The New York herald., 1878-02-08

history during certain periods 10 wanting precision
Of detail Tho Of thoss who have attained
greater age c,nnot, therefore. be ostegor,cally az
hrmed AS regards the duration OF their pontiocata
however, there such obscurty Here the dAtea
arc SO well established that question exist
regards them We loarn from them that Plus IN. has
passed the twenty years assugnsd the resn Of
St. Peter an event which tradition declared be i'm
possible His Holisess assumed the tiara the 17th
OF June, 1896
Tho two other longest pontincates those q
Plus vi. (rom 1775 to 1900 and OF Plus vII Crom
1900 to 1921 The OF both were shortened by the
troubles TO which they subjected. On the 10Th
of January 1898, Plus VI torn from the Vatican
by Haler, the commissary Of General Berthier, and
on the 27h Of April. 179o, the Directory compelled
him TO cross Alps He died at Vaence on the 10th
OF August following. Plus VII died on the Goth Of
August 1928 from the effects Of fall which he had
on the 9th OF July preceding, and by which he irac
tured his thigh bone. CfAfAkJ il1-h-(iss
Yhe two popes whose reigns were shoftest werc Ell
enue H. aud Urban WI. The former. elected In ihs
year 1872 cicd days afterward OF apopiexy Ths
latter was the successor OF SIxtus y. N iooo. hh
name was can Baptist Castagna (Which means Cnest-
nuu Sixtus " had oretold his ACCESSION to the Pom
uiacale by, pleasantly. The family name oi sixtus
was Peretti lin Italian "little pears ~ CT Will 5000
bo tme said the Pope to Casaagna at dinner on be-
ing served with spoiled pear, "to replace the peafi
by chestnuts" nll H
TIs LAST MOMENTS OF PORE.
Tho physicians have strct orders to apprise sick
Pope of the approach of his last hour From that mo-
ment according to lhe prescriptions OF Pope lnno'
cont H. no favor can granted by the dying Pom
tin. No act of his is valid unless countersigned
by two cardinals appointed for that PURPOSE 1t Is
tho CUSTOM the have issued the iatai
nat Tor the Pope to cause the cardinals TO Dc sum-
moncd in oraer to make his profession of faith, 10
declare the contents will. to choose his place of
interment and publicly demand forgiveness for his
errors. In this last reunion he must state tee
debts ue has contracted in the name OF the Ckurh
and reveal the place where ho has concealed hls
treasures After all IL done he Is permitted to
give the assembled cardinals advice to the choice
OF his SUCCESSOR. Then he dlsmisses them. From
that moment there remain the dying PontiR
only his confessors his chamberlain and hts domestic
preates 1t may be said that he is already dead SO
far as the world ia concerned. Everything that oc.
ours up TO tho moment that he breathes hls last u
known only 10 his intimates
THE DEATH.
AS soon as tho fatal moment is near at hand the
dying Pontif receives the sacraments couple Of
wax lights kept burning In the chamber near y
crucilx This cruciax is presented to the sick Pom
fatal moment arrives. During all this time the pf't-
tenters rccle offices Of the dead They only cca4e
when the last breath has lott the body
THE oBsxoUIEs
Tho corpse Ia exposed three days in the Chapel
OF the Holy Sacrament, In St Petcr's, Thou, In tho
presence of three cardinals chosen by tho deiupct 1t
is enclosed in three cons Of lead, one Of cypress
wood and OF oak The authorities then take
charge Of the obsequies. These are conndec TO the
caro- OF the College OF Cardtnas, who cause alarao
catafaque be erected In the nave Of St Peter's.
Then In the presence OF all the cardinals and
requiem chanted and candles Ut yellow wax are
freely distributed to the public. When the ninth day
arrives the mass IL sung Uy a cardinal bishop,
sisted by all the mtred cardinals. Then Eve of them
ascend 70 the catafaque with incense burner and
holy water sprinkler. Alter this tho ceremony of In
termcnt proceeded with. 1t taxes place either IN
the spot selected by the deceased Pope or in ST.
Peter's, II no other place has been designated.
PRoBABLr EvFEor IN ITALY.
The death of Pus TX. will attract universal atten-
tion. II will furnish the Catholic world WITH op.
portunity Of maniestng It's numbers. its zeal and is
power. Demonstrations will take place everywhere,
and efforts viii be inade to multiply them, but
great majority oil people In Italy, aud in Rome.
Will be to them merely by feoling of
teres. If the cardinals keep up the sacred
soldiers, will be seen crowding to St. Peters, led
there by feeling OF curiosity strong Us It Is ro
spectful Formerly tho death OF pope served as
pretext for the carnival which had Tor motive and for
title .rhe Vacant See" This carnival will be revived
The protests against II VIII coniue themselves to
few articles in The newspapers and fow professions
OF pilgrims. The characteristic feature OF this great
event will be that 1t will not be followed by trouble %
any kind Tho world may rest assured that the elec-
ton of the Pope will be marked oy the greatest
order and tranquility.
THE MOURNING
Immediately after the Pope's death the cardinals
assume mourning that is 10 say, they clothe them
selves In violet colored serge without CAPE Those
who have been created by the deinnct Pontn change
even the trimmings OF their apparel from red to
violet. The other prelates wear black nTiifs
All those prescriptions are carried out under the
direction of the Camerugo, or Grand Chamberlain,
who rules during the interregnum. haaD
THE oARMgRLlNGo.
Until tho proclamation OF the new Pope tho govern.
mcnt OF the Church devolves upon the Cameriingo
within certain limits. He Is not tho less entitled TO
The honors rendered by the Swiss uard, and should
tho Conciave be prolonged no even order money
to be coined with his There adjoined to HIM
O council Of three Cardinals who rep piaced every
three days according prescribed order rotation.
Besides tho Camerl,ngo the CardiDal Penetentiary
the Cardinal car alone preserve their positions
The Camorlingo ooupies the Papai palace. During
days Of the obscquies the cardinals hold ten
reunions.
RgUSIors OF the CARDINALS
At tho first reunion which held IN the pay cham.
Der the usual yak preliminary to the holding
of the Conclave The cardinals are appointed who
have charge OF uie necessary preparations The
seals OF deceased Pope are broken well Tho
silver ring the fragments OF which TALL to the snare
OF the masters Of ceremonies Al the second re-
union parsonage is named 10 vhom Inc protection
Of tho Conclave Is TO be conndd. Ho II usually
foreign Ambassador. AT the tnrd the cont essor OF
the Concave Is appointed AT tho ourth tho physician
and Sargeon At the nth the Uapers and the apolhc-
cary. Al tho sixth the youngSt Of the Cardinals
nxcs by lot the dstributon OF tho coils
of the members OF pnclave and the