The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1870-02-05
The Private life of the Pope.

Those who see the Pope In state can
form very little idea of the simplicity
in which the Pontiff lives. The King
of Italy lives worse than denizen OF a
third rate boarding house in New York.
The furniture of the Pitti palace would
be despised by a Canal street broker
and drygoods clerk would disdain the
horrible Milauese cigars which his M
jrsty is eternally smoking All of
which is not generally known, and is
very commendable, because it is done tor
economy and to save an impoverished
exchequer. Yet there is no reason why
the Pope should not I've in style becoming
king, but his own dislike Of pomp and
naturally simple tastes. Leaving the
giided saloons of the show pant OF th"
palace, you pass through door carefully
guarded by two Of the noble guard with
drawn swords. A small passage CON
ducts to the guards waiting room, where
orderlies aud officers are waiting to at
tend. Another room is allotted to the
groom of the chambers, prelate in his
violet robes. The next is the ante
chamber where the Monsignori, private
chamber.ans of his Holiness, are in
attendance. You tap at the next door,
and it is opened by another Monsiguor,
who, assured of your right of entree'
lifts curtain, and you are in the pres
ence. The room strikes you as slugu-
larly bare. There is 20 carpet on the
stoue floor, the articles of furniture are
very few and by no means costly
There is large book case filled with
books mostly bound in parchment. A
pr1e Dieu with a velvet cushion, an ex-
quisite little Madonna by Canova, In
alabaster, on bracket, stands over the
pr{e Dsew, together with a crucitlx and
reliquary, and a common rosary. There
is little china holy water s'oup a: the
door; an exceedingly 6ne portrait OF Of
the Pope hangs over the mantle. shelf
on which there is a time piece OF Louis
Quinze period, incormulu, and two
| statuettes Of st. Joseph and the Good
Shepherd. There are no curtains to the
| windows, which overlook the Vatican
garden. In the center Of the apartment
large writing desk such as stands IN
| the private cabinet of Louis XIV at
Versailles. 1t has two large depart
ments filled with pigeon holes, in which
are bundles OF papers. A cruclhz
stands between these two compartments
with the wounds and agony of the he
deemer finely painted and awtully real
The inkstand is very common one Of
china, with pounce box to match
bundle of quilts hes near it, and piece
Of soiled rag, on which pens have beel
wiped this many day. A few books
OF devotion are also there. Ihry ar
the Imitation" scupoIi's "spiritua
tCombat, Devotion of St. Francis dt
Sales, Breviary a Bible, Rodriguez
Spiritual Perfection" Signori $ "Glo
ries of Mary Lite Of ST. Theresa
etc. ~There is a pile Of French journals
the Revue DIES Deux Mondes, the ClV
iIta Cattolico, aud other Italian papers
His Holi --ess sits in an arm chair, no
meritiug the title Of easy, for II cruell,
terminates in the middle Of his back
aud is ngidly constructed without re
gard TO comfort. He is attired III
Simple cassock of white flannel
with no insignia Of rank about it excep
his episcopal ring. His head is covere
with a white skull cap He has bee'
reading, and beside his open book Is
common metal snuH-box, and-let nc
nv reader be herrifed-a common re-
cotton handkerchief Having made th
usual rsverences on my knees, he MI
toned me to approach. As recall tn
effect produced upon me by That Inter
view, / do not wonder that hali-fanai
cal young men. fresh from coheg'
should yearu to die in his defense a
Of ola the hristian painted for the ma
tyrdo,n You feel, if Catholic tina
YOU are in the !resence OF sanity pc
son, into which the jarring d'scoEds
, the world do not seuter Chlldiike
his innocence of It's vileness, and diffu
1 ing an atmosphere OF dignity wherever
comes, the venerable Pope cannot ia
: to impress any one who cutters his pre-
ence, be he Catholic or Protestar
). The, large, fair face is less less ,fr furro''ws ''
j than thai Of men Of half his years, 4 y
, his pontifcate has been uost eyen'fu
= He speaks and you at once pereel'
) that innate refinement which max
him try to remove difidsnce by conde
d censinn uutinged bypatron &c and P
b ternal gentleness that removes restrain
9 Like many another sovereign, he tax
I interest in seemingly triaing objects
81 Dress and Appearace.-Upon the 50
{ iect Of dress and appearance the Ne
J. York Times remarks: %s.,5s. sss
It A coat that has mark OF use upon
II 10 recommendation to people OF sens
y and hat with too much nap and
u high lustre derogatory circumstan'
- -S -. .. - p~arr,o ava an 4