The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-23

rxucr,epcc of Mr.. Fred l.. Dsvioson' "'
This CITY, ut the Vatican.

This City. at the Nnuc""'
ur Ered /. Davidson, q young Eng''sn-
Won who has been practicing law IN inns
.,,, ,n- some time, while traveiihs >"
,,,r,,,e last summer. visited the Vauca,''
and was fortunate enough 10 p"ne
United into H ihe describe nssfs@s' his expert
en ev in the following interesting d ie,'y,'
which was published in last week 'o"'
err Sn r"a T 81 the southern Churchman
an nerhaps be Interested In hearing
snmefhing OF an interview III Wa ny
nrivilege TO have this summer In hoinc
with the Pope Leo XIII. 4. ,,r-
AS everybody knows. the Pope il W,
,ual,y prisoner in the vatican-a vol
untary prisoner as far as the Italian GOV
crnment is concerned, but more OF -
involuntary in regard TO what ne oee"'s
the duties OF the Roman See.
Leo MIL maintains an attitude oi I'M
placable hostility TO the Kingdom OF ltaly,
md as part OF this policy OF the vatican
The Pope has ats olutciy isoIae. .a
himself from the outside world or n'o or
narficularly the world around hiin-he
cciv,, newer OF Italy. IL r., therefore, d
rare privilege for the ordinary tourist w.
be admitted to the presence OF 'h's 'ea"'
great man. . -, a., enc
,.,,cr mar, Of July. and BaedCEer IN
hand I WAS "coinC" the city as Huch
as Rome can be "done" In a week. ne
second or third day made the acqualn' nv
ance OF Mons. Rcynaud, edltor % ~ -
Roman Times. and II was through his
Kindness and influence that ! oo'aineu
nm invitation from the Vatican Ialho
Marty Of pilcrims from America we're 60
Ing 10 be presented 10 the rope , w ,U
lowing Sunday morning IN ine D.,
Chapel OF the Vatican. and Mons. NC
maud hearing that there were so' nc
cancies. procured invitations Tot iHHSen
and friends. how / know not. AZ 'au'o
dhote that evening the invitatloih VS Vas
end 10 my dismay polite inunauoh Nos s
conveyed that ladies and gentlemen mus
appear In the regulation dress-nannels,
MACK dresses and black lace shaWls over
the head for the ladies. ana eNSninS
clothes for the men. OF the last ilau
none Carrying baggage about IN ltais
is very expensive and troublesome, ana
] had left everything except the baTes'
necessaries behind in Switzerianu Deioiy
crossing the Alps. | had gwen up "r
hope OF going to the Vatican, when an
tbieing waiter in the hotel came o my
rescue: Monsieur could nave beautlr
ful suit for a song-only hye francs 10
the morning" | Jumped at the cnance'
and behold. some of my friends fwho weIe
in the same POSITION and | sallying fortn
next morning from the hotel in boifoW,"
plumage bound for the Vatican Ut trans
hired later that this entcrpTslng waiter
had laid in q stock Of dress SUITS from
peiRhboring tailor for the OccaSioN). -,
We arrived at the entrance It'll ctraliy
at o'clock. but the pilgrims VIZ a.
ready before us. In few minutes w
were ushered up fights OF stairs % '"een
double rows Of the Papal guards, niiS s
etalwart SwitzerS 10 the 'Sistine Chapeii
Here again were more OF tne ku"iua
lining the walls We possessed our
souls in patience for about half mn nout
when a small door near the altar, WIZ iiCn
had hitherto escaped my CONSERVATORY
was opened, and four priests ent,Ieu
preceded by others with lighted taptIS,
Inc
red cloth. This was put down Slowly a i
reverently, and the door opened LOT ne ne
exit of the "Nicar of CHRIST, as JIG
chooses to style himself. -,,,..,.
Leo XIII. Is a man OF most Fuihins
appearance. small IN -ature ~ ana iee-
BILE. but with6l with a Eeenly ihtelitC-
tual face. and one of great klndllhesS'
hut there ia an air of unrest "nd dlscoh-
ient sometimes which made me remember
that the Pope will not put up CCntehtsIy
with the loss OF his temporal po"Si'
As "A spiritual ruler lac has au th@t ~
could wish. His ildepeud' nee ~ bu"l-
anteed. and in his own place ia the Vail
can he exercises a sort Il Emporium VI ~
perio. he is on sacred ground, mo Whlch
The civil power makes no atlenpl 10 III
trude. His grievances Is tn@t ne ma. i"'
ceased 10 be a great temporal soVeI'fn.
/ was told that ~ spite OF MS age al
the consequent fatigue the Pope he'et
misses officiating IN the t'lel|auol OF
mass i'm this chapel. During int ctI''I d
ton his yioce was almost inaudible, the
plantive voice ~ a NcIv old and feeD;e
man. and no DOUBT ,tanding az the ttdr
throughout the mass must have ieen y.
great strain on him At the conclusion ne
seated himself in a large throne-llhe
chair. and the function OF blessing the
pilgrims was begun. a priest stahulns
by the while to act as Interpreter. Inc
pilgrims filed up one by one, and the
Pope laying his hands on the head OF
each would bestow his blessing. The
pilgrim then kissed "A large signet ring
that he had on his right hand and retired
Leo XIII. showed a keen interest IN all
that pertains 10 the Church in America,
and he continually spoke of Washington,
where his Papal Legate resides When
the pilgrims had all retired "A priest an
nounced that his Holiness was too tred
for any further presentation, which was
a polite intimation that he did not in
tend 10 receive the ProtestantS. He then
was carried out again, and this most
interesting experience was at an end.
| forgot to mention that all the Amerl-
cans in the chapel felt BATTERED by two
large American flags which had been
placed in the chapel in honor of the
occasion.
our party then went back to our hotel
for breakfast, opposite the Pantheon.
feeling that we had not lived in vain that
day.
Hoping ! have not taken too much of
your papers valuable space for this little
Renaissance. ] am sincerely yours