, 1870-12-18
A SOLDIER, A PRELATE. AND 4
KING,
sketch OF the LIfo and Career OF Pho
Notwithstanding "Reminiscences
OF tic 6srenk PonaiIE.

Towards the end Of the aiIteenth century, I
comb-m1ker, Aberto Mastai, OF Drescia, with
~hem tho world did not go well, went to iiTe
1t 6inigagliA- Fortune smiled on him in his
new home; the comb-n1kar fourished and
became 60 rich thnt ne obtained tho hand of 4
young LADY Of fortune, nAmed Ferretti, and 1t
tie stne tine the rank Of Count. Such Is the
origin Of the house OF Naatai-Ferrottl GiHulA-
ma Mastai-FerrettI, deecended from the Iattar,
married daughter OF Count S.llaxzi, and the
boir In 1889, now Plus II.
Prom his infancy be seems to have been
weak, subject to epileptie tits,{ and difficult to
manage. When ! boy, he W1a sent to the
college At Volterrs, preeided over BY learned
astronomer, 1nshiramA, but his chronic IN
disposition did not permit him to deriva
much advantage from that seat Of leasning.
greatly improved, and, rs be grew stronger,
6e manifested = keen desire to enter the
army. To ft himself for this profession, he
devoted much time to athleuc exercises. anl
soon became remarkable for his military
hexring.
Those familiar with the appearance OF pius
IL, ~ seen in st. Peters, or the 6istine, will
scarcely be prepared to hear that IN youth he
was noted for his dainty dre4s, appearing
alHays In u semi-millsnE uniform wearing
boots and spuls, and seldom seen without 4
cigar in biz mouth. Being very. handsome
rt~o~'. .N'"A@oAe F0ctt %1!A koUo A9asiGAuf
he soou became An object of admiration to
many, 1af Of aRection to sorne, girls; bnt-
aMhonfh: moro than one loved him, he
siuau hl8h, snq sought the hand OF Elena,
o4ushter OF tnnce A6Ant- Ilna lady,
VINO u ea1 70 hare been e1-
ttemeiJ beautiful, at first encouraged young
Aantai, bnt event1ally married tho Colonel Of
ar. kimeut qun1te1eu 1t Sinigaglia, whom abe
VAS 70 the habit Of meeting Geqnently vt the
reunions IN her fathers house. The disAp-
pointmtnt was 30 sevefely felt by young Gfan,
that to alleviate bis naiser5 he plunged into
dissipation. drank freely. and gamb}ed lArgelr.
About this jupcture Napole5n's career had
t. a1uinattd. pus vi. returned to Rome,
aha public aTAirs began to assume tranquil
BLhse. Accordingly, youpg MaatAi, who was
leading very unsettled life, WAS sent to
Il; n1s, where two Of his uncies resided, who,
II Hss believed, were in posltion 10 be Of
se'yice to him
Arrived in tho capital, he engaged very
humhla apartment, his allowance beng. only =
few pounds month. Nsye,tLeless 10 fssci-
mating were his manners and 30 handsome his
person. that he soon became one Of: tho most
fashionable young man in Eoms, and WAS :
constant visitor In the palaces Of tho E9hees
the cssa-sable, hia winnings eaahled him to
live IN \ mnuner that made him the envy Of
lass fortunate youths, and led to love nlvan-
tures not vet entirely forgotten In nomo-
But. though young Mastai w2s well pleased
with the life he vas leading. it Was far from
satissyiDg his parente. Who naturally dsaired
to SEQ their sbu established in SONS honorable
profession. Accordingly, as the military spirit
still burned strongly In GiAu.Mnria, an At
tempt VIA made to satisfy u, TO some extent
At least, BY placing him IN tho QuArdia Mobile,
which lad baen established Immediately Aftec
the Congress OF Wanna. His interest was
suf{icltnily great to cause him to be enrolled
"a candidate for admission in tlle CORPS, but
Secretary OF Slate that be was subject to eD,-
leptic fsts, his n.me was removed from the
Lat Of Candidates; and llo WAS advised that
be NUT not hope to be u Guatdia Mobile.
The intelligence overwhelmed him With aor-
row; his spirits became depressed; : dAn-
gerous Illness supervened, on his recovery
from which-due, az his hiographe1s declare,
to tie iDte1cees'on Of the HcBsed Tirgin-he
determined On devoting his lie to- tho cause
Of Ielig1on.
There are many still living In ltotns who re-
member the eodden and e1trsosJiinary chAnge
III young MAataa- Dascarthng h!s f.shionAb!e
costume, the .ncat boot and clankiug apuE
gaEe place 10 thick shoes, tue lseea coat to
black soutAns and the .3aunsy step to 4
measured walk, with bent head and doEnc.st
eyes. 1t this period Hzstab Was AyeaB old.
Hard etudy followed. and finding ttat this,
though puahed to excess, did not inpaE his
health, but rather improved it-a change due
more probably to an Aodtenious Mfe--ho con.
| eeivcd that God especially called him to the
| wosk Of priesthood. and having obtained the
| necessary medical permission To- enter the
church, hs Was ordained. His religious zeal
nov rapidly unfoldel- EndoKed with pc