The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-08-03

As one ascends the great staircase lead
ing up to the Vatican, that vast palace OF
the Roman pope containing several tnous-
and apartments. he first comes into the court
of the lodges. Upon three sides OF this lr-
regular quadrangle I'm three rows over each
other, 'tRaphaels Bibler is exhibited to the
enraptured beholder. In the deep, uneasy
stiffness, which almost always prevails here.
a single figure, from time to time moves up
and down over the stones between wnlcn
green grass Is growing. A few strangers,
mostly German or English, walk solemnly
across the great court to the door dlIectly
opposite the chief entrance, which LEADS 10
the Vatican collection of paintings and
antiquities.
On the right, close to the staircase, as one
steps into the court, Is the principal en-
trance to the Vatican. Here Is the pope's
private dwelling. consisting of two stories,
the first. of which is the seat of the papal
chancery. The cardinal, Count Ahtonelli,
occupies the third story.
Swiss guards in black, red, and gold,
wearing helmets similar to the Prussian
helmets, gather in groups upon the staircase
| guarding the ascent to the pope's residence.
/ Two ordnance officers take charge of the
4 horses of those who alight, and papal
/ functiOnaries sometimes descend from
| carriages which are driven almost noise
| lessly owes the pavement.
The pomp which enVirons the pope
belongs to him wholly as the head of the
/ church. His private life is characterized by
an austere simplicity in marked contrast
! with his official magnificence. Indeed this
/ is a regularity of the Roman Catholic
church. The magnifcence of its ecclesias-
tics belongs 20 the church not the men
| The private sitting-roOm of the pOntiff,
reached by passage throughh four outer
balls or audience-roOms, is a plain room
about fifteen feet by twenty, lighted by a
single window, and without a fireplace
| Here is his writing-table and here he does
his real work. He is said to be very me-
thodical in his habits and very simple in his
tastes, to rise at five or half past, after an
hour and halfin devotion in his private
chapel, to sit down to a breakfast which
consists only ola cup of chocolate and roll
of bread, after which come the labOrs OF the
day lasting till a midday dinner at one
followed usually by repose, sometimes
! audiences, and in fair weather walk or
drive. He retires at nine.
Let US imagine ourselves present on his
return from his afternoon drive.
Four dragons burst into the court. They
are uniformed entirely in black, wear black
gloves and high black helmets with waving
black plumes. They gallop to the entrance
gate and place themselves in solemn row:
on each side of it, Six Swiss guards anC
six gendarmes take their positions behind
them. Then two positions in variegateC
colors appear, and Immediately after the
carriage OF the pope.
The ''visible head" of the Catholic churcl
is driven in during the lofty ringing o
st Peters great clock. His coach, distin
guished from the overloaded state coaches
of the cardinals and Roman nobility by it
simplicity, is drawn by eirh' black horses
the coachman wearing purple stockings,
black coat, and triangular hat. Two priests
first alight and throw themselves down be
fore the carriage-dOor. Then follows hi
holiness himself while the guards, the col
lected household attendants, stranger
standing about, and other spectators bow
the knee.
!, Plus Ninth is of medium height, thick-sei
: somewhat cOrpulent. and clothed from hea'
to foot in white. A cross embroidered il
. gold sparkles upon his shoes. From undo
his white cap flows the silver hair whicl
surrounds the temples of the expressive ant
, remarkably attractive head. The beauty O
his countenance consists in regularity o
feature, and the expression, in spite of tn
eagle nose and narrowly cleft eyes, is mild
ness and gentleness mingled with a weary
melancholy cast. Ever since the Italian
f occupation of Rome he has shut himself u
in the Vatican appealing to the sympathie
; of the Roman Catholic world by maxim;
| himself prisoner in his own palace. Her
. in quiet and pleasant way. with little or n
! Ostentation, he celebrated the twenty -fift
, anniversary of his elevation to the papacy
He is said to have received nearly or quit
f. 1900 visitors, who called to congratulate
him, and many of whom brought him mag
2 nificent presents. He at the same tim
? distributed about $4,000 among the poor.