Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1871-12-04
RECEPTION Ar THE VATICAN
Tho Pspe en- the AmerIeau Calan-
itIes.
Correspondence New York Evening PSst.l

Correspondence New York Evening Post.l
RoME, October 20, 1871.
The Pope to-day held a reception ut
the Vatican, ut which a score or more
Of English, Americans and Italians
were present. These visitors were
escorted to the usual waiting-room, o
rather dreary yet stately apartment,
marked with the Papal arms, adorned
with faded frescoes, and with o throne
at one end. The ladies, dressed In
black and wearing black lace wells, and
the gentlemen arrayed In ordinary
evening costume, but all without
gloves, were ranged on seats along the
wall, and during tho hour Of waiting
could beguile the time by specializing
upon the identity of the various cardl-
nails, priests and other ecclesiastical
officials who from time to time fitted
on their way to private audiences with
the Pope.
The coming of the Pontiff was an
nounced by the appearance at the door
of two Swiss guards In the Papal uni
form OF red and yellow, but otherwise
there was no pomp OF preparation.
Following a half dozen Of military
men and q dozen or so of ecclesiastic
officials, came Plus IN, dressed In a
long white gown bound around the
waist by a silken sash trimmed with
gold. On his head he wore q white
skullcap. He was introduced to his
visitors by all Official, and spoke q few
words to each.
To the group of Americans the Pope
showed especial attention. Placing his
hand on the head of the little girl who
was one Of the party, he expressed his
pleasure at seeing strangers from such
q distance. "There have been many
Americans here this season already"
said he, 10 excellent French. "Your
country Is now experiencing great
suffering through vast CONGREGATIONS.
I don't merely refer to the destruction
of Chicago, but to the great fires In the
woods beyond it. This is all very sad;
but remember, we are all In the hands
of God"
Crossing to the other side Of the
room, Plus IN proceeded to speak to
three ladies, who had placed them
selves there apart from the others.
They all fell on their knees, and one
of them, grasping the Pope's hand,
covered it with kisses, while she anx-
iously poured forth some hurried
words, as If asking a favor which to
her was Of the greatest Importance.
1t Is etiquette not to reply to the re-
marks OF the Pope at these receptions,
unless lie should make some direct
question, but this lady disregarded all
rules In the anxiety Of her appeal, and
Plus IN was obliged to cut her short
by turning to the assembled company,
to whom be gave in Italian the usual
benediction. Almost oil knelt at this
moment, the cardinals and priests SET
ting the example. Then, with a
courteous inclination Of the head, tho
Pope left the room, followed by the
clergy.
Plus IN Is a very handsome old man,
with n manner at once shrewd and
bland. He appears to be In excellent
health for a person Of his advanced
years, and though he had q shutfling
gait, inseparable, perhaps, from his
rather ~inconvenient costume, there was
nothing in his actions to denote phys
ical weakness or anything approaching
decrepltude. As many stories have
been circulated lately about the feeble
state Of his health, It Is as we'll to re-
mark here that he seems to be, and
most probably Is, q vigorous old gen.
tleman, likely to see a still greater
length of days than he has already
enjoyed. His illusions to the recent
disasters in the United States then
fresh news in Romeo show that he Is
kept well Informed on current topics.
The Americans here have informally
expressed their sympathy with the
Chicago sufferers, by calling at the
office Of the United States Consul to
gain information, and many Of them
have contributed to the relief fund.
The artists and sculptors studying in
the French Academy-most of them
men of limited means.-have sent a
contribution of two hundred francs to
the fund. w. +. w.