The Newtown bee., 1892-08-19
The Pope's Private Life.

In Summer as in Winter, Leo XIII is
 awakened at 6 by his private servant,
 Francesca Centra, from Carpineto.
 Centra knocks at the door, opens the blinds, addresses customary salute to
 his master and at once retires. The
 pope gets up from bed unaided, and also performs his toilet unaided, except as
 regards shaving. This operation is per-
 formed by the faithful Centra. The bed room is not the one used by his bredeces- sors; |; it is small and rather low cell, to
 which he repaired many years ago in the course of some restoratiOns to the old room, and where he has remained ever since. At o'clock, he says his
 mass, attended by two cappellani segreti, and hears a second mass celebrated by one of the same attendants, who act also
 as private secretaries. It happens some times that the pope, having been troubled ! with sleeplessness, gets up with a piece of Latin or Italian poetry composed dur, | ing the wakeful hours. The verses are. | ies before the mass. The breakfast. of the pope consists of coffee, milk and I bread without butter. Soon after, the | official reception begins. The first one,
 as a rule, is given to the cardinal secretary
 of state, who submits to the holy father
 the documents received the day before,
 or those which are awaiting the pontifical | signature. This audience lasts more
 than an hour, and takes place every day
 except Tuesdays and Fridays, which are
 set apart for the reception of the
 diplomatic body. Cardinals, heads of
 congregations, generals of monastic or
 ders, strangers of distinction are receiv-
 ed later in the day. It is to be regretted 1 that Leo XIII does not accord private
 audiences as often as his predecessors
 did. Many strangers are obliged to leave
 Rome without having been able to see the holy father. In Winter, if the sun shines, the receptions are interrupted | for awhile for walk or drive of half
 an hour in the Vatican gardens. Leo | XIII dimes at l o'clock in the old Roman style. The dinner is composed of soup,
 generally pate d'Italie, a roast, a vegeta- l blSS FSA OAOSh II hACu poboocCs. anu Al OAt. Plus TX was very fond of boiled meat,
 which was served daily in triple form | boiled chicken, boiled beef and boiled l mutton. This plate is banished from Leo's table, as we'll ss bacon and cheese.
 The only wine served is old Bordeaux.
 The pope is very apt to glance over the journals at meal times. He dimes alone
 generally, waited upon, in addition to
 the valet, by his carver, Commentators
 Giulia Stirbini. This official is gentle
 man of refined tastes and artistic culture, owning good collection of preraphaelite
 pictures. An invitation to take coffee
 and milk after the pope's mass is consid-
 cred great honor and it is only extend ed to those who have heard the mass and received the holy communion from the pope's hands. It has lately been
 granted to the ex-grand duchess of Tus- cany and to the Prince Borghese, Aldo brandini, Altieri and Ludovisi. The same favor is shown sometimes to the nephews of the pope. in all cases, the visitors sit at a small table placed next to the pope's. After dinner, Leo XIII takes a short rest on a chaise lounge, the siesta never lasting beyond the hour. Then follows drive in the Belvedere gardens, through which an avenue more than mile long has lately been opened, affording many lovely points of view over the city and suburbs.-[ August North American.