Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-08-09
agrLLY0 FLoREsCn III ErAEY.
He Travels with Bonanza Mac
key-Their Audience with
the Pope.

Pope:
ibid you have an audience with the
Pope2"
Indeed we did. This is one of the
great events of my life. 1t was GER
emonial audience extended to Mr..
Mackey and myself, and we had ff-
teen or twenty minutes talk with the
Pope"
On being pressed for details, Mr..
Florence said: I'VE first received q
large card Of invitation. and at the
appointed time MonsignOr Cataldi, the
Master of Ceremonies at the Vatican,
called for us. At the principal en-
trance of the Vatican we found the
Swiss guard drawn up. They have a
beautiful fourteenth century costume
of black and yellow trunks and tabards.
They had silver breast plates and wore
helmets with flowing plumes We
we're shown up a magnificent staircase
to an antechamber, where We we're
met by several members Of the honse-
hold. Passing into another room, we
met Chinese Bishop and a priest
who were to have an audience after
us. The Bishop was a Frenchman
by birth, but he had grown a pigtail
aud adopted Chinese dress. The priest
was a native Chinaman, and it was a
sight to see the rapt, earnest look on
his face at the thought that he was
soon to see, face to face, the head of
the church. Monsigneur Cataldi now
left us, but soon returned with the
| Information that the Pope was ready
to see US. As the doors were thrown
open we walked in through a file of
the Guard Mobile, dressed in . blue
uniform, and wearing silver helmets,
The Pope was seated upon a throne
| in the middle Of the room. We knelt
before him, as is customary, kissing
bis hand, and he at once begged US to
rise. PheFs we're several Cardinals
present, but as soon as we had been
presented the guard and all retired,
leaving US with the Pope"
How was be dreSsed2p
"Well, / have an eye for costume,
and Of course / noticed that. He wore
long. white cossaok, Of stlF that
looked like merino. 1t had q narrow
binding ola pale rose color, and tho
buttons were of the same color. Over
| it he wore white cape trimmed with
down. He wore white silk stockings
and white shoes, each with golden
cross upon it. On his head he had a
white skull cap 9th q binding Of pale
rose tint. He had white sash, and
around bis neck a heavy gold chain,
from which hung a cross OF diamonds
and rubias."
In response 10 inquiries as to the
details of the interview, Mr.. Florence
said: He first asked me if spoke
Italian; replied that | knew very
little Italian. Then he asked me
whether | spoke French, and whether
Mr.. Mackey did. / told him | thought
[ could converse with him in French,
aud interpret to Mr.. Mackey. BE then
welcomed us to Rome. He spoke
about Mrs. Mackey and her deeqs OF
beDevolence, aud of Mr.. Mackey's
charities. You know that Mr.. Mackey
sustains at Virginia City an asylum
foy the care of children. | told the
Pope eEo4t this, and he seemed
very much pleased. | translated
in French some remarks Of Mr..
Mackey as to hcw highly he appF5.
ciated the honor and privilege Of the
audience. The Pope then said pleas.
antly, Now what about yourself?' |
told him that I vas a dramatic artist.
Yes, said he, 'Cataldi told me that.
| hear that you have done something
in connection with st. Agnes Parish,
IN New York City | said that that
was = gerry small matter. He then
said. Nothing is small that is done
for the Church Of God | remarked
Pto him 10 the course Of tie converse
ton that it seemed to be that the
Catholic church was greatly incTeas.
ing in the United States, from the
fact that new churches were constantly
going up, He said that Of all coun
tries in the sorld the people Of the
United States s6eEed to be the most
generous to the church. He spoke of
the great prosperity of the American
people, saying that they had good
crops and favorable business. and
thoss we e evidences that God had
blessed thel because as a people they
were charitable and religious. He
did not make anv distinction between
Catholics and Protestants, but spoke
of our people as a whole. In conclu-
sion he izvited US 10 call and see him
again, and Paye W bis blr sing"
How did he impress gop rs to his
physical condition."
"He was very thin, but said that he
enjoyed good health. He happened to
remark that he had been uD till
O'clock that morning, and said tnat he
had frequently 70 sit up till that hour
70 attend to the business Of the church.
1 made some remark to the effect that
| hoped that it would not be necessary
tor him loften to devote him.elf to
such prolonged Lahore. He smiled
and said that the few remaiaiag years
of his life could not be better eT mi.
pIoyed than in work for the church
II think he said that he had not been
outside Of the Vatican for ten years
| You know he YES a member Of the
household Of the late Pope. came
away with the impression FROM ybat
he said that he never expected to q
Outside the Vatican again.
! we also paid a visit to the Quiri
nal" Mr.. Florence went on, accom-
panied by Govt Telfner, Mr. Mackey'r
brother-in-law, and we're presented tC
the King aud Queen Of Italy. W.
had one Of the Kings aides or one q
the Pope's chamberlains 10 escort us y
any Of the places Of Interest under con
troll Of either authority, and SO we saw
everything there was to be seen, Be
, fore leaving Rome we called m Ia IL,