Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-08-08

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parishes Of Niterbo. The meeting of the
two former playmates was as ardently en-
thusiastic as two Southern Italians could
make it. Critoni had not been many days
at Niterbo when he was seized with small
pox, which was prevalent there during his
stay. In critical stage of his malignant
disease, Critoni sent for the curate, Mastai
Ferretti, who, after administering the rites
of the Church enrolled him in the order OF
the g Seven Dolors, pious institution. es-
tablished in honor of the seven great afflic-
tons which the Catholic church attributes
to the mother of Christ The members of
the order wear two black scapulars, sus-
pended from n cord worn around the neck
and inside the clothes. 1t was this badge
that the curate, Mastai Ferretti, placed upon
| Giuseppe Critoni's neck, and after having
enrolled him member of the d" Sefte Dolo-
~ Critoni recovered and went back to
! Ancona, promising ever to retain the sacred
insignia Of the order to which he belonged
Time rolled on, and Mastai Ferretti went as
a missionary to South America Here the
intercourse Of the rebel and the priest ended
for over forty years. In turns, Critoni be-
came bankrupt banker, a journalist, a
| school-master and reyolutionist. In the
last named profession he remained until he
died
When on a balniy spring evening in 1867 =,
the papal and the French soldiers had march
ed in triumph through the Porta di Popolo
and the Corso, greeted by the cheers of the
| paDaiini, while lovely flowers and laurels
were showered from the adjoining windows,
the more important Of the prisoners, among
whom Giuseppe Critoni was first, were
/ brought, under De Charette's charge. to the
dungeons Of Castle St. Angelo. Before
nighttall, a special courier from the pope
| brought orders to the officer in charge of the
castle TO grant the prisoners every privilege
that prudence would allow. Consequently.
the nauseous food and sour wine. usually
supplied TO the incarcerated in the dingy
cells of St. Angelo, were substituted by good
fare and wine Of a generous flavor. On the
second day of his confinement, Giuseppe
Critoni became seriously i'll. In a few days
an indubitable case Of typhus fever develop
ed itself, and physician advised that the pa
tent be removed to the Santo Spirito lIOspi-
tal-an institution founded by Plus IL.
/ When his Holiness had heard Of Giuseppe
Critoni's arrest, he seemed uncommOnly in
terested in the news-an old feeling seemed
aroused within him. Critoni recovered, and
was sent back to Castle st. Angelo. Con-
fnement again told on the old rebels con-
stitudon, and a relapse OF the dreadful fever
ensued. This time the veterans heart fell.
He knew death was upon him, and the chap
lain approached his bedside more frequently
than usual The night upon which Giu-
seppe was warned that his hours were brief
", 4l,a .ff,.
Angelo was informed by the sentinel that
two priests demanded 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 directions The clergy
men were searched; but no revelations of a
reasonable nature were brought to light
The officer, coming forward, inquired upon
what ground they sought access TO the pris-
on at that hour. One Of the priests, a cor
pulent and gray-haired old man, said that
they had come to visit Giuseppe Critoni,
who lay at the point of death. The men
ton of the old rebels 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. lie gave
me permission, in person, TO enter the prison
tonight" " The officer replied that in such
troubled times A. those rer5Gi permit was
not valid.
d" And by whose authority are YOU here -
the officer asked the old gray-haired priest.
- PeF auforifa che mi ha data Ia SaHfo
ChieSar' (0n the authority which Holy
Church has given me.)
The officer was confused by this indefinite
answer, and insisted that the Isrley should
end, declaring that his orders were such that
he could not converse unnecessarily with un-
known priests or laymen who came to the
gates Of the castle after the hour Of the
4" Arc Marie" unproyidcd with the parole
and an order from the general-in-chiei or
the pope. The old gray-haired clergyman
then requested the officer to give him a sheet
of paper, which was duly furnished. The
old man placing the paper on the door Of
the guard-house, wrote:
d" LaSciate paSsqrc a papa u NoRNgH1
Noria--i. PMS Para.
I'm propria pcrSona)."
The officer read the curt communication,
and stood confounded. The pope raised his
hat. the moon shone down on his silyery
locks and handsome face. There was no
more doubt. The officer fell on his knees
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 dav More ike a
poor priest from Piedmont the lord of the
Vatican, Pic Mono with Nloriazzi passed into
49,, lo-, c.. ff.5+,r,s tho ral.a1
lay diving. They confronted each other
each the dearest companion Of the other :
youth, who were playmates at Sc time when
their destinies were unknown and when their
prospects on the liie-path seemed equal. One
was now Plus IN, Pope Of Rome the other
Giuseppe Critoni. the most trusted adherent
Of Mazzini and Garibaldi, that pope's arch
enemies. But Plus IN. 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 associations of his
childhood, and recollectiOns. which no man
can be worthy without revering.
." Do you rrmemberme, Giuseppe?" asked
the pope, while he grasped the thin, sinewy
wrist Of the dying reyolutionist.
The raying was over, and the calm which
precedes death had set in. Giuseppe, look
ing Us, said, d" In prcta, ma non "a cognos-
CO." a priest, but do not know you)
. II is, indeed, too long for You to remem-
ber my face said the Pope of Rome. "Do
YOU not recollect, Giuseppe, that in Niterbo,
more than forty years ago, you knew boy
named Mastai Ferretti?'
The old rebel striyed to rise upon his pill
low and, opening wide his flickering eyes,
he exclaimed, = Where is Nlastai Ferretti-
Pio Nono-il papa?''
d" He is here, Giuseppe. am he, and |
wish You to speak to me- The dying man
pressed the pope's hand, and then fumbled
his bosom. At last he clutched something
and gasped, % Alastaii'
The pore looked down and found between
the rebels fingers a scapular of the Order of
the Seven Dslors. The promise had been
kept nearly half century, and tears rolled
down the venerable pontiii-s cheeks.
The last words Of the dying rebel vera
" Not against yOU, MdStn, not yoU, which
meant that it was not against the pope, but
the papacy. he had taken up arms.
In a similar disguise, Plus IN has visited
many of the charitable institutions of Rome,
in order to test the truth of current com
plants, and has brought to punishment Off
cials found wanting in their duty to the de-
serving poor.
A diamond studded tiara with which the
ex-Queen of Spain presented him, he had
sold for the benefit of the poor, the lower
classes in Rome being then in state bor-
dering on destitution About the same time
design of a ship in gold, loaded with Ilav-
ana cigars of the highest brand, was sent to
Rome by the Catholics of Cuba as a gift to
his Holiness His reply to the address
wherewith the gift was accompanied, stated
that he would dispose Of the gift to the best
advantage. Numerous were the calls then
then made upon the Vatican, and its funds
were equally small, 50 the pope had the
golden gifts of the Cubans sent to the mint
and thence distributed to the poor