The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-12
THE BIRTHDAY OF THE HOLY CITY.
Speculati0ns on the Succession to
the POntificate.
The College Of Cardinals and the Elec-
ton Of a New Pope.
Antagonist of Clerical and Civil
Authority in Italy.
ROME, Anril %, 1873.

ROME, April %, 1873.
Coming direct from Germany and Austria via
the Semmering road, 10 Rome l have been struck
with the remarkable phenomenon that the further
removed from the Vatican the greater the interest
and sympathy exhibited in the health OF His Hol
ness the Pope. Even in Berlin the journals spoke
kindly OF the suffering Pontin. In Austria grave
fears entertained that in case OF His Holiness
death all the vas. preparations there being made
for the marriage OF Princess Ghsea ana LOT the
festal opening of the Universal Exposition would
have to be postponed. Although postponement
from whatever cause might possibly be very well
come to Baron Schwarz, IN view OF the incomplete
state OF the Exposition edifce and the memorable
march OF time, such an event would have been
equally unwelcome to the political prisoners
OF Austria, who are promised complete
amnesty and release from their letters
In honor OF the marriage. Vienna was,
when passed through week ago, in a state OF in
tense excitement, produced by these festa prepa-
ratiOns, yet the kilograms relating to the illness Of
His Holiness were awaited with Impotence and
anxiety SINCE in case Of the Popes death, the most
Catholic and Apostolic Court in Europe would Of a
certainty defer the marriage of its princess and,
as many thought postpone the opening Of the
Exposition. However, a week has passed over and
Pho Mono still lives. / find that the Romans them
selves nave suffered from the anxiety caused
by the teegraphic dispatches to the Catholics of
Austria and Germany, since they never enter
tanned any fear that he would die for the present.
'PeOple in Rome" said prominent banker to me,
'do not believe that His Holiness will die yet. He
Is descended Of long-livcd stock. His grand
father reached the age Of ninety, and Papa Pho is
only eighty-twO. remember one Easter Sunday,
nvc years ago, he was taken sick in the same way
and the last sacrament was administered to him,
but he recovered and the Romans do not think he
Is going to die now"
ALARMING DISPATCHES.
1t was interesting in my journey from Vienna to
Rome to notice how constantly the rumors con-
corning the illness OF His Holiness decreased in in
tensity the nearer we approached the Tiber The
kilograms received in Vienna, especially those
from French sources, were most alarming Those
OF the 18th and 10th predicted hardly an hours life
to the venerable head OF the Church. at Trieste
day later, a telegram again from French
source, assured us that His Holiness was on the
point OF death, and that the Cardinals had been
hastily summoned to Rome to meet in cOnclave for
the election OF the new Pope correspondent in
the T1iester Zeitung described with exact minute
the nature OF the illness, concluding by stat
ing that the cold In His Holiness limbs kept con-
stantly encroachng on the vital parts, and he led
us to think that in few hours the death struggle
at the Vatican would be over. On arriving on
Italian soil, however, the reports from the vatican
bore much less alarming character. At Florence
I was convinced that either the Italian did not
consider the Holy Father in any great danger, or
did not specially care whether his pontifcate was
near its close or should last another decade. Ar
irving at Rome, had no need to inquire further
as to the POpe's health, seeing the festive crowds
out for the Sunday evenings promenade, enjoying
themselves In their own calm fashion, while Oh
the following day the city wore really festive
appearance. The houses were decorated in many
cases with nags to commemorate
THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDATION OF ROME,
while in the evening fireworks and illumination OF
the noble ruins attracted all Rome out OF doors.
To-day is the opening OF the Roman races, and
consequently but little room is left in the mind of
the Roman to think Of the sick man OF the Vatican.
To say the least the apparent apathy OF the Italian
people as regards the Pope does not strike a
stranger at all favorably The Parliament, too, is
equally dsregardlul OF the Vatican, in discussing.
while the Pope still remains in his precar0us state,
whether or not the religious orders shall be ex-
PEELED from Rome. postponement OF the debate
would certainly be courteous and charitable
GLIAPsEs OF ITALIAN NATURE
hurried journey to reach a deathbed In time Is
not favorable for making observations on the way.
Even the romantic beauties OF the Styran Alps and
the fruitful plains OF Italy have no attractions at
such times. Yet there was tract OF country on
the road from Vienna hither which seemed in it's
nature to correspond to the idea OF death and
desolation so much that was attracted to Ii. I'm
mediately after leaving Trieste the train passes
through miles and miles OF the most barren. rocky
mountain scenery that 1t is possible to imagine II
seems as If some terrible curse hangs over these
miles and miles OF hills, literally covered with
stones, even shrubs being scarcely able TO take
root among the rocks. Five hundred years ago, an
these hills were covered with grand old fsrest
trees, OF which, however, none renamed at the
In the habit 81 sending their galleys TO this conven
lent coast bordering as 1t does, on the Adratc to
finally completely deforestcd the entire region so
It remained for centuries, and the hills, having lost
S TN the leaving s o was washed
no vegetation could cling Thus the vast stony
wilderness remained until some twenty years ago,
when the attention OF the Austrian government
was called to the matter, and eminent economists
were confident that the waste district could event
ually be reclaimed and restored to Its former fruit
funess. The Austrian government then caused
miles and miles OF olive trees to be planted among
the rocks although first OF all the very SOL had to
be carried to the roots OF the trees. The young
trees took root, but at first suffered severely for
lack OF moisture, since It had been noticed that
with the destruction of the forests the rainfall had
constantly diminished until finally scarcely any
fell during the hot summer months BY and by a
clouds took compassion on the gasping plants as
they passed over them, for it Ia fact that whereas
heretofore rain scarcely ever Iell upon me barren
pleasant climate will soon return to the once
barren district The phenomena here related are
by no means isolated In the history OF deforested
districts. They have been observed at Cairo and
In other countries Think 1t well TO call attention
here to the fact that OF the most i'm
portant International congresses to be held at
vienna during the Exposition Will be devoted, on
the one part to the question Of forest culture. The
great chemist, Liebig, whose death at Munich oc-
CURED lew days ago, spoke once to me OBJ this
very subject. He expressed the view that the de.
cay OF ancient empires-of Greece and Rome-vas
take care OF the land and its fertilizer and climate
regulator, the forests.
MEDICAL ATTENDANTS AT THE VATICAN
But to return to Rome Your cable despatches
Will have already informed you OF the improved
condition OF His Holiness health, and Of the
generally exaggerated statements that nave been
published on the subject Yesterday he sat nm for
lone time In an arm chair and Qranfed a faw