Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-05-24
A LITTLE AMERICAN GIRL VISITS
THE POPE.
WHERE THERE'S a WILL THERE'S WAT, Is
PECIALLY WHEN A WOMAN WILLS IT.

hhO~ Sno MSU08eO % Ae0ch Him.
WHERE THERE'S Will. THERE'S A wAY, Is I.
PEcIALLY WHEN A WOMAN WILLS IT.
A gentle, winning and brave little American
girl who is travelling In Europe. caring de-
votedly for her invalid father, q retired army
officer, writes to Q lady friend In Washington,
giving the following bright and ingenious
description Of an interview she succeeded In
getting with the Pope:
ROME. April 80, 1884.
Do you know what it is to exist in q dream
that you fear will change when you awaken to
only memory Of something sweet, something
very lovely? l am in such a state my dear
friend. and had no tangible proof OF the reality
1 would be sure my Imagination had played me
false. and all too soon find the deception; but
from evidence substantial knoD that have
knelt at the feet of the holy father, have held
and kissed his hands, have felt the warm pressure
Of those dear hands on my head, and heard his
voice pronounce blessing on me and invoke
special benediction on all I love. and how ell
this came about in these days when even gen.
eral audience is rare and a special interview al
most unknown I will tell you. You know we
were present at the passage Of the papal court
to the consistory Of cardinals, and Mousignore
told me he thought that was all could ex-
pect. So did /. but It did not prevent
my asking II there was anything else could OBJ
tain. You know I wanted to see the Pope
bless the crucfx myself, so made up my mind
to ask Mr.. Aston II it would not be possible TOR
me to have an audience-imagine! OF course
expected tohave ticket to one Of the very few
general audiences given after Easter, to which
even In the old days 1t was not easy to gain ad-
mission. In the time between my decision and
carrying 1t out went into picture gallery to
execute commission for friend In Nice, and
to my delight recognized In the picture dealer
Mr.. -, person I had seen at the consistory
In court dress. Surely. l thought he will know
all about the audience and asked him. He
said there would be, he was certain, at least
one, and recognizing me as an American he said
he could. If desired 1t, get papa and me tickets
this privilege being his, because he
very often represented the French min
lighted, and waited patiently all the
week after Easter hearing nothing from the
chevalier. Then we saw him. and he said at
the end Of the following week there would be
something" So waited impatiently. The
week was closing. We were to leave Rome on
he gets tired because he can't run about as do
Well, Friday morning my card camel PERMITS
sion to be present at the pope's mass at half
past seven Sunday morning, In q private
giving information that after mass the holy
father would converse with those who had
been present. Now, dear friends, that meant q
general audience, as about two hundred and
fifty were there. So was not wholly pleased
but you will hear what perfectly lovely ending
had to my Roman visit. Papa felt unable to
go. You know he can't kneel, and did not wish
to even seem wanting in respect; but he very
much desired me to see the holy father. TO
begin with. I .wakened hours too early,
ean sas Of delaying &c carriage to s se1
missing the appointment. Finally was dressed
wore-Of course you want to know what Iwore-
my black silk train and Spanish lace veil. and,
at z, we started. fasting In hopes to receive
holy communion from the hands Of the holy IA
ther, as he sometimes administers it, but In this
case did not. However, was too happy to feel
hunger, so did not In the least suffer. At the
Vatican, leaving my maid In the carriage,
presented my card, and was led by guard up
the broad stairway across q court, that OF Saint
Damascus, up more magnificent stairs, to an
ante chamber, where the Swiss guard are on
duty, and into a fine room fitted with an altar
adorned by sumptuOus drapings and with su-
peru tapestries in massive gold frames and
a most bewildering mass Of gorgeous frescoes
The room was full Of favored visitors. all carry
Ing objects of devotion to be blessed by the
Pope as he passed through, which chamber
lain told me was all that was needed; but was
avaricious and wished more for your crucif1x,
and you will see got more by the simple pro-
cess Of not knowing when l had enough. Pre-
sently his holiness came IN, two Of the Garde
Mobile clearing the way for him, and standing
on either side OF the altar during the mass at
which several of his household served. He said
mass in low voice, which several times showed
weakness. though am told he is not ill-his
manner full Of dignity and his countenance
sanity. After mass he blessed us all, and again
In passing. There was mass of Thanksgiving
said by young priest, and then the holy
father rose, and with some difficulty made his
way from the room to the corridor, where he
was seated In a sedan chair, and the audience
filed before him, each one kneeling and kissing
his hand. Assisted by him to rise, they passed
on without leave to say a word. / saw him pat
the cheek o: q little girl just before me. but he
did not speak. OF course was obliged to do
as the others did, but was not satisfied, and
when a lady told me she held q card for q special
Interview, | was more than ever anxious, and
concluded to ask pleasant-faced chamberlain
what he thought of the little card l had from
the ChepaHer-dil it not mean special inter-
view. 80 wanted 1t? He smiled and said Mon
signor Macchi the pope's private secretary
could tell me, and c0urteOusly led me to q room
and babe me wait The lady whom envied was
called in. waited and waited. No sign of
Monsgnor. So went out and asked, and he
took me to another ante room, and sent a
gentleman in waiting who took my card to the
MOnsignOr, ed he Immediately sent for me. 1
went to another ante-rOom, waited a moment,
was called, and went through more magnificent
rooms to one more simple when Monsignor
Macchi, after speaking to two Passionist
Fathers, came towards me, his pleasant face
lighted up and smiling, he asked me:
"Have you not seen the Pope?"
''Oh. yes" / replied.
"And kissed his hand and received his bless
ing?" he questioned.
"Oh, yes" | said family, "And what YnoYes" he
asked. but with such genial smile that was
encouraged to tell him | wanted your crucifx
blessed specially and 1 did so want the holy
father to say word to me! He laughed, but very
kindly asked me all about myself; said was
American-CathOlic from my birth; papa naval
officer, a convert, and We were to leave Rome
the next day. He said the holy father was much
fatigued, but he would see, and If at all posi-
BILE, l should have the pleasure longed for; but
not to be disappointed II / were refused; but l
must wait while longer. / answered could
wait ever SO long, and patiently enough. Spe-
cial audiences, you know, mean several people
who kneel about. and the pope goes round and
speaks to each one, and this thought was the
way would have my pleasure. and while was
regretting could not get more, MonsignOr sent
for me. and was led through more grand rooms
to one wherein found waiting the lady from
whom l got my idea Of special audience. So,
my dear friend. / had the satisfaction to
know she had not got very far be-
yond me. She left the room, and
amused myself watching the three ladies
who were waiting their turn, when, imagine
my dear. imagine-I was the second one called,
and before l could realize / had been called
was In the room with our 'high priest" He
sat at one end Of the apartment, all in white
and looked 30 benignly at me while, In few
words, MOnsignOr made the intrOductfon of the