River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-08-29
THE LATE CARDINAL.
Some "Reminiscences Of Cardinal Fsanchi
and His Career.
London World

Cardinal Franchi was a fortunate man.
He secured his first great rise in pontifical
office by the misfortune of predecessor. In
1860 Mgr. Berardi, Pho Nono's ecclesiastical
secretary of State, was at loggerheads with
D1gr. ue Meroue, the papaI war minister. 1t
so happened that a brother of Berardi
held commission in the pontifical rmy,and
was suspected of holding relations with the
Sandman enemy. He was arrested by Me
rode, condemned to be shot, but released to
avoid scandal. The ecclesiastical secretary
was also released from his official duties, and
Franchi stepped into his shoes, much to the
chagrin of Antonelli, who never liked his
merry-tongued colleague. Franchi was
capital rdc0ateuf. He was walking
storehouse Of the gos ip of Euro
pean courts, and was very fond of retailing
Pho Nono's good sayings. Here is one which
the cardinal secretary of state used to tell
with intense relish: Complaints had been
frequently made by the priests to the pro-
paganda of the arbitrary exercise of authority
over his clergy by certain Australian arch
bishop. The archbishop was informed that
his presence in Rome would be esteemed a
favor. He crossed the seas and arrived IN
Rome. In due course he was introduced to
Pho Mono, who was well conversant with the
points in dispute between the archbishop
and his clergy. "Oh," said Pho Mono, to
the archbishop, offering him chair beside
him on the dais, 'you are the other Pope,
sat down, your holiness The rebuke cured
the archbishop, and he and his clergy lived
happily ever after.
HIS DISASTROUS DIPLOMACY.
They used to say in Rome that he had the
icttatura. And DO wonder. Disaster fol-
lowed all his diplomatic missions. Isabella
fed from Spain soon after Franchi was sent
to her as Nuncio; the Grand duke fled from
Florence while Franchi was at the Tuscan
court; and Abdul-Aziz joined the prophet in
Paradise soon after Franchi had paid him
visit at Constantinople. He was bit of
Bohemian, with all his stately courtliness.
Certain austere English Roman Catholics
will never forget their sensations when din
ing with Cardinal Franchi during his brief
visit tc London. 1t was at Cardinal Man
ning's house. During dinner the Cardinal
Project of the Propaganda, who spoke IN
French, kept the table in a roar, and after
dinner he cooIly took out his cigar case and
offered cigars all round. Now smoking
Is vigorously interdicted at the
maison Manning, and it is not
considered in this country-for the priests,
at least-at all a proper thing to indulge in
the weed The English cardinal bore the
fumigation with exemplary patience; but
has its limits, and the limit was
reached when the illustrious visitor from
Rome took to smoking in his bed room. He
was asked in Rome few months ago what
he smoked. ''Oh,'' said he, 81 only smoke
Italian ministers-Cayours, Minghettis,
etc. The Italians brand their cigars with
the names of popular ministers of state.
iDont Won smoke CAROLS, Your Emil
nence?'' inquired his questioner. "No; they
won't last long, was the reply. He was not
enthusiastic about the conversion of Eng
land to Catholicism. at will not come in
our day. he said: stnot till we canonize Saint
ATa1amon." The cardinal was cynical and
not very complimentary.