Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-06-11

allow. Consequently. the nauseous food
and sour wine, usually supplied 10 the
incarcerated in the dingy cells Of st. An
gelo we're substituted by good fare and
wine Of n generous flavor. On the
second day of his confinement, Gui-
seppe Critoni became seriously Ill, In
few days an indubitable case OF
typhus fever developed itself, and the
physician advised that the patient be
removed to the Santo Spirito hospital
an institution founded by Plus TX.
When His Holiness had heard Of Giu-
seppe Critoni's arrest, he seemed un-
commonly interested in the news-an old
feeling seemed aroused within him. Cri-
toni recovered, and was sent back TO
Castle St. Angelo. Confinement again
told on the old rebels constitution, and
relapse Of the dreadful fever ensued.
This time the veterans heart fell. He
knew that death was upon him, and the
chaplain approached his bedside more
frequently than usual. The night upon
which Giuseppe was warned that his
hours were briefly numbered, the officer
on duty in Castle Angelo was informed
by the sentinel that two priests demand
ed entrance into the prison. AS neither
of them could give the password Of the
night the sentinel referred them to his
officer.
"Have them searched and then closely
questioned by the corporal of the guard,
was the officers direction. The clergy
men were searched; but no revelations
Of reasonable nature were brought TO
light. The officer, coming forward, in
quired upon what ground they sought
access to the prison at that hour. One
of the priests, corpulent and gray
haired old man, said that they had come
to visit Giuseppe Critoni, who lay at the
point of death. The mention of the
old rebel s name by priest at such an
hour was suspicious, and the officer
bluntly refused admittance. The
younger of the priests then said: / am
here in the name OF his Holiness the
Pope. He gave me permission, in per-
son, to enter the prison to night" The
officer replied that in such troubled times
as those verbal permit was moi valid.
"And by whose authority are you
here?" the officer asked the old gray
haired priest.
"On the authority which the holy
church has given me.
The officer was confused by this in
definite answer, and insisted that the
parley should end, declaring that his
orders were such that he could not con-
verse unnecessarily with unknown
priests or laymen who came to the gates
of the castle after the hour of the Ave
Maria, unprovided with the parole
and an order from the generalin-chief
or the Pope. The old, gray-haired
clergyman then requested the officer to
give him sheet Of paper, which was
duly furnished. The old man, placing
the paper on the door of the guard.
house, wrote: Pass the Pope and Mon
signor Moriazzi. Pope Plus (In propria
personal
The officer read the curt communica-
ton, and stood confounded. The Pope
raised his hat, the moon shone down on
his silvery locks and handsome face
There was no more doubt. The officer
fell on his knee and begged the holy
father to spare him the disgrace and
penalty which his insolence deserved.
The officer was not only excused, but
promoted the next day. More like
poor priest from Piedmont than the Lord
of the Vatican, Pho Mono with Moriazzi
passed into the room where Giuseppe
Criton, the rebel, lay dying. They con-
fronted each other-each the dearest
companion of the other youth, who
were playmates at time when their des-
TIMES were unknown and when their
prospects on the life-path seemed equal.
One was now Plus TX, Pope of Rome;
the other Giuseppe Critoni, the most
trusted adherent of Mazzini and Carl
baldi, that pope's arch-enemies. But
Plus TX was not the man to consider
these things at that moment, for his
heart being as open and liberal as his
purse, he could not forget the association
of his childhood and recollections which
no man can be worthy without revering
"Do you remember me, GiuseppeY
asked the Pope, while he grasped the
thin, sinewy wrist Of the dying revolu
zionist The raving was over, and the
calm which precedes death had set in.
Giuseppe, looking up, said, " A priest,
but do not know you.
ut is, indeed, too long for you to re-
member my face, said the Pope of
Rome. "Do you not recollect, Giuseppe,
that in Viterbo, more than forty years
ago, you knew boy named Mastai Fer
retti2" '
The old rebel strived to rise upon his
pillow, and, opening wide his Pickering
eyes, he exclaimed, Where is Mastai
Ferretti-Pio Nono-il papa2" tt
He is here, Giuseppe. am he, and
| wish you to speak to me" The dying
man pressed the Pope's hand, and then
fumbied his shirt as if searching for
something in his bosom. At last he
clutched something, and gasped, Mas
tail"
The Pope looked down'and found be-
tween the rebels fingers a scapular of
the order of the Seven Dolors. The
promise had been kept nearly half a
century, and tears rolled down the ven
erable pontif-s cheeks. The last words
of the dying rebel we're, Not against
you, Mastai, not you" which meant that
it was not against the Pope, but the
papacy, he had taken up arms.