The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-05-06
vcrsary, who grinned his consent, he
ran to his second and deposited jim his
care the costly ivories. -
An INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF PIO
MONO.
By NINE. ocTAvIA WALTON LIZ VERT

i By NINE. OCTAvIA WALTON LIZ VERT
Gaspar, an enthusiastic young Span
ish priest, who had been Otlr traveIin
companion from Barcelona to Rom.
accompanied us one bright morning t
the Quirinal Palace. This interestin
youth was the eldest son and heir {
one of the nOblest families of Madrid
but he had abandoned both rank an
fortune, and devoted himself tO:the SCI
vice of God. He had come purpOsel
to Rome to receive the blessing of hi
Holiness, who had been most kind an
gracious to him.
As Casper had the Cntrcc to man,
palaces difficult of access to strangers
he cordially invited us to go with him
and thus we were indebted to him fO
many pleasant hours.
During the winter the Pope Occupie
! the Vatican; but the Quirillal Palae
is his Summer home. 1t is ON the sum
NIT of the Quirinal, one of the scvel
| hills of ancient Rome.
The Quirinal is an imposing -lOOkin;
edifice, i'm the centre of the Piazza d
Monte CavalIo, thus named from tn,
colossal statues of Castor and POllu1
holding their horses. They appear a,
fresh and perfect rs when they frs
came from the lands of Phidias ant
Praxiteles, the immortal Grccian sculp
tors, near twenty-fOur centuries.
The gardens of the palace are of vas
extent and exquisite beauty; the trees
of great size and luXuriant growth, art
artistically trimmed and cut into grand
cOlOnnades, lofty arches, long iislcs
and cool, delicious grottOe>. Statues O
nymphs, FAIRIES, and satyrs peep from
out the verdant foliage, while numer-
Olls fountains dart up in all directions,
from marble basins, falling in sparkling
drops upon the gorgeous flowers which
cncircle them.
The interior of the palace is very
handsome. Broad marble stairways
are there, and superb saloons, hung
with draperies of crimson and gold, and
adorned with many fine paintings
The private apartments of the Pope are
exceedingly simple and plain. The
sleeping-room is cold and dreary-lOOk-
ing, destitute of all furniture save Il bed,
a chair, and Il cushion before the Pre-
Dieu, where he kneels for prayer. The
dining-salOOn is also very cherries,
where he always dimes alone. No one
ever eats at the same table.
The chapel of the Quirinal, Palace
possessed an especial interest for us !;
for there occurred an incident i'm the
life of Pho Mono, which our gifted Ita-
liam friend charmingly described.
,n IL /, g <xc
Rome, was announced, all the caTdi-
mails assembled at the Quirinal Palace,
there to remain till they had elected
his successor. They met in the chapel,
where each cardinal was seated on a
kind of throne, as they were all of
equal rank, and any one of their num-
Der might be chosen supreme ruler of
the Catholic world. Cardinal LAM
bruschini, the Minister of the former
Pope, was considered the probable
choice of the sacred college. The Car
dinal Mastai Ferretti was selected to
read the names when the ballots Were
opened. The name of Cardinal LAM
bruschini was written upon fifteen
ballots in succession.
Upon the sixteenth was written, Car
dinal NIastai Fcrrctti. AS he uttered
his own name, a white dove flew in
through the open window, and after
around and around his
head, alighted upon the arm of the
great chair, and folding its snowy
wings, remained perfectly still, as
though it had reached its lUng-sought
haven frcst.
Then thirteen ballots were opened,
each one containing the name of the
Cardinal Mastai Fcrrctti. Although
there had never before been any men,
ton of his selection, there were thirteen
Of the august cardinals who knew of the
picty, the stern integrity Of his charac-
ter, and deemed him worthy of this eX-
llted position.
Far away on the Pampas of BuenOs
Ayres, amid the lofty Andes, and by
Lhe coast of the Pacific Ocean, he had
fulfilled the divine command of the Sa- |
viour "Prcach We the Gospel to all |
nations" TO save the erring, to cheer |
Inc fainting heart, to sustain the cOur-
lge of the faithful, had been his mis-
,ion. He had no ambition for power,
10 wish to possess it, and he trembled !
IS he proceeded to open the ballots
Each contained his name. When he |
;ane to the last one he paused, and |
lsked that some other cardinal should |
NJ directed 10 read it, This could not |
" allowed. So lIc opened it, and pro-
Iounccd his OWN name for the thirty |
sixth time (the number of votes re-
luired for an elcctiOu.)
Words of delight and murmurs of
filled the chapel. But Mas
al Ferrctti appeared not TO hear them.
He sank upon his knees in earnest |
prayer, uuhccding all around him. SO
levOut and saint-like was the express
ion of his noble face, SO meek and |
his attitude, that all bowed be-
ore him in reverence, convinced that |
II selecting him they had chosen Il
,Oniifi worthy to be the successor of
he holy Saint Peter.
An immense multitude was assem-
lied OH the Piazza di Monte Cavallo,
,agcrly watching the smoke which
lroSe from the burning ballots which
we're thus destroyed Us sOoII as read
When it all vanished, door on the
,alcOny in front of the palace was |
opened, and it was announced that |
Cardinal Nlastai Ferretti had been cho-
ell as Pope of Rome. Then the deep
ilcncc of anxious expectation was bro
Ken by joyous and exulting shouts,
which swellcd over the city, fioated far
'ut over the wide campagna, and even
.rept down into the dungeons, where
had languished for long and
weary years.
Rome was wild with delight, and
rope blazcd up in many Il heart fast
linking into despair. The "Good Car
liIial' was the affcctionate appellation
applied to him, for he was
we'll known to the poor and the sorrow
tricken as full of Kindness and charity |
oward them. All were certain that |
ustice and mercy would prevail in his
\ new life seemed TO possess the Ro-
nan people Clouds vanished from
heir stern faces, and words of joy were
leard everywhere. The dllngcOn-doors
we're opened, and prisoners told to come
orth, for they were free once more
rec once more to look upon the light
If loving eyes.
Peace and good will were trium-
,hant, and glorious were those days i'm
Inc Eternal City.
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