Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-02-15
THE PRESIDENTS GIFT.
HOW THE POPE RECEIVED 1T.
Brilliant Scene at the Vatican.
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE PREsENTA-
TION.-THE THRONE ROOM REsfLhN
DENT.

ESPECIAL Correspondence of the Baltimore SUM-
ROME. Jan. 21.-The cordially and I'M
teigned delight with which the Pope re,
ceived the gift of President Cleveland ana
the American delegation who brought IL
was a noticeable feature of the golden JUDI
lee in the Vatican. On no occasion, say
the cardinals and other prelates who sur
round the Pontiff in daily life, did he mani
fest such intense pleasure on the receipt OF
an Offering as when the copy OF the consul
tuition of the United States was placed III
his hands. His actions at the formalrecep-
ton, as we'll as subsequently, bore testi-
mony to his feelings. Not syllable Ut
tered by Archbishop Ryan in his address
escaped his attention. Every word was
weighed carefully. The answer OF the
Pontiff was lively, with tender expressions
and vigorous sentiments. Thougn appa,
rently a man physically weak by continued
confinement in the Vatican, he arose from
his throne with celebrity and expressed his
thanks for the album in manner SO I'M
nressive and natural that even his soldiers,
accustomed to hear him speak often every
day. had their eyes riveted to his face by
the fervor he displayed. There was no
question he felt the honor of the gift OF
President Cleveland intensely, nor were
his words few. He spoke nearly five minutes.
During his remarks he enumerated on his
fingertips the offerings be received from
European sovereigns. When he reached
the climax of his remarks and said that the
gift of the President of the United States
was most pleasing one, his countenance
was radiant with delight His contem-
plative Joy went into the language that fol-
lowed. and even the attending members OF
the papal court, schooled in the reserve
and uuietude of their sphere, could not
suppress exhibitions of happiness. Alto
gether the occasion was memorable one.
The gift of no potentate was accepted with
more pomp, certainly not with as much
genuine kindness.
Resplendent in its gorgeous array OF red
silk tapestried walls, crimson-hued Brus=
sells carpet and costly gilded furniture, the
throne room, in one end of which was q
dais of red velvet supporting magnificent
white chair with plush back, decorated in
the papal coat-of- arms, beneath huge red
canopy, was alive with figures dressed in
| wonderful richness and splendor. In front
of the throne the Pope occupied, after
making an entrance through side door
from his private apartments, were the
Noble Guards, tall, fine-looking individuals,
heavily mustached, and every one mem
Der of the Roman nobility. On perpen-
dicuar line with each right shoulder was a
shining steel sword, held by handle of
gold in a gloved grasp. From yellow
metal helmet to helmet the sunshine danced
and made all sorts of curious reflections on
the massively ornamented walls. The tops
of highly-polished boots reached far above
knees hidden in pure white trousers
| Black broadcloth cutaway coats were
literally covered in front with gold but
tons and medals. Ecclesastics rivaled the
civic representatives; cham berlaians in pink
| robes, black silk stockings and buckled
shoes; monsignori in purple gowns and
stockings; archbishops and bishops with
! circles of gGld around their necks and gold
crosses dangling on their breasts, and car
dinals in the sparkling lustre of their eff
cial garments, lowered in graceful contrast
of group and outline near the seat of the
| Pope.
| The pontiff wore an exterior coat of
white silk that buttoned from the throat to
the feet. A white silk zucchetta was on
his head and red silk shoes, embroidered
in designs of gold, on his feet At the
conclusion of his address he invited the
delegation to a private audience that last
ed nearly an hour. This was held in o
comparatively small apartment just outside
the room in which the Pope performs his
literary labors, and where he received only,
until the Americans entered it. the ENJOYS
extraordinary Of countries. Three inlaid
tables covered with candelabra, holding
lighted wax candles-for the afternoon was
now quickly stealing into night-were on
4 three sides of the room, while the fourth
was occupied by another throne, similar
though smaller, to the one in the Chamber
of State. The pontiff took chair and
ranged on either side of him the visiting
prelates. Archbishop Ryan, of Philadel-
phia, to his right, and Bishop Ryan, of
Buffalo, to his left, all of whom he COM
PEELED to be seated. An exceedingly social
time was spent, the pontiff frequently re-
7 ferring to the pleasure afforded him by the
gift of President Cleveland. At one period
he exclaimed: SIT seems almost providen.
tial that peoples of the earth, republic and
kingdom, president and royal ruler, should
all remember SO handsomely poor me, hid
den behind these walls. From the very
depths of my soul appreciate the honorst
but none more than those of the Presiden
of the United States"
THE BLESSINGS OF THE TARIFF.-When
a sewing-woman slips on her thimble (taxed
25 per cent. and threads her needle (taxed
25 cent? with thread taxed s. per cent.
and ships it off with scissors (taxed IS per
cent and sews button taxed 25 per cent.
| on her husbands winter flannel shirt taxed