Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-20
THE POPE AND THE CAVALIER.

Under the above caption the gallant edl-
tor Of our evening contemporary, the Slate,
has recently written most charmingly. He
treats the subject of the Pope and Buffalo
Bill Ga curious iuxtaposition) with grace
AZ d beauty Of diction and thought that
seems almost inspired. 1t is q rare con-
ception. exquisiteIy put. and while gen.
| erous tribute from a non-Catholic TO the
Papacy. it is characteristic Of the author,
who is as generous as he is brave. We re-
| produce it:
That was n magnificent and impressive
pageant when Buffalo Bill and his Indians
and cowboys appeared in solemn process
sion. passing before the Pope and re-
ceiving his blessing. There was Rome
| upon her seven hills. II was strange and
| wonderful spectacle. The grave and
| learned Pontif with his triple crown was
surrounded by his bishops and priests IN
| the richly-embroidered garments OF the
| Church, the colors mingling into ram
bow stretching across the great altar.
| The Amounted heir to the splendor OF the
Caesars. The long line OF priests and
| kings in their official garbs from the
| sheepskin that Romulus wore to the pa
pal robes of Leo, There were those graz.
weather-beaten men, their cheeks pale and
| fasting, the monks and frlars. Upon
their strong faces were stamped the fea-
lures of the fathers of their Church-St.
Peter, st. James, st. Paul. Then came
with gentle step and open hands the
pale. fair daughters of the Church-min-
istering angels in robes OF sorrow ana
with head-cOverlngs as white as swans
| down-perfect emblems Of their purity.
| The white doves of the Church, with the
4 I I. t.. "a ff
! charity, and the white robe OF immaculate
faith. These meek and lowly daughters OF
! the Church were the handmaidens of her
| who bore the Saviour babe upon her breast
and wore the spotless robe OF holy life
the last at the cross, the first at the tomb
the Blessed Virgin.
There was a grove Of golden crosiers and
! there was beauty and dignity IN the red
| hats of the cardinals and the purple cas-
/ socks of the bishops and the white sur
| plices of the priests. Above the Pope's
| head the creole cast ITS golden light
upon HIM as from q star-a very star or
Bethlehem in the armament OF the Vati-
can. The candles grouped in great
forest with its myriad branches cast a
steady glow. q soft, holy light upon the
scene. The silver bells in the tall-spired
towers rang out like the clear. adoring
voices of the shepherds who sang peace to
all mankind Down the aisle with heavy
tread moved the towering form of the
western hunter His massive frame, his
piercing eyes, his long curling hair, his
inightly bearing gave the western cavalier
| the semblance of an ancient crusader about
| to depart for Palestine and coming with
solemn tread TO be shriyen for his battle.
| Following in his train were his daring horse
| men in the uniform once worn by AlVa'S
men in their wars with Peru. The CORSET
| Of armOr. the puffed vest and sleeves, the
round, broad brimmed. unvisored helmet
| and the clanking sword, with dagger at
| the belt. They seemed once more TO be
storming the halls of the lncas and plum
| dering them of their precious booty. But
most striking. most conspicuous. most
awe-inspiring in all the vast procession
were the Indians. This wandering tribe
whose forefathers quadra-centenium ago
| had crossed on snow and ice over the mar
row pass of Behring's Straits. and had now
| come back in pilgrimage TO the Old Worlds
| holy Mecca to pay homage to their Lord
| Il was the old world and the new-the
| descendants of Cesar mingling with the
red men of the forest. The towering dome
| of ST. Peters threw shadow ON the street
below. And far away on the PLAIN was
seen the graceful sloping peak OF the wig
vans of the braves. Here together were
still spoken the polished syllables of the
eloquent Cicero mingling strangely with
| the soft sounds Of those who spake the
| tongue in which 0sceola had whispered
the weird stories of the woods. Their
spirits were still alive in this vast
city, their orators each of his race
the child of art and the child of nature.
| the lion of the Forum and the leopard OF
the forest. There was heard over all the
solemn chanting of the priests, the silyery
voices of the choristers. the great plash
and roar and murmuring Of that ocean OF
music. the mighty organ pouring its sill
very waves into every cave and inlet
of the vast Cathedral. In solemn tones
the blessing was spoken. A fair song
stress from the wildwoods of America,
very queen of harmony, burst out
in an anthem waiting on its angelic
wings q celestial melody Of peace and
good will. just then the sun poured n
torrent oflight through the great rainbow
window that Benvenuto Cellini's pencil
had touched. 1t fell upon the altar cast
ing its spray like the golden oil of benedic-
ton upon the Holy Father of the Church.
| One great wave swept over the divine fee-
| lures of the sorrowful face on the cross
and bathed il in shower of glory.
1 (-or.r lrTrN