, he aimed
high and sought the hand of Elena, daughter
of Prince Albani. This lady. who is said to
have been extremely beautiful, at first en-
couraged young Mastai, but eventually mar
ried the Colonel of regiment quartered at
Sinigaglia whom she was in the habit Of meet
ing frequently at the reunions in her fathers
house. The disappointment was so severely
felt by the young man, that, to alleviate his
misery, he plunged into dissipation, drank
iuncture Napoleon's career had terminated.
Plus VII. returned to Rome, and public af-
| fairs began to assume a tranquil phase. Ac-
cordingly, young Mastai, who was leading
very unsettled life, was sent to Rome, where
two of his uncles resided, who, it was believ-
ed were in position to be Of service to him.
| Arriving in the capital, he engaged very
BUNDLED apartment, his allowance being en-
| ~ few pounds q month. Nevertheless, 80
fascinating were his manners, and so hand
some his person, that he soon became one of
the most fashionable young men in Rome,
and was a constant visitor in the palaces of
the highest nobes in that city. A successful
player at the card table, his winnings enabled
him to live in q manner that made him the
envy of less fortunate youths, and led to love
adventures not yet entirely forgotten in
Rome.
But, though young Mastai was we'll pleas
ed with the life he was leading, it was far
| from cofisfyipv hio he rokn lr do
sired to see their son established in some hon.
orable profession. Accordingly, as militia
~ spirit still burned strongly in Clan Maria,
an attempt was made to satisfy it, to some
extent at least, by placing him in the Guar
dia Mobile, which had been established i'm
mediately after the Congress of Vienna. His
interest was sufficiently great to cause him to
be enrolled as candidate Cor admission to
the CORPS. but representation having been
made the Secretary of State that he was sub
| iect to epileptic fits. his name was removed
from the list of candidates, and he was advis-
ed that he must not hope to be Guardia No
bile. The intelligence overwhelmed him
with sorrow, his spirits became depressed, a
dangerous illness supervenej, on his recovery
from which-due, as his biographers declare,
to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin-he
determined on devotng his life to the cause
of religion.
There are many still living in Rome who
remember the sudden and extraordinary
change in young Mastai. Discarding his fash
] ionabe costume, the neat boots and clanking
spurs gave place to thick shoes, the laced
coat to a black soutane, and the jaunty step
to measured walk, with bent head and
downcast eyes. At this period Mastai was
twentv-four years DID, Hard study followed,
and finding that this, though pushed to ex-
cess, did not impair his health, but rather i'm
proved it-a change due more probably to an
ahsterions life-he conceived that God espe-
c;ally called him to the work of the priesthood.
and having obtained the necessary medical
permission to enter the church, he was or
dained. His religious zeal now rapidly un-
/ folded. Endowed with peculiarly fine voice,
we'll remembered by those who have had the
pleasure of hearing him read the Offices in St.
Peters or the Sistile Chapel, be studied ell
ocution, practiced speaking extempore, and
soon acquired such mastery of language as TO
draw vast crowds when he assembled the pulpit
He was..particularly brilliant in his fercorini
short impassioned discourses, such as you
may hear during holy week at the Gesu-and
carried his congregation entirely with him.
Women who had admired Mastai as a youth of
! fashion, now hung on his words and buzzed
round his CONFESSIONAL; strong-minded men.
too. became weak before him, for he shook
their souls by bis pictures of terrors in store
for the wicked. Stimulating pureatorial flames
by plunging his hands in burning spirits.
But gratifying as all this was, the youth
full priest sighed for more active occupation
and more extensive sphere of usefulness
An opportunity was not long wanting. Plus
VII. having decided on sending poltico-
religious mission to Chile, Mastai applied to
be appointed Secretary and succeeded. though
against the will of his family in obtaining the
appointment. The mission, headed BY tie
Bishop Of Civita de CASTILLO, after a long and
hazardous voyage, arrived at Bueaos Ayres
The journey from that city 20 Chile was at
tended with great suffering, but, although
the mission underwent many perils, they were
productive of NO other effect on the Secretary
than that of causing him to desire to remain
in the country; one reason doubtless being
that his health so far from becoming impair
ed by the hardsaips and climate, was simply
ameliorated. Indeed he has been heard more
than once TO say that he never enjoyed better
health than during this period of his life: and
IL