National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-07-21
VISIT TO TIE POPE.

THE EXPERIENCES OF AN AMERICAN.
Mr.. Q. W. Stoddard, who was recently pre-
scented to Pope Plus, thus describes the audience
and the sensation produced;
There was a hum Of voices, . few OF the Pope's
guards entered, followed by men in splendid
dresses, the nature OF which there was scarcely
time to notice, for at once figure clad in white,
followed by small army Of attendants clad in
various colorS, entered, and We were on our knees
in q moment, for this was none other than Pope
Plus TX.
There Is something mar7elously magnetic in
the atmosphere Of this wonderful Pope. defy
any man who is q man to stand in that audience
chamber and not feel an instructive desire to go
down on his knees, and Of course, the very next
minute down he goes. It is not necessary TO be .
Catholic; it is not necessary even to feel q par
ticular reverence for the Pope, as you would for
any man the purity Of whose life has never been
attacked by his enemies. It 10 the indie
seribable something that possesses you the mo-
'ment he enters the room and holds you fascinated
so long as you are In his presence. Aud then IL
doesn't leave yoa At once; you remember him with
q sense Of uncommon pleasure. II is much like
feels AFTER he has made good confession, Il you
know what that e, and probably most Of you
don't. The Holy Father was not more than ten
minutes in our room, for there were roomE full of
other folks anxiously waiting his approach. To
one his benedletion and passed on 20 another, 3
general Of distinction, he EpOke rapidly and with
great spirit, and yet he spoke 10 this man OF war
as n he was speaking TO q child, 9 son who had
merited his fathers love, and It was charming to
Some Of the gentlemen were introduced by the
proper officer who learned IRON their otfeial docu-
meht their nationality and the few items relating
to them which might interest His Holiness Then
came my turn. Before ny presentation was
immediately recognized, and with . twinkle in
his eye and gracious familiarity, ne leaned on
my shoulder and said to py companion, whom he
greeted cordially: ''Ah, this is an Americana I
was never so hattered in all my life, for Of late
kaT Nora Nahr In
. Frenchman In France, and even an Italian in
Italy; but it was wonderfully good 10 be CLASH
fed at last. But then you see the Pope Is infAlli
BILE, and that accounts for Il.
We had some little conversation, as much as .
man may recall easllyi It was all in French, but
should have enjoyed Il in aLy language under
California; spoke Of Bishop Alemnnyi told me
to be good; and shall enjoy trying, hereafter,
though It is bore sometimes. Then he passed
his magnetic hand over my rossries and the little
statuette Of st. Peter, Just like the big one which
We all kiss; aud then he left me for The Hext lel-
low, and the supreme moment was over. II took
SO few seconds to do all this and yet the benedc-
ton lie indelible. What capital Arrangement Of
Divine ProVidenesl A score Of cardinals and
other dtgnitaries walked with His Holiness, and
was presented to one cardinal who, upon learn
ing that was Californian, struck me piayfully
In the stomach and SAID, in very good English,
"then am delighted to see you" California
sounds little like heaven away off here. real
lie this more and more every day.
USy out Of he VIA wb,sb IA " TnI
all aglOW with delicious enthusiasm. thought
how many millions Of good Catholics would give
their all TO have been in my happy shoes, and !
wished had been more worthy or Representing
those in California for the few months Il was my
privilege and pride to do 90. In.my way back TO
my room read on my walls, on the door posts
on the paYements and wherever there was an In
Titing space the significant legend, scrawled In
chalk, or paint, or charcoal: "YIVa Pho TX" 1t
argues something that these letters, like the
handwriting on the walls OF old, fash in the face
o. me rev King, and that they are echoed in the
ends OF the earth. 10 vain has the new Govern
mont sought to obllterate them. They fash in
the iaee o. the sun every morning, and 10 each
ana all Of these prophetic voices cry amen.