The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-18
mn POPE's GC.IRD.

The recent meeting ~ some soldiers II
the rQn,ihal Guard the ,,iurs pof,srts
H r'iorYlt. as the OH 'ial phrase run- has re-
ViNcd interest ia this corps. Ii seems familiar
enough To- every body. bat few persons On ro-
IT, ton. will nnd that they know much more
about Il than that the Swiss Guard is-the Swiss
Guard
The Papal Guard dates hack upward Il four
hundred years Go the pontif.ate ot ScNtus VI.
who began is formation in li7l but it became
firmly and finally established under the war
rior Pontn. julius H.. who in 1910. IN accord
ancc with an agreement made by him with
Switzerland ordered tile formation 81 rohort
If soldiers 81 that country. famous then ~ now
for courage and fidelity. H. had thcm clad in
their ancient national. garb and gave them cN-
elusive guardianship Of the person AMI tho
residence Of the Ionun under the command 4
Capt Casper de- S.enon. seventeen years
after. when Rome was taken by tho army Of
Charles v. Pope Clement VII. Withdrew into
the historic castle 81 SAINT Angelo AMI tn
steadia-t Swiss Guard were anuhilatcd
in their Spartan defence 81 tho Iuntin. II
accordingly became necessary for his sue
rc-sor Paul H., 20 found tho guard again
Thence onward the corps passed through tho
centuries with various fortunes. but always re-
nownod for IT, fidelity AMI was kept NJ a.
cordingly like faithful family Of rctaners
from generation To- generation. When. in 1909.
the French troops occupied thu palace II tho
Quir.nal. making Plus vi. u prisoner the in
dgnant Swiss Guard laid down their arms only
after repeated orders from tn" Pope.
Tho GGlici'd fNdhd. from which we take
these facts, intmnes that tho prcsen Mt enmmaIld-
"r OF the guard. Baron Alfred De Sonnebers Of
Iuccrno. Wis not wholly free from criticism Tor
the mutlny. and TINT although his prompt
resignation. on it- occurrence was not accepted
10y Cardinal Fran hi. yet that II might le accept
ed. If repeated and TINT in that case Count
Louis de Court"u. nephew 81 that Gen. de-
Courtcn. who commanded the first brigade ia
the dsbandod pontnca army would he
raised 90 the vacant commanlrrship. Count
do Courten is spoken 81 H. sufficiently severe
In discipline while having courteous manners.
However We need not pursue this speculation.
ina-much " since tho Gdtt,fd's account was
written. the Cardinal secretary Of State has
died. ana the whole matter Ia presumably over
or in long allegiance. The Gazleta also has pal
pable dislike 10 the present commander. who.
1t -nys has by his unruly temper and dcsrotic
character rcpellud the esteem Of sllhis subor-
dnHtes. and compelled oven the distinguished
nObcmcn. the brothers Alexander and Angus
tus Pllllrr. whose family has furnished. since
the year 1000. a large number II Officers In tho
Swiss Guard, TO tender their r'sgnAtions The
father Of these officers commanded the guard.
ia did many Of their ancestors We believe.
however that Baron Sonncbers las held his
present post for sixteen years.
As 10 the composition OF the Papal Guard. it is
formed entirely II Swiss chosen Tor their good
conduct and fine physique. protesting the
Catholic faith, and for the most part natives Of
the canton Il Lucorne. The number il now re-
.l,s..l 4 O..