National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-03
NatiuuaI gepnblitaa
PIC ,TOYo's DAILY LIFE.
A MosT INTERESTING NARRATIVE {

A MOST INTERESTING NARRATIVE OF
HIS PERSONAL HABITS.
The Catholic Revisw makes public in America
the following translation of an article on Pho
Nono's daily life, which has been recently
written by NJ. Bernsdille, and is now s'makfng
the rounds" Of the Continental press:
formed, in Rome, the acquaintance of
valet de chambre Of the Holy Father, who has
bHen in his service ten wears, and has never
left him. He possesses the confidence of his
venerable master, and be deserves it. lean
| mention more than one nonsignore who has
not his influence, and he is eourted BY persons
from the four quarters of the globe. He ought
to have a secretary to attend to his correspond
ence; he is constantly receiving visits and re-
: quests, and he Is asked for audiences as II he
were minister. Bankers worth millions, dep
uties and great ladies come to zee him with
| letters Of Introduction Generals and minis
tiers and high officials send him their photo
graphs, with which he lines the wslls-of his
chamber. Al this does not spoil him; he has
remained hunble, gentle, polite, serViceable,
obligiDg and even unembarrassed BY the atten-
tions he receives and never for moment for
getting his humble station or seeking TOT abuse
the confidence placed in him. have often
spoken with this clerical Csleb-and alwsysof
Plus IL. The Sovereign POntif has no reason
to fear the proverb which declares that no man
is hero to his valet. It is, thanks to his con
ndence, enriched by the iDdiseretion of some
other persons attached to the Papal Court,
that am able to give the following account of
how Plus N passes his day:
AN EAErY R1sER.
Winter and summer the Pope, uOtgitbstand-
ing his eighty-three years, rises at $50 O'Clock,
and dresses himself without assistance, At 4
O'Clock he descends to a small chapel where
he says Mass, and where those who have per
mission to do so receive communion from his
hands. He celebrates Mass with great deyo-
ton, and with such piety that he is often
moved to tears. The Holy Father next hears
another Mass, said by one of his chaplains,
and then, after giving his benediction to the
priests and his assistants he retires.
SIMPLE BREAKFAST.
It is now $50 o'clock, and His Holiness
takes his breakfast, which consists Of a basin
of broth and a cup of black coffee. Cardinal
AntOnelh now comes to confer with him, ex-
eept on Tuesdays and Fridays, when he is re-
placed by his substitute, Mgr. Marine Marini
At 10 O'Clock the Pope reads his letters, which,
as will be easily imagined, are usually very
numerous. He then looks over the O6SsrUa-
tore Romano and VOee delLa Teritq. Then
begin
THE SPECIAL AUDIENCES.
The men come in evening dress, with cravats
They genuiect thrice on entering, and then
kneel before the Pope, who raises them I'D.
The Pope is seated; his visitors stand or kneel
Cardinals and princes alone have the right to
sit in the Pope's presence. This is one Of the
most fatiguing parts of the Popc's duty. The
secretary's department is literally inundated
with demands entreating audiences, and during
the winter season the number is incredible.
At IL O'Clock the Pope takes a basin of souD
and glass of Bordeaux wine which is sent to
M and i
from a vine specially devoted to his use
Formerly Plus IN. used only to drink common
white wine, and he had reached his eighrieth
year before he could be induced to drink Bor-
deaux or Capri.
MEN ONLY
are permitted to enter the Pope's apartments.
When an audience is over the Sovereign Pontifr
rings bell placed on table, and another per-
SON is admitted by the prelate who is on duty
that day. About II or half past, when the
Pope leaves his chamber to walk in the garden
ofthe Vatican or in the library, or, perhaps, in
RaphaePs StGHze and logic, on his passage he
sometimes meets number of families, deDuta-
tions and persons who are received in public
audiences. He blesses their medals, rossrfes
and the crosses which they bring in abundance
He exchanges a few words with them and
listens to their questions, and often pronounees
a short allocution. At 100 the Pope returns
from his walk. He dismisses his court and re-
enters one of his chapels, where he remains IN
til O'Clock in alteration
BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT.
At S he dimes. The dinner 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 Of the
fowl, but eats some Roman fiitlIFs, vegetables
and fruits. His train-bearer and private secre-
tary, Mgr. Cinni, assist at his meals. In sum
mer the Pope sleeps for about quarter of an
hour after dinner. The rosary and breViary,
which he says as strictly as does any country
pastor, then occupy the Pope. About O'Clock
he takes his second walk in winter in Raphaeps
Loggis, and in summer in the gardens of his
palace. The alley of the garden which the
Holy Father prefers is ore covered with con-
volyulus, and bordered with fne orange-trees
He likes to sit at its furthest end, upon a
wooden bench placed under a shadow of
weeping willow, and near a fountain popularity
known as that of Ziteli. Sometimes he stops
to feed his pigeons, which are contained in an
ayiary, and have feathers as white as his own
robe. 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 Pic Mono,
Po1stgtice DtGSSiBIO in gigantic letters upon its
centre. Although he uses a cane, Plus TX
walks very firmly, although he is somewhat
bent. He sometimes sits down-not to rest
himself, but TO rest, as he himself says, the
legs of
SOME OF TIE OLD CARDINALS,
who can scarcely keep pace with him. The
Pontiicial supper is served at o'clock i'm
before the Pope goes to bed, and is
if possible, more frugal than the dinner It
consists of broth and of two boiled potatoes,
with salt, and some fruit. do not
think there are many princes or commOners
who would relish such plain diet. His Holt
ness goes to bed at 10, always unassisted by his
attendants. At this time his valet hears him
singing some hymn IN an undertone. Every
lne knows that
Plus TX. HAS A CHARMING VOICE,
Tictsnd sonorous. His bed resembles a col
aaTTgIbs, being made Of iron, without curtains,
anu h~ only q strip of carpet two feet long in
E IUIt OF. In this simple chamber the Holy
rather I,l taes his welL-earned rest. Plus IL.
Sleeps a. q.atly as a child. His health is ex-
TaorunaIy ! his age. Once a week his doc
Ior anu SUI esI-eome to visit him, in order to
ulsenaI " t -I Vty. He lets them feel his
from fever he gives ueet ATT mn ~, 70 DS t'S
few kind words and Ii.tlet , oGnSe W.
are natural to his gentle "a ar,;STIo IL o-Sotor
All kinds of trials have I,Ta-, -, az
gust old mans shoulders -s.L.Pt -
serenity.
THE BARK OF PETER
is accustomed to encounter storms, al sou.-
in them as in its natural element. If -C[ 80
visit the admirable library of the NaticaL y -,
will see in one of its showcases a little gOlS
cross, which was found in an ancient urn burie-
in the basilica of San Lorenzo. This cross be-
longed to 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: "CT'lE est rita nlea. Nors
iniHIicd ti6i."