The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-04
DOMESTIC LIFE OF Pho MONO.
How His Holiness Spends His Days-Life at the
Vatican Morning, Noon and Night-The
Attendants of the Pope-Dress,
Manners and Occupation

There have been so many contradictory reports as
to the private life OF the Supreme Pon,in at the
present time that q few reliable details will prob
ably pc interesting to your readers. Plus TX. Is
now In very good health. He rises at seven all
through the year and SAYS mass IN little chapel
close 10 his bedroom. being assisted therein by a
secret chaplain bearing the rank OF Monsignore. At
eight he takes cup OF chocolate ana remains talk
ing IN the saloon, adjoining his bedroom, with his
cnamberlains. who are also priests. If 1t Is
not day Of audience he confers with his Secretary
OF State, Cardinal Antionelli, upon political affairs
although he has mad not much to trouble HIM In
that way lately. Next in turn comes the Cardinal
Vicar Patrlzi, upon Church matters.
ON AUDIENCE DAYS
the Pope likes to show himself III the midst OF his
Court and surrounded by as imposing a retinuc as
possible and his own simple waite dress contrast
ing with the various and brilliant costumes, chiefly
scarlet produces a superb effect.
AFTER THE AUDIENCE,
or the conference, which generally lasts two or
three hours, the Pope descends the private stairs
leading to his gardens ana walks there until two
O'Clock. He Is preceded by TWO of the gaardia
mobile. at his side walks the chief MAJOR domo, and
behind follow two lay chamberalns. wearing a
costume of the aogen age, knee breechcs shoes
with buckles, blue pompoint, black cloak and
black cap with black feather.
DINNER.
AT precisely two O'Clock Plus TX. dimes In room
between his library and the sd,on, ana TWO laymen,
OF certain rank, his repast, when Is brought
| in co them from the Kitchen by the assistant cham.
beralns, who are paid at the rate Of thirty crowns
or dollars per month The dinner is very frugal, in
accordance with the DOCTORS prescriptions and the
wish OF the Pope himself for he is not gourmand.
| 1t consists of SOUP. little boiled or roast meal,
some potatoes cooked with butter, and hall glass
| OF pure red wine from the "Castelh Roman" The
| whole dinner costs only thirty sous, one franc
ana a hall. The wine is bought as required, or
daily, the Pope having cellar. or all the persons
who frequent The Vatican the Pope is The smallest
eater
AFTER DINNER
In accordance with the advice OF his doctors 80
keep away sloth by taxing at least two walks every
day. PiOus TX, after short acr-dlnner nap, goes
out again with the same attendants, and sometimes
accompanied by Antone, or the lanatica General
| Kanzler. He returns home before sunset, anu
reads vespers with chaplain, who then leaves
MIN. Alter this service he reads his private de-
sparches,
| LETTERS FROM KINGS, EMPERORS AND PRESIDENTS
OF REfUBi.ICS,
which he receives from all quarters OF the globe;
sometimes even, 1t said rom the Quirnal. These
last 1t Is affirmed, he always opens the first, and
smiles as he reads them. Ii SO disposed he replies
either in Latin or IN French, two languages which
he knows perfectly, in Italian. III not inclined TO
write he Signs his name on one of his portraits, OF
which he always keeps good many copies on his
desk.
THE poPE's PORTRAITS.
The Handwriting OF Plus TX. is small, but clear,
and IKE that OF woman. Sometimes he AIDES 10
the usual Plus1 T.. p. TX. sentence or bencdiclon,
and distributes these portraits 10 persons Of consd-
er aton vino receive audience from MIN, as well as
TO foreign countries, when so requested The
Roman booksellers nave specialized III Initiating tue
Pope's writing. and selling his photograph with the
READING AND CRITICISM.
When he has finished writing the Holy Father lis.
tens to one Of MS chanberialns, who reads aloud
TO hin various OF the Italian journals including
those OF satnical nature, and seems especially
municipality. Win which body he Is very Iii salts
Sus a ny 'e e IN heS NOW 70 ae.
ing to him the Pope MAKES Ills own reflections ac-
cordlng to lac different moods OF ais very variable
temper, aud often makes epgrammatic remarks and
play upon Worus, winch he knows Will be repeated
among the courllers. lie does not show much
respect Tor our political men, OF whom he generally
speaks In tone OF irony, aud Us Deing still the men
or ls4s. He says they had no right to come to
Rome seize upon the property OF the Church, per-
secute The monAs and nuns, and tormen INN gem
orally when he Is SO Old and cannot nave much time
longer to i've surely" he often says with u
sign, "they might have waited Tor nv successor"
The only man Tor whom Plus IA. really has any
esteem, and OF whom ne will not allow ANY Ill 10 be
sad, Is the King because ne believes him TO he The
only Italian VINO mas common sense land that IN
spite OF himself" adds HIS Holiness, smiling. the
reang Is generally over at ten O'CLOCK wnen supper
is served. Soup, little cooked salad and the nall
glass OF ON OrdthGtre comprise the whole or This
repast. Alter supper the Pope dismisses al present
wltn his oenedlctlOn, and retlres to ms chamber,
accompanied by his ciiamberlals, who sleep In the
room preceding that OF HIS Holiness The cnlmper-
lalns-Iour In numper-are all persons enjoying the
confidence OF the Holy Father; especially
c0mpanled the Pope from spoleto, and mas never
yet left him. Before undressing the chaplain major
brings the Pope his brevlary, and receives MS
mands Tor the following day, alter wnlch ms chanl-
berains assist him to undress ana to get into
BID.
The bedroom OF Plus TX. Is very simply furnished.
Besides the ped, wncn has coverlct OF red sAJln,
there Is little toilet mirror and a few arm cnars.
Tie moor Is unCarpeted even III Winter, the august
septuagenarlan having an incomprebensiDe aver
sion Tor Carpets. small pre- Uteu, surnonncd by
q Crucinx, completes the furniture or the room.
lains and the assistant chamberiains, there the
secret sWeepers t'scopdt0rf'. young laymen, who
wear, with the soutane, mustacne and an lmpe-
rial These swcepers are commissioned TO keep
the bedroom III order, being In TACT, nothing else
| than servants. Before the time OF Mentena lney
were not allowed to wear any beard. but afterwards,
having asked the Pope, as great favor, 10 allow
them 10 wear mustachi0s ana an imperialc, their
desires were granted.
DAY IN THE VATICAN.
consider the foregoing details. condensed from
letter published in the CititG NGsOnGle, correct
IN the MAN, for they cOncide with similar accounts
OF "a day In tne Vatican which have already sent
your readers; but must protest against the sup
posItitlOus franc and hali' dinner OF His Holiness,
Tor happen to know The prelate VINO audlt5 the
although It Is the most economical OF sovereign
menus III Europe, 1t Is not quite SO cheap or re-
sricted as stated above. Tne Pope's dinner con-
sists OF soup, three dishes anu dessert; but HIS
Holiness rarely partakes Of more than two OF the
d1she5 presented. IL he eats the boiled fowl and
The fried fish, Tor instance he leaves The roast beef
and v,ce cersd but he IS always ready Tor vegcta-
bles and plate OF choice Iruit. He has plenty Of
rare foreign wines In mis- cellar for The Vatican pal.
ace is not deprived OF that useful appendage; put
Vlna, the best wine district near Rome
ATTEMprED GRANT TARrpNv