The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-03-12
Plus IN. SEEN IN HIS PALACE
YET STRONG IND ACTIpE. nut WITH 4
STOOP .1T ETGiITT-IITE
The Wonderful Vigor or Che Aged rfnn who
when - fcy was We've ~ Too Fragile
for Admission into the Guardia Mobile.

Tor Admission Into the Guardia Mobile.
iion ne london rigrnph
ROME, Feb 2i.-Sincc have been in Rome
7 have heard so many conflicting rumors and
reports as TO the Popes state of health that
have been anxiors to have the opportunity Of
judging for myself II there Is any marked
change in his appearance 1 repaired to the
Vatican shortly before ~ o'clock to-day Tho
Pope is still surrounded by much Of his former
state. or rather by as much as may remind him
solf and those about him Of what that state
was. But distinction il made between
what Is Intended for tho initiated, and
what Is meant for tho general pub
lie Tho Pope still keeps IN his
Swiss Body Guard. his Guardia Mobile. his gor-
gcously dressed polefmieri. and all the ON
cial5 OF his house; but they are of course much
reduced in numbers. and they do not fiaunt
thoir splendid uniforms in the eyes of the Pied
Nv all the clerical pnrty Thus the Swiss who
lounge about the scala Rcgia. the staircase
which leads to the Sistino Chapel and TO tho
Strnzc and Loggie Of kaphael always appear
form completely hidden by a long gray cloak,
and the helmet replaced 10y a Hat muffin cap.
But whom. turning 10 the right you ascend
another handsome scala, which lands you in
the courtyard of San Damaso you find all tho
funelionnries in full dress;
This Same courtyard. although high above the
level OF the plaza. is accessible for vehicles.
ana, however often YOU may have traced the
!
Interior staircase 10 find yourself in a spacious
payen c0Ia as large ~ leicester square.
ana traversed 10y carriages. without new inn
which is IA il were. framed by Raphaefs
Logic. superb staircase, completed only
into the yalace Of the Vatican p,opreneT al
Al each hight stands on guard u Swiss in the
"a ittIa',il' uhloril or red ana yellow designed
hy Michael Angelo. helmet on head and halbert
in hand.
The first hail entered is called the "sala del
4 l.
mastering in this apartment where they keep
guard over his Holiness and prevent him from
being mpbbodb 10y his two faithful admirers Quite
ma picturesque IA the Swiss warriors ara the
| ordinary lapal servants cpstumed az they are
IN ron purple damask velvet doublets and
brooches. long sleeves hanging down straight
from the shoulders and silk stockings Ia match.
These splendid functonaries relieve you Of
your Overtoat nnd remind you that you must
NOT complete your ball room dress with gloves.
these coverings not being permitted In the
presence Of papal supremacy The walls of the
lofty apartment are covered with fires eocs but
you nave not time to examine them for you are
ushcred through a series Of comparatively
small rooms into that particular one which Is
destined for yourself.
Presently thrre is p.ercepthe n movement Of
huSned excitement. First glidcs in the Noluble
cciHntehddtore. who is decdnO of the "camcrieri
seErst a. cnpo spada." He has much TO tell
and he knows how 10 snv II in nm interesting
nanner. Then comes in Monsignor Macchi.
the maestro III camera. in full eccls iastica cos
tune He Remembers YOU perfectly. he assures
You in his urbanc-t tones. but before his Holt
ness comes he wants h. be quite sure of your
fun name. few minutes later and the doors
arc thrown OPEN In walks very slowly n gentle
man in strange nondoscrpt blue uniform he
i the Gust odinn--not the curator or director-of
the Vatican Museum. In accordance with old
custom. he always heads the procession After
MIN como two 0rdrfie HObM in their simple he
coming undress ienne-two members of the
honnn ariSto'rucy who are rs proud 10 serve
the Pope In his misforiuncs ms thcywrre pleased
t. rgrm ms podS gu4ri when he wac, slill a king.
Tnrn comes Plus IN. surrounded 10y tho lit
tle court. which always accompanies him on his
daily, rounds. The tail. strong. massivc-fea-
turei man ia the arlet skull cap. dress AMI
81, kings AMI heavy chain. with whom the
Pope H. conversing. and who. when he bends
down, Smiles ~ ne listens, and listens as he
3m,ie-. Is none other than the famous Cardinal
L"d9ehgw 81 Behind him Is the softer face of
Cgrdinal Mcrtsl. and the tall ascetic presence
q honsignor Nardi. Tho Bishop Of Laval and
Monsignor Cattani. the Nunclo ecct Mt Madrid
are also at hand, ami among the chosen few in
mmn i! II tue well-known Gen. hanzer. formerly
In front q this group walks the Pope Over
Ms long white dress Il thrown a great scarlet
cloak. and his slippers. OF course are Of the
same hue, but H. wears on his head Il small
whit" skull cep. his 'arlet hat heini, carried by
SOM" une behind him, in cnse ut need III
leans rather h"nvly on his stick. and he has
i KY to- Sf.ht rNi'n' M nonly "r"f carriage
u- -. In In l. hr -'1Ops now. His voice, foo. j.
weaker, and bis articulation less -tris ingly dis
tn't N Is i've years since Inst saw him He
was then eighty years old. and al such nm age five
Nule 'annot pass by unngticod But at eighty
inc Pop" WIS ~ strong and vigorous aud hale H.
.r' most strong mon NJ siNty-ive. Even now
his ',e IN w1ndrousiy bright and keen. m his
NOME i"nt lre- change with every variation of
thuu-ht liz memory. too. II n trnnciou- rs
,N.f II" rrni'mher'd on what subjects he
laN'ii I'D me- hNg ynaI- ago. Giided from Italian
INTO nrn, ana from rtneh INTO Italian. just
u7 Nr ~ i1"n. and is whole ince Frightened
Mh.l h' til7 lrh'i"l. hS "i OLD. Tho rehiy I"pf.
"a M"in .o ii"s never ia ms snr,si trials ID IN
kNNWntl iNl tn N"ufHnr-s of his uu stionA
~ 70 aUmrs IN NE, East proved how strong is
lllp MGR ~ u" sun uih'S ia questions OF tho
uhV'a ana ms lnkcs ABOUT IN" Conference. ana
,@lMlny "n,ut thr, Suiiln, showed that he-
h''ll lh' ir'u, ir -urlu'"ih're lurkcda subsira-
tuin oi slfcWl o,~ 'rNaiiun.
Following the little procession into the next
room, lounL me Pope blessing number Of
fr"n'iS-Nh irlhr-' WIN whom was parish
p'ltrt from L''r'. H. hnd brought from his
'"ai an hsinr - p',~' nt hN which h. hoped
ni,y vh '.,s ,, ,a VII MN W ~ rHr'