New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-11-21
Sad Outlook for the Aged PontiH-IIov
HIS Successor Will be Chosen.

Sad Outlook for the Aged Pontin-IIow
His Successor Will be Chosen.
A Rome letter to the New York Times has
the following, which is probably very
highly colored picture:
1t is we'll known at Rome that the days of
poor Plus TX. are numbered, and every min
lister has long since begun to send daily, bull
letins to his master at home. The bent
shoulders, the dropping head, the feeble gait,
and above all, the failing memory of the
good old man, speak but too eloquently of
the approach of the day on which he is to be
freed from his burden. Nor does he flatter
himself-as he used to do until quite re-
cently-any longer with visions of long years
of life, or great deeds yet to be done, and OF
thorough changes to be accomplished. His
brothers. recent death has made deep i'm
preston upon his mind, and the spirit that
once held up and strengthened the decaying
frame, is no longer there. lie knows his
end is coming, and he shares with all his
faithful ones the great anxiety to know..whO
is to be his successor on the throne of St.
Peter. 1t is even said that the dread of the
last hour is weighing heavily on his mind.
He will not be blamed for this terror by
those who know the nature of the last scene
which is enacted at the Vatican when Pope
leaves this world. As soon as all hope is
given up by the attending physicians, pre-
lates and priests rush to gather around their
patrons. Officials Of the Noble Guard, State
officials of every rank, and all employees Of
the palace collect their property to secure it
against new corners, and the servants Join in
the general sauce q,I pe,a. Such was the case
in lo4G, when GregoryXV was abandoned
by his friends. A poor under-gardener, who
had often received kind word or a modest
gift from the Pope when walking in his gar
den, heard of his illness, and felt prompted
in his heart to see him once more in life. He
found the outer door of the palace open not
a person in the halls, on the stairs. in the
passages. He knocked at door, and as no one
answered, opened 1t; the room was enlpty:
he ventured into second and third; not a
soul was to be seen. At last he enters a
dmly lighted, magnificent apartment, and,
to his amazement, sees there bed, on which
huge pile of pillows and holsters is raised
on one end, while the Pope himself lies on
one side of it, his head hanging down and
looking deep purple. The poor gardener
rushes up to his benefactor; with tender.
trembling hands he places him on his bed,
and then sinks reverently on his knees, ask
ing the Holy Fathers blessing. AS he re-
ceives no answer, he starts up in terror.
touches the body and finds it cold! Once
more he kneels down, saying a De Profundis
for the deceased, and is thus found by a ser.
want, who enters with pile of garments and
gowns on his arm.
Not even when death has taken pity ON
the sufferer is rest at once granted the BODY
The Cardinal Chamberlain, having been ofii-
cially informed of the death of the Pope, APP
pears with other prelates at the bedside and
calls the deceased three times by name re-
ceiving no answer, he takes from a silver
salver, offered him by a high official, silver
hammer with ivory handle, and with this in
strument he knocks three times against the
forehead of the deceased. Only then is the
Pope officially dead the Senate of Rome
takes formal possession of the palace, the
fishers ring is solemnly broken, and the bell
set ringing, which is only heard at the death
of the Pope and the beginning of carnival.
Then begins that most exciting of all
scenes which Christendom knows upon earth
the conclave of the Cardinals for the pur-
pose of electing new Pope. What cunning
devices those cells have witnessed, in which
the electors are held prisoners till the choice
has been accomplished! There are the So
called Crown Cardinals, who belong, race or
family connection, to one of the reigning
houses of Europe, and naturally favor the
election Of one of their own race, or at least
OF man pledged to the interests of the.
country. Among them the German empI.
will, after long interval, appear at the a,..
proaching conclave, and, like Brennus, throw
the approaching sword into the scales. OPP
posed to these are the Zelanti, who represent
the Italian elements DESTROYS of having a
native on the throne, who will take good
care Of friends and followers and faithfully |
adhere to the traditions of former Popes.
The approaching election will, no doubt, |
be one OF the most exciting in the annals of
the Church. Although the Pope is no longer |
a secular prince, he has, in the estimation of !
many sound thinkers and experienced states
men, the chance Of becoming all the more
powerful in his capacity as purely spiritual
master of millions of souls. He will no |
longer be hampered by political embarrass- :