The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-09
THE POPE AND THE LADY.
AN AUDIENCE WITH The SOvE-
REIGN PONTiFF.

How a Lady Was Kept from Entering
Couvent-she Tells of His Manner
and Bis Conversation.
The impressive ceremony in the private
chapel Of the Vatican was over. says a
writer in the Commercial Advertiser. had
been received into the Catholic Church, and,
as had with me an influential protectress
and chaperon, private presentation to the
holy father had been arranged. We were
still wearing the court costume of the Natl-
can. black dresses with long trains, and
black wells arranged on the head and falling
down over the dress, when we were ushered
past quite a host Of tall Swiss guards in
picturesque garments, into the magnificent
thrOne-rOOm, resplendent in crimson and
gold draperies, decorations, and furniture.
II is now nine gears ago, and Leo Mi.
was at that time 10y no means the feeble old
man Of to-day. At the mass he had ap-
pearcd a yeritible saint and apostle, majes-
tic i'm spite Of his slight, short figure and
| low voice; and now, though he had lost
nothing of his saintilness, saw him all at
once when ne had become "A man as well 0s
a priest. ROBBED in creamy garments. with
tiny white cap on his head, aad nothing 10
relieve the simplicity OF his attire except
cross Of gold on his breast, and the tips OF
his red morocco shoes ne sat on his golden
throne, when we entered the room, and
saluted him by kneelng deyJutly at his
feet on the steps leading 10 the throne.
When we had kissed the ring, containing
sacred relic, ON his hand, he babe us rise,
and before long we were in an in
ieresting conversation with him. He
made me tell him something
Of my lie at home, Of the way in
which had been brought to join the Church
Of Rome. and Of my Intentions for the
future. Notwithstanding his dignity, there
was something IN the manner Of the holy
father which baulshed shyness and encour-
AGED confidence and trust. Ills brown eyes
~ ere full OF life and Of sympathetic interest,
and every change OF thought seemed 10 be
mirrOred in his mobile features. Even then
he talked very slowly, as if thinking deeply
about every sentence he uttered. At first
this disconnected language struck Inc as
rather abrupt but soon / forgot II in the
absorbing interest of listening and Of talk
ing to him. lie talked TO me in beautiful,
fluent French. as also did Cardinals (then
Monsignor )Macchi and Sallua, who were
present. standing about in their long scarlet
robes, and occasionally joining in the con-
yersatiOn.
When he had been talking for about twen-
ty minutes, an usher came into the room
carrying golden tray, with small gold
mug and cup and plate, also Of gold, on
which lay a few small biscuits. The tiny
cup Of chocolate and just a m0rsel Of the
dainty biscuit were Leo NILS breakfast,
which he took walking TO and fro, the usher
standing mOtiOness 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 other
wise somewhat awkward performance OF
taking meal with the eyes OF circle OF
strangers upon him. 1t was to me, at least,
more like an angel partaking OF paradlslan
nectar and ambrOsia than "a mortal tax
ing his breakfast and it disturbed in no
way the harmony of the whole picture OF
the Vatican. ! have seen many great man
siOns and palaces where everything that
money can buy had been collected TO make
them grand and beautiful but nowhere
have | ever had the feeling which OYercame,
and sill OyercOmes me, in the Vatican, as OF
a world of beauty and wealth, where every
thing is complete and perfect. and which Is
far removed from the difficulties and per
pleXities and wants of this neither world.
Ii seems as if suffering or wickedness could
never penetrate the thick gray walls which
look so stern and prisOn-like from the street,
but which hide such more than regal pOmp
and splendOr
our audience was coming to an end. We
had been with the Pope for over half an
hour. and concluded my account of my
childhood and youth with fervent request
to be now admitted as nun into one Of the
Italian or Austrian converts. The cardinals
especially Cardinal Macchi, whose beau
tiful Young sister had Just taken the veil and
fortune ia NQT order.
were greatly in favor of my joining an
order. But had no sooner uttered my re-
quest than the holy fathers smiling face
grew crave: he stood still in front OF me
and said: I'll ne faut pas taire celia. ii
nous faut aussi de bOns gems dams lie
monde For few minutes more he talked
10 me. slowly, abruptly and occasionally,
as is his habit, suddenly raising from bis
rather STOPPING position, and then he put
his hand gently on my head, saying: "Que
Dieu yous benisse," and vanished through
side door.
| noticed the same curious habit again
when. "A few months ago, attended holy
mass at the Natican-but, alas the terrible
change that has come over the holy father.
Nine years ago he was, though even then
an old man. full of life, energy, spirit; he
was slight and thin, but he looked COMPARE
lively strong and healthy. Now he is like
q
transparent: the light has died out OF his
ewes: his voice, as he reads the mass is more
abrupt than ever; and when,iwith sudden
Jerk, be tries TO raise himself, ii seems as II
the little. white-robbed figure were being
lifted up from the earth and would vanish
in golden clouds which are painted with
such wonderful reality just above the altar.
linn, diatelY after the holy father had left
us we were invited by MOnsignor Macchi
10 pariake Of some refreshments IN one OF
the lower rooms overlooking he Vatican
gardens. II was about Whilsuntlde, and
the view Of the magnificent gardens in their
hr.t summer beauty was almost over
Whelmng. One side Of the room was moth
ing but row Of tall windows, through
which the sweet, golden air came in and
mingled with the perfume of the flowers
placed about and Of the luscious fruits on
the table. And there we sat. drinking
chocolate out Of small, thin, china cups,
eating sweets and fruits, and glorying
in the dreamlike beauty Of the summer
morning. Then we returned to the convent
where | was staying; but the memory OF
the morning with the holy father remained
. ,,;afo,, from, another world