Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-12
An ACTOR BEFORE THE POPE.
mr.. William y. Floreneess Inter
view with Leo XIII.

1t 1[L1Na4 OF NJ W AA4l4AA - 4 III
ence and wife in New York. after sn SD
sence Of eleven months in Europe. has
already been announced Mr.. Florence
gives the New York papers the follow
ing description Of an audience which
wsS granted himself snd Mr. J. ".
Msckey, one Of the California bonanza
kings. by Pope Leo.
1--WE went from Nice TO Rome, where
we were very pleasantly received in pri-
vafe BY Pope Leo. On the occasion of
our reception We were first ushered into
an ante chamber, where we were intro
duced to s number Of members of the
Pspal household In this anfe-chamber
I saw Chinese Bishop and a Chinese
priest. The former had been 3 French
man once. but wore the Chinese pigtsil,
and looked Chinese al over The priest
was true Oriental. who gazed with awe
and veneTatiOn at his surroundings In
the next ante chamber Mgr Cataldi, mas
ter OF ceremonies, made Us known 70 other
members Of the household, and after a
progress through several rooms we were
ushered into the presence Of the Pope.
He was seated on q raised platform or
throne in the centre of the large room
or hall, rather. Being an actor, and hav-
ing an eye tor properties. l noted the
dress of the holy father carefully. He
wore stockings of white silk, white
shoes with golden crosses by way of
buckles, q long white cassock Of me
rino, bound with silk of a pale rose col.
or; q cape that reached below his e.
hsr-r TaN ufc E-1r a Eryr
cOlOred ak, and q white silk skull-cap,
with a rose colored binding and a jewel
in front. A heavy chain, from which
depended a large cross, set with
diamonds and rubies, hung around
his neck Upon his hands
he wore mittens OF silk which reached
TO the first Joint Of his fingers. He wore
a white belt, OF sash, around his waist
When we were ushered in we were told
to remove our gloves, and l observed
that before the presentation took place
the Pope took of his left mitten. The
presentation was made by Mgr Cataldi.
each Of the party kneeliDg in turn and
kissing the episcopal ring which is worn
on the POpe's left hand. When the
ceremony had been performed the Pope
raised his hands as though TO help US
to our feet, and then for the first time |
looked up into his face II was one Of
the best and kindliest faces l ever saw.
There was something so fatherly, so gen
tie and so good IN it that l shall never
forget it while live
"Was this strictly private audience?"
''Not in the sense that you mean.
When we entered / saw about sixteen Of
the Guard Eobile-composed entirely of
noblemen of Itsly-in blue tunics and
silver helmets. At the door there was q
detachment of the Swiss Guards, in vel
low and black trunks and jackets, silver
breastplates and plumed helmets, bearing
On their shoulders their halberds or bat
tle-sxes.
did you have any conversation with
the Pope 2"
ooh, yes; the ordinary reception talk.
| acted as interpreter. The Pope first
asked me in Italian whether I spoke that
language. l told him that l spoke Ital-
ian little. but that | was more familiar
with the French. Then he began 10
talk in French and welcomed US most
kindly TO Rome. He asked particularly
after Mrs. Mackey, whom he had
known he said, when he was a member
Of the household of the late Pope. BE
spoke highly Of her goodness and benevO-
lence, which had reached his ear, and
mentioned particularly her care for the
orphan asylum at Virginia City, Nevada
He apparently heard Of Mr. Msckey's
charities, for he addressed him kindly
and most affectionstelY. Mr. Mackey
expressed his qualification at meeting
the head Of the Church"
1.-The Pope then said pleasantly: Now
what about yourself7' | told him that l
was a dramatic artist. Yes, said he,
have done something in connection with
St, Agnes parish, in New FORK city,
| said that was a very small matter. He
then said: Nothing is small that is done
for the Church of God. | remarked to
him in the course Of the conversation
that it seemed to me that the Catholic
Church was greatly increasing in the
United States, from the fact that new
churches were constantly going up. He
said that of all countries in the world
the people OF the United States seemed
to be 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
those were good evidences that God had
blessed them. because as a people they
were charitable and religious He did
not make any distinction between Catho-
lies and Protestants. but spoke of our
people as a whole. In conclusion he in
vited us to call and see him again, and
gave US his blessing"
How did he impress you as to his
physical condition7"
HE was very thin, but said that he
enjoyed good health. He happened to
remark that he had been up till O'Clock
that morning, and said that he had fire.
quently to sit up till that hour to attend
to the business of the Church. / made
some remark to the effect that / hoped
that it would not be necessary for him
often to devote himself to such prolong-
ed labors He smiled and said that the
few remaining years Of his life could not
be better employed than in work for the
Church / think he said that he had not
been outside of the Vatican for ten years
You know he was a member of the
household Of the late Pope. | came
away with the impression from what he
said that he never expected to go outside
the Vatican again.