The New York herald., 1870-03-03
ROME.


ROME.
n,oo>c~v.>co.>~~Y>~.Y~s~
Tho Council and Its Dobntes-How and Whore
the Ecumeuical Fathcrs Livo-Thelr D0in -
and Amusomonts-TwO OategOrAos- Bishop
Study ON tho Pinoian Hill-ln the Colleges.
ROME, Feb. g. 1870.
The discussions are proceeding slowly IN the
Council, and as yet everything remains IN noe. No
decision on any point has been reached. such was
the answer given me yesterday by one OF the high
managers Of the secret negotiations under way;
but he omitted furnish with any data as to the
debates that have already taken place. 'for," said
he 1--WE are dellperaung SUD secreto pontlacto and
hence are not allowed to tell anything" He, as the
otner dignitaries do, complains that the press Is
filed with Che most preposter0us aud Idle accounts
in regard to the Council, mailed from this point or
c0ncocted in newspaper bureaus several miles out
side OF the POrta del POpO0. In the meanwhile, and
however founded may be these accusations launched
against the bogus press which Is III the impossplity
Of keeping here even the nlnety-nine hundredth
part OF correspondent 1t 6 certain that the man.
OF living, private dongs and amusements OF the
EcumenIcal Fathers are causing no little in
terest, even II only from the fact thar they
are gathered here TO reform ana remodel
us all In this world and to provide for
our safety III Tue WOriu 10 COme. III tut
first place, be said thas the fathers are divided
on into TWO grand caeg0ries or classes First, those
who rule the roast Dy virtue Of superior intelligence
and heavy purses; second. those wno, being power
ty-stricken In POCKET and n0neanties in mind, are
merely holding candles at the feast-and such com.
pose the vast bulk Of the Council. TO the first
all the nonors; to the latter cast the crumbs from
Lazarus table However, the majority were not from
the outset enrited to harbor any very high expeca
tlons as to an attendance on the Council for they
f0reknew in what capacity they were engaged TO
hither order to assist at the sacred sessions
Now they are here, and are mum; but that is about
all they are, for 1t cannot be added that they are
comfortably housed. The chef functions required
Of them In business way, are that they STICK fast
to their benches in the north transept ST. Peters,
and perform the proper amount Of voting when
the boxes are handed around Bishop study
has been my principal occupation since the assem-
bly, met; ana, having seen much OF the moln0era-
Western, oriental and narive-Dotn IN their pubic
meetings. and IN social circles claim to know some
tning aDodt them and taelr ways as they are 70 be
seen ut home, III the saloons anu IN the streets.
Perhaps n0wnere else are suOordiDaLes made so
keeny 70 feel that they are suDordnaes as In this
city and under ths religious government. and con-
seQuentiy the vast numOer OF bishops who are made
to play underllnas here may be excused for wearing
an annoyed wearIed and dc Ceup7d aspect on their
faces marked mat 1t cannot be mistaken. That
aspect seems plainly 70 intimate that the wearers
would Dc isE more important personsges back 10
Sacred College Of Cardinals ana the other pig rulers
wno 80 utterly outsnne and eclipse all lesser lights.
have seen lately bishops poking about the streets.
lOunxng on the Pincian HILL, looking for all tho
word as II all the starch had been taken out OF them.
In fact, tney appeared SO Isolated ana wretched
cOuld have supposed them TO DO IN q state Of In-
0inereacc as To wnelher they should Timber up on
the spot fall down IN their TRACKS or tlrn to the
right or 70 the left without preference IL is worse
still with them when they hnu themselves at home IN
tneIr quarters or lodgings. There their riQhs and
privileges wnen at home contrast 6triklnRiy with
the lonesome, Bcanty surroundings amld5t which
they are puea together and'packeu or 10 live out
their stay in the capital or CatnOilcdOm The
barren honor OF forming part, paYS mi,.,naa, of
the Council Is but meagre Offset for NDaglned
sights and downright scantlnesa. The Pope aud
the Cardinals nave 80 macn TO occupy them At ns
junoLure that the poor fathers are lett 10 shit Tor
themselves a. best tney can. This Is certainly hard
upon them, to say the least, 'clyii societyu
whore the practice OF every one for himself Ii not
wholly unoDserved; and If anything IL destined TO
cut short The kcuuenlcal stlngJ, before due hour
OF adjournment 1t Will be the internal grunDlllgs
on the part OF these Overrluden members. VINO
now compelled to hide their own lights under bush
els while holding Candles Tor tine eInnences." and
To lay their bodies on the rOughest OF coucnes IN the
cells OF the colleges" II anything could tempt
them to get up small sized rebellion agalnss Rome
and hes CuriG f0ntgtcia It should precisely be the
cells Of the colleges just menti0ned Tor they are,
verify, the most uncomfortable OF abodes, ana, In
the present cold snap we are enjoying, perhaps a
plt more rizid and disagreeabe than the Catacombs
themselves would DC IN tas vicinity Of tue va Appla
here, erected and supported by contributions of
money forwarded on the part OF the faithful OF all
hod AMI tne establishments 40 created are made at
the present time to house the major portion OF the
afford themselves the luxury or outside ana fashion
able apartments.
Tne colleges are not "gosten up regardless OF ex-
pense' IN fact they are rough. The rooms or cells,
adJoin each other. and spread out on immense
no0rs, to which tho ascent Is made through wlnd-
Ing, steep stairs and intricate corrdors Eacn oc-
cupant has the door OF mis- cell numbered the Whole
being one vast d0rmitory, in which the sOlourners
tss 10
face OF hrs private meltations. aud hs trunk which
II tine CHIEF piece Of furniture besides ~ insgnlncan
bcd and which must constantly remind MIN snat he
II camped out far away from the delights Of nome.
Either wood u not allowed by the directors or can
In tins unusually cold season. l have found some
engaged In smoking aud reading home newspaper
by way OF con.os.ion Inere so NO nto wniem ~
| visitors-a common eating room chapel or inside
kind OF church, where the services require tho closest
attcnoance and cause frequent interruption, sone-
times at very undue hours Of the night Passing up
the stairway the other day from one floor TO tho Oher
| came upon church ceremony ana plunged into .
! and as darkness visible In the rule IN Vii
these institutions, up and down, throughout every
nook and corner came near stumbling seve raj
| kneel!ng ZOuaves and peasants, VINO were on hand
NJ their devotl0ns In large numbers. Tney had some
dropped IN for the services some to pay CALI and
mono were contant 70 leave the building before Kiss
ing the garments and bands Of the nl0nsiOnOrt. II
Customary ior the asners 70 &C.. BACK 70 teir :, col
90 out IN the evenings. InSls strict rule and tho
dignity of the college az well - ecclesiastical de-
corum and the setting Of good example causes Is
generally TO bo enforced and observed.
After this fasnOn do the small fry or tho minnows
OF tho Council dwell while the Mannings the Dupan
| loups, Darboys Strossmeyers and McCioskcys MAKE
q better snow having retained nne private apart
ments The principal French bishops ana arch
BISHOPS who are not avcrse to good living dwell In
an especially sumptuous style. lhcy. As well as the
chief priests OF the other nations, drive handsome
equipages ana give moe dinners 70 their more
prominent colleagues. They often TO be met
with at the parties and receptions the highest
circies at the embassies At the old palaces OF the
native nobility, at the houses OF dlstngu lshed
foreign residents.
FOREIGN MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
Al Dantzic the theatres have been closed on &C.
I count OF the severe cold.