Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-11-19

his benedictiOn to the priest and his assist
ants, he retires- IL is now S;45 O'Clock,
ad His Holiness takes his
breakfast, which consists OF a basin Of
broth ard cup Of black coffee. Cardinal
| AntOnelli now comes to confer with him,
| except on Tuesdays and Fridays, when he
is replaced by his substitute, MOnsignOr
Marino Marini. At 10 o'clock the Pope
reads his letters, which, as will be easily
imagined, are usually very numerous. lie
then looks over the OsSerudtOre Romano
and Voee della VaiiG, but very rarely,
am sorry to- say, does he ever undo the
bands Of the French papers, which reach
HIM regularly. Then begin the special
audiences. The men come in eve ling
dress, with eravais They genuhect thrice
on entering, and then kneei before the
Pope, who raises them up. The Pope is
seased; his visitors stand or kneel. Cardi-
nails and princes alone have the right TO sit
in the POpe's presence. This is one Of the
most fatiguing parts Of the Pope's duty.
The Secretary's department is literally in
undated with demands entreating audi
enees, and during the winter season the
number is incredible. at IL O'Clock the
Pope takes a basin of soup and glass Of
Nuns of st. Joseph, and is made from
a vine especially devoted to his use. For
merly Plus *. used only to drink common
white wine, and he had reached his eigh-
tieth year before he could be induced TO
drink Bordeaux or Capri. Men only are
permitted to enter the POpe's apartments.
When an audience Is over the Sovereign
Pontif rings bell placed on a table, and
- koA
who is on duty that dag. At about II or
1890, when the Pope leaves his chamber
to walk in the garden of the Vatican or In
the library, or perhaps in Raphaers stance
and loggie; on his passage he sometimes
meets a number Of families, Populations,
and persons who are received in public an
diences. He blesses their medals, rOsarieS
and the crosses which they bring in album
dance. He exchanges a few words with
them, and listens TO their questions, and
often pronounces a short ailocutiOn. At
100 the Pope returns from his walk. He
dismisseS bis court, and re-enters one Of
his chapels, where he remains until =
o'clock in alteration before the blessed sac
rament. At 3 he dimes. The din
ner consists invariably Of soup,
fowl. and boiled meat, which
are served up together with vegetables on a
large plate. His Holiness rarely touches
the meat or the fowl, but eats some Roman
frttlTe, vegetable, and fruits. His train
bearer and private Secretary, Monsignor
Cinni, assist at his meals. In summer the
Pope sleeps for about a quarter OF an hour
after dinner. The rosary and breviary,
which he says as strictly as does any eoun-
Try pastor, then occupy the Pope. About 4
O'Clock he takes his second walk; in winter
in Raphael's loggie, and in summer in the
gardens Of his palace. Some brilliant wits
have ventured to say that the Pope IS not
a prisoner at all, and that no one prevents
his going out. Il is, nevertheless, true that
Plus TX. is morally prisoner in the Vati-
! can, and lust as much so as if he were shut
in with bolts and bars; he could not leave
his palace without exciting demonstrations
of the most opposite kinds, where the in
suits and the Outeries of the freethinSers
would respond to the transports OF the
faithful. To illustrate the truth of this
assertion we need only recall the scenes
which occurred last May "A, when the
mob thought it perceived Pins IN.
at one of the windows of the
Vatican. The alley of the garden which
the Holy Father prefers, is one covered
with conyOlvulus, and bOrdered with tiue
orange trees. He likes TO sit at its fuTtheSt
end upon wooden bench placed under a
shadow Of G weeping willow, and near a
fountain popularity known as that of Zitelli.
Sometimes he stops to feed his pigeons,
which are contained in an aviary, aud have
feathers as white as his own robe. When the
weather is very warm Plus IL. chooses an
other alley equally well shaded with orange
trees. but of other and thicker growth. At
the end of this grove is miniature repro
duction Of the GrOtto of LOurdeS, with a
statue of the Virgin and Of the miraculous
fountain. Sometimes he pursueS his walk
further into the garden amongst its trees
and statues; but he never descends to the
lawn although his gardener has zealOusly
designed with box plant the papal arms
and the words Pho Mono, POntifce mas
SiIno in gigantic letters upon its centre.
Although he uses a cane, Plus IN. walks
very firmly, although be is somewhat bent.
He sometimes sits down, not to rest
| himself, but to rest, as he himself
says, thu legs of some Of the old cardinals,
who can scarcely keep pace with him. The
Holy Father re-enters the palace with his
| familiarS about the hour when the "Ange-
| lus- rings, which he recites aloud, and
afterwards SAYS the 'De Profundis." Then
the special audiences recOmmence until
supper time. The Pontifcal supper is
served at nine o'clock, Immediately before
the Pope goes to bed, and is, if possible.
more frugal than the dinner. 1t consists Of
broth and of two boiled potatoes seasoned
with salt and some fruit. l do not
think there are many princes or CON-
moners who would relish such plain diet.
| His Holiness goes to bed at ten, always I'M
assisted by his attendants. The linen need
ed to bind up a wound he has upon his leg
is brought to him, and he binds it on him
self. Sometimes during this operation his
valet hears him singing some hymn IN an
undeFtone. Every one knows that Plus
TX. has a charming voice, rich and sOnc-
rOus. His bed resembles a collegian's,
being made of iron, without curtains, and
has only a strip Of carpet two feet long IN
front of it. In this simple chamber
the Holy Father takes his well-earned rest.
Pins TX, sleeps as quietly as a child. His
health is extraordinary for his age. Once
a week his doctor and surgeon come to visit
him in order to discharge their duty. be
lets them feel his pulse, and when they de-
clare him to be free from fever he gives
them their congo with a few kind words
and pleasant jokes, such as are natural 10
his gentle and amiable character. All
kinds of trials have fallen upon the august
old mans shoulders without crushing him,
and without depriving him Of his natural
serenity. The bark Of Peter is accustomed
to encounter storms, and floats in them
as in its natural element. If ever you
visit the admirable library Of the
Vatican you will see in one of its show
cases a little golden cross. which was found
in an ancient urn buried in the basilica OF
San Lorenzo. This cross belonged % Plus
TX. He gave it to the library, and wrote
under it these words, which are resume
of all his life, and will very aptly close this
little chronicle: Cruz est Ella med. MorS
inimicd tibi.