, 1884-06-29
SHE SAW THE POPE.
An American Girls Interview with
'sHis Holiness"
She Called Him 'mon Perez and
Didn't Give Him N Single
TItIe-A Blessing and
and IA GIFT.


oheA
A gentle, winning, and brave little Ameri-
can girl who Is travelling in Europe, caring
~evotedly for her invalid father. a retired
naval officer, writes to a lady friend in
Washington, giving the following bright and
ingenious description OF an interview sh9
succeeded in getting with the pope:
And what moreT' MousIgnor Mncchi
asked, but with such u genial smile that l
was encouraged to tell him 1 wanted your
crucilx blessed specially, and / did 80 want
the holy father to say a word to mel lie
laughed, but very kindly asked me all about
myself; l said 1 was American Catholic
from my birth; papa a naval officer. a con-
vert; and we were to leave Rome the
next day. He said the holy father was
much fatIgued, but he would see, and, II ut
all possible, l should have the pleasure |
ionged for, but not to be disappointed il l
were refused; but l must wait a while longer.
l answered ! could wait ever SO long, and
patiently enough. Special audiences, you
know, mean several PEG lie who knccl about,
and the pope goes round and speaks TO eacu
one, and this. l thought, was the way |
would have my pleasure, and while l was
regretting | coulI not get more, monsignor
sent for me, and l was led through more
grand rooms to one wherein i found waiting
the lady from whom l got my idea Of special
audience. So, my dear friend, | had ths
satisfaction to know she had not got very far
beyond me. She left the room, an | amused
myself watching tho three ladies' who were
waiting their turn, when, imngine-my
dear, imagine-I was the second one called,
and before l coul realize l had been called,
1 was in the room with our "nigh priest"
He sat at one end OF the apartment, all in
white, and looked so b~enisnly at me while,
in few words, monsignor made the introduce
ton 1f the little American girl, who wanted
his holiness TO say a word to her. Then he
left The holy father smiled and looked so
gracious that my fears vanished, and in Il
moment l was on my knees at his side, and
alone with him. l don't know II l fu. filled a
single point of etiquette. l um sure | only
cailel him "Mon pere," and didn't give him
a single title. l could think of nothing
formal. knelt there half leaning on his
knee, on which 1 said my rosaries. In my
left Land l held your crucillx, and in my
right l clnsped his dear hand, whoa / miguJ
kiss at will, while his soft, beautiful, keen
eyes seemed to read my SOU! HO asked me
ali about myself, and dear pa a aud maIama,
and my home, and my pleasures, and looked
distressed when | tol him Of the trouble
which ever gTirves me. do said he wOuId
pray for encl and every one, then gave your
cruc!hS u spec al blessing, laying has nand on
1t ana my precious ntls cross, gave me IA
boUo teton with b0tn hands On my head,
anu then, with IL wave OF his hand, and a
sweet smile, disnissed me; but before | went
many y cps lie called me, un4 sent particular
blessing 10 papa.
DID not come cut Of the room ut all in the
pro. er way, for, Instead Of cUurt,sy ing my
sell out, 1 turne and drupped ON my knee
ia Cue md le OF the room, wien he again
blessed me, AMI then, with NY "ead UP ana
ny eyes fun Il tears, l ran cut, aud | dou't
believe tue holy father liked it any the les,
tor M nsisnor called HE as | passe to wait,
and went into tue pope's apartment, from
w"erco hs hastily came Carrying n silver
medal, which he rrsssd into my hand, looking
very, very pleased as he toll ne the huiS
latner seut 1t, with u blessing, for my vuIy
own This is my proof that l nave not
s.reaIned all this, ami tho precious gift to the
iGttle American girl hangs on my rosary; a
sJuveuIr Of Il VISIT to b. remembers while
Ave. l did have sense enough left to thank
Cue chaInberlaIms, one and al, us | passed, for
their courtesy, and get down stairs ans ous
Iato my carriage, Reaching hone at IL, aud
"OnderIHg # al the Happiness had boon
ALIus-