Telegram-herald., 1890-12-21
HE VISITS THE POPE
Tnnuential Letters Secure friy2fe
Presentation.
nluDIEsCE WITH TIE holy FlTHn
ksainissnSss of Nisit % ksns-J. r
AEdrs~s Tells 81 his fesitass sn4
knpFessions IA NsFy tatsfest-
laE and ChAtty Nay.

I had With me influential letters, and
on my ARRIVAL IN Rome private pre-
sentation - the Holy Father had been
arranged. The impressive ceremony
IN the private chapel OF the NAucsn
Was over. lie Was still wearing tht
court dress OF the Vatican, when ] was
ushered past quite = host of tai ssiss
guards IN picturesque garments, ,lntoths
magnificent throne-roOm, resplendent
IN crimson and gold drsperles, decora-
tons and fine furniture. IL s now ons
year ago, aud Leo XIII was feehls
old man. Al the mass be had appeared
a yer.table SAINT and apostle, majestic
in spite OF his slight, short hgure and
low voice, robed IN creamy garments.
With tiny white cap on his mead, and
nothing 10 relieve the completely Of bis
attire except a cross of gold on his
breast, and the tips of ms red morocco
shoes, he sat on his golden throne,
when We entered the room and saluted
HIM by kneellng deyoutly at has feet,
on the steps leading 10 the throne.
When l had kissed the ring. contain
ing sacred relic. on hls hand, be badg
me rise, and before long We were en-
gagged IN an interesting conversation.
He made me tell him something OF my
life At home, OF the way in which | Was
brought up, and OF my intentions for
the future. Notwithstanding hls drg
nifty there was something in the manner
Of the Holy Father which encouraged
confidence and trust. His brown eyes
were full of life and OF sympathetic ~
terest, and every change of thought
seemed 10 be mrrored IN his mobile
features. He talked very slowly, as ii
thinking deeply about every sentence
he uttered. At first this disconnected
language struck me as rather abrupt,
but soon forgot II in the absorbing IN
terest OF listening 10 and talking with
hlm. He talked to me in French.
When We had been talking for about
ten minutes, an usher came silently
INTO the room carrying a golden tray,
with a small gold mug and cup, and
plate, also OF gold, on which lay a few
small biscuits. The tiny cup of chOco-
late, and Just morsel of the dainty
biscuit, were Leo NILS breakfast,
which he took walking to and fro,
the usher standing motionless with
the tray in his hand. What struck me
at once, was the extremely refined and
aesthetic manner IN which the Pope
went through that otherwise somewhat
awkward performance of taking a meal
with the eyes OF a circle OF strangers
upon him. IL was, to me at least, more
like an angel partaklEg of Paradisian
nectar ana ambTosla, than OF a mortal
taking his breakfast, and It disturbed
IN no way the harmony of the whole
picture of the Vatican. ! have seen
many great mansions and palaces where
everything that money can buy had
been collected 10 make them grand and
beautiful, but nowhere have | ever had
the feeling which oyercomCs me when
! remember beng IN the Vatican. 1t
seemed a world of beauty and wealth,
where everything IS complete and per-
feet, and which IS far removed from
the difficulties and perplexitIes and
wants of this neither world. it seems
as if suffering or wickedness could
never penetrate the thick grey walls
which look so stern and prison-hke
from the street, but which hide
such moro than regal pomp and
| splendOr.
Our audience was coming to an end.
! We had been with the Pope for over
| half an hour, and / had concluded the
account of my childhood and youth.
/ For a few minutes more he talked to
me, then suddenly raising himself from
| MS rather stopping position, he placed
/ ms hand gently on my head, SAID some
thing, and vanished through a side
door
The Holy Father is ike a being from
/ another world; his face IS transparent;
I his voice, as he reads the mass, IS
/ abrupt, and when. with sudden jerk,
/ he tries to raise himself, II seems "a 4
I the little whte-T0bed figures were being
/ lifted from tins earth aud would vanish
/ ~ the golden clouds, which are painted
with such wonderful reality just above
I the altar. Immediately after the Holy
I Father had left Us, | was invited by
I MOuggnur Macchi 10 partake OF some
Z refreshments IN one of tbc lower rooms
overlooking the Vatican gardens. It
/ was about New Years Day, and the
view of the magnificent gardens I'D
their beauty was almost overwhelming.
Oae SIDE of the room was nothing
Z but row Of tall windows,
I through which the sweet golden ar
came IN and mingled with the perfume
OF the flowers placed about. and of the
luscious fruits on the table. And there
I we sat, drinking chocolate ont Of small
{ china cups, eating cake and fruit. and
/ giorying IN the drcam-hke beauty of
I the morning. Afterward returned TO
( the hotel where I was staying. bat the
memory of the morning with the Holy
Father remained, and yet remains as a
VISION from another, q happier world
T. .~rru-s