Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-08-18
colonnades which lead to the great church

Descending from our carriage, ant
passing through the bronze gate, We en-
ter the guardroom nt the foot of th'
regal staircase, where the Guards, il
their extraordinary dress of striped scar
let and yellow are on duty. Our permits
so was here inspected and we then wen
up Bernini's beautiful staircase, with iti
fine columns and painted roof. After pas
sing the equestrian statue of Constantine
we go through bewildering succession
OF apartments and galleries marshalled
on at each turn by private servants of the
pope, in costumes of crimson velvet bro
cade. Next, we enter that wonderful
series of frescoed chambers where the
masterpieces of Raphael look down in
colors scarcely faded since they left the
great masters hand. On this occasion,
however, one can not pause to do more
than glance at the "School of Athens,
or the astounding Expulsion of He'll
odorus from the Temple" where the sac
rilegious intruder seems absolutely
hurled across the threshold of the sacred
Of Constantine, with the battle of the
Ponte Molle, which changed the fate OF
the empire from heathenism to Christian
ity. This hall was painted by Giuilo
Romano, from Raphael's designs.
After passing through an antechamber,
filled with chamberlains and other digni-
taries, we were shown into the Geographic
cal Gallery, where the audience was to
take place. This gallery, which is not
generally shown to the public, is OF very
great length, being about 160 yards. The
walls are entirely covered with frescoed
maps, painted in realistic way, with
ships sailing on the blue seas, and the
mountains and forests shaded in. The
effect is curious and very beautiful. The
roof is also frescocd and the floor is of
inlaid and highly.polished marble. Rows
of busts on pedestals against the walls,
and seats painted to initiate marble, are
its only furniture. The windows on one
side look into the lovely private gardens.
We arrived little before half-past
eleven, the time fixed for the audience
and although it soon became evident that
punctuality was not Intended, the novelty
OF the scene was amply sufficient to pre-
vent any feeling of weariness. Each per-
son on arriving was shown to his or her
place by an official All the lidies pre-
sent were in black dresses, with long
black wells, worn over the head like
Spanish mantillas. The gentlemen were
in evening dress. The clerical element
in the assemblage was very strong
priests from various lands; sandalled
monks of different orders, with rosary at
girdle, and robes of white or brown ac-
cording to their rule, waiting what to
them was great event. Next to us was
n group of French priests, who were
-. L,,,.-.t tl,o AnrInra
of civilization in the far East, who had
come to receive special benediction
from the holy father before leaving for
their dangerous work. A little farther
off was venerable monk, whose long
silvery beard and hair. and bent form,
seemed to speak of many years beyond
the usual age of man. He had come n
long distance to have an interview with
the head of his Church. Nearly all the
persons present had objects to be blessed
by tie pope, chiefly losaries but many
had medallions and crucifixes. and not n
few little models of the bronze statue of
st. Peter in the church-the statue whose
toe is 80 often and 50 reverently kissed
that it had to be renewed, and is again
being worn away. The missionaries next
us had an immense number of rosaries to
take out with them.
After waiting more than two hours, the
doors at the farther end OF the gallery
were opened, and brilliant group ap-
peared in the opening. The distance was
so great that we could not distinctly see
its several parts, only general effect of
bright colors, in which splendid uniforms
predominated. This group at first ap-
peared to be stationary; then. after n
time, we became conscious it was moving,
but 30 slowly and with such frequent
pauses, rs to be almost inperceptible.
BY degrees it came nearer, and We saw
two chamberlnins walking backwards !;
then came some of the Guardia Mobile,
the pope's body guard, each member Of
crested helmet like III old Roman. Then
came number of stately dignitaries in
violet robes, cardinals and monsignors !;
and at last we caught n glimpse in the
centre Of q small figure entirely in white
-his holiness himself-then more violet
robes, and lastly more guards, closing
the procession. 1t was impossible to see
that slowly advancing figure, with its i'm
posing surroundings, without being most
powerfully impressed. He is the repre-
sentative of power-a spiritual hierar-
chy-which, as Macaulay says, "can GER
tainly boast of far longer succession
than any dignity in the world; linking
together the two great ages of human
civilization. Our modern feudal kings
are mere upstairs compared with the sue
cessors in regular order, not, to be sure,
Of Peter, but of Sylvester and Leo the
Great"
A monsignor who walked by the side of
the pope asked the name. nationality and
religion of each person, ior the informa-
ton of his holiness, who then said few
words. He speaks only Italian and
French. He had short conversation in
the latter language with the priests next
to IFS, which of course we could distinctly
hear. They spoke Of their intended mis-
sion and he replied that the merit of
such actions lay in the intention, less
than in their successful performance.
The pope is small and frail in figure,
with the whitest and most bleached-look-
ing complexion it is possible to conceive.
One could scarcely imagine him able to
go through the prolonged fatigue entailed
by even such ceremony as that in which
we saw him. His manner is most
gracious and pleasing, and his expression
of countenance benevolent. He was
dressed in white cloth robe with small
cape, white skull cap, aud white shoes
embroidered with cross white silk
sash, with gold-fringed ends, round his
waist. A large cross of magnificent en-
eralds was the only spot of color in his
attire. The pontifical ring. which is the
etiquette to kiss, was especially splendid,
and appeared to have the head of st.
Peter engraved upon it. A dignitary
carried his scarlet cloak, and another the
large hat of the same color, tied up and
edged with gold cord. He remained Il
few minutes in colloquy with our party,
which happened to be the last in the
assembly. Then turning round to face
the gathering, he blessed it collectively,
with outstretohed arms. in the name Of