River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-04-23

he had already been introduced to mon
sigROre at reception given by the Ameri-
can Minister at Rome at the legation.
His plan was then soon perfected; he
would 60 to nlonsigaore, and ask for a
letter OF introduction not to the young
lady, but to her father. 1t could not
but happen that he would thus be put in
communication with the daughter. Lieu
tenant Dixon drove at once to the Piazza
d Spagna, where the gentleman he sought
lived in apartments.
1t has been already remarked that
Monsignore Bella was exceedingly anxi-
Gus to place upon his head the hat of a
cardinal. At this very time he was up
to his ears in all sorts of plans and pro-
jects, looking to the advancement in the
church. He, however, received the lieu
tenant with considerable courtesy, ex-
tended to him one finger, apologized for
the little time at his disposal, and acced-
cd to the request. lie promised to send
letter Of introduction that very after
noon to the address on the card of his
visitor.
Monsignore was as good as his word.
dicted, and read as follows:
Ny DEAR CozzI: have the pleasure
OF introducing 10 your consideration Lieu
tenant Eugene Dixon, of the American
marine, who will, doubt not, receive at
your hands that general hospitality
which, | am sure, you will agree he de.
serves. Faithfully yours, BELLA.
1t appeared, however, that Monsignore
Bella, stimulated by his ambition and
zeal for the church, had occasion to write
another letter that same afternoon. Both
of these he handed to his valet, with in
structions as to their delivery. The lat
ter, however-possibly in consequence of
an undue libation of the "lachryma chris
til in his masters wine closet-became
confused as TO the destination of these
two epistles. He accordingly dropped the
letter of introduction to Cozzi in the mail
office; and delivered the other into the
hands of Lieutenant Dixen at the hotel.
My LORD: Signor Blanquard, an officer
of the French army, will repair to the
Vatican tomorrow morning. | beg your
lordship to secure for him an immediate
and private interview with his holiness, as
he has important secret information rela-
tive to the Austrian occupation of Venice.
There should be no delay. will be re.
sponsible for the authenticity of his re-
ports. Your Lordship's faithful servitor,
BoRAcHIo BELLA.
"Hullo - said Dixon, as he read the
address ON the envelope of this note-''a
letter of introduction-sealed, and ad-
dressed to Cardinal Antonellii | sup
pose that S what might be called 'the
Italian method Perhaps the gentle
man I'm looking for is short of purser or
chief boatspain's mate in Cardinal Anto.
nelli's Office at the Vatican. Seems to
me this is fetching rather long tack in
order to make soundings."
But our hero was not to be deferred
by any such consideration from pursuing
his project. On the ensuing morning he
arrayed himself in full uniform-coeked
hat, epaulet and sword belt--and de-
scended to the courtyard Of the hotel,
where he entered carriage. which he d.
rected to be driven to the Papal Palace
As he was whirled past the yellow waters
of the Tiber and the gloomy castle of st.
Angelo, he did not feel any interest in
looking upon these memorials of remote
past, which Others have journeyed so
many miles to see. His mind was intent
upon another problem. In what manner
should he accost the gentleman to whom
he was about to be introduced Should
he attempt the courtly manners of the
noble ecclesiastics of the papal govern
ment! Or should he initiate the sleek
and almost fawning subserviency Of the
lower order Of PRIESTS lie resolved to
do neither, but to adopt the style most
congenial to one of his education and
instincts--the ''rough and ready" be-
havior of the Western American.
Once arrived at the Vatican, his coach
dismissed, and the magnificent staircase
assembled, his reception was the most
formal. He was ushered past the Swiss
guards, whose harlequin uniform still con-
trasts strangely with the gravity Of their
demeanor-past groups Of cardinals,
whose crimson capes did not fail to re.
mind him of the birds that are their
namesakes-past the grand saloons, where
the genius Of Michael Angelo, Giuli0 Ro-
manO, and Raphael have hung the walls
with glowing portraitures of human life =
along the corridors of that immense build
ing, which is said to cover as much space
as the city of Turin past the unrivaled
collections Of antique sculpture, impossi.
BILE of reproduction and the despair of
modern art-past all these to the ante
chamber Of Cardinal Antonelli. Here he
delivered his letter to a gentleman in
waiting, who left the room, and speedily
returning, addressed him few words in
the Italian language. The messenger, in
fact, announced that Cardinal Antonelli
desired that the visitor should be con-
Quoted without delay into the presence Of
his Holiness.
Now Dixon knew about as much Of the
Italian language as Of the Choctaw Of his
native land. He had not, therefore, the
remotest conception Of the purport Of
this message. He was, indeed, inclined
to believe, in consequence of the extreme
politeness Of his companion, that the lat
ter had inquired after the health Of his
estimabe mother, who was then busily
engaged in the dairy Of the old farm in
Oshkosh. Dixon responded 'that she
was enjoying excellent health, that he
had heard from her that very day, and
that n eaw.mill in the vicinity Of their