The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-04-17

phon, commencing with the
of Christ to his disciples, "Mandatum no
yum da vobis," has been chanted by the
choir, the distribution of the aims by the
lord high almoner takes place. The aims
in question amount to about $26 for every
man n $21 for every woman, in new sill
yer and gold money specially coined by
the mint for the occasion, and are con.
tanned in red and white kid purses, to
which long tassels are attached. They arc
borne on a huge gold salver by one of the
sergeants of the yeomen of the guard, who
Is thanked on either side by comrades armed
with halberds. The lord high almoner
himself is assisted by several gentlemen
ushers of the queen, arrayed in gorgeous
gold embroidered court uniforms and with
scarfs of linen tied across their shoulders,
mathematical of the towels used in the
days when the British sovereigns used still
to wash on this particular day the feet of
IL poor men and ~ poor women.
This custom of washing the feet of the
poor On Holy Thursday is still adhered to
at the courts of Vienna, Madrid, Lisbon,
Munich and the Vatican. 1t is q very sol
emn function, and while it Is in progress
one of the prelates in attendance reads
that portion of the gospel which describes
Christ as washing the feet of his apostles.
At Vienna end Munich, Madrid and Lis.
bon, the sovereign is attended on these oc-
casions by the members of the reigning
family, by the great dignitaries of the
realm, and by the entire court in full uni
form. Princes and princesses remove tho
shoes and stockings of the old men and
women, bishops and cardinals hold the
gold ever n basin respectively, while the
sovereign kneels before each aged pauper
~, t.r,, md Df+or houipn yo,,raJ ocnxr
ter over their feet dries them with a gold
fringed napkin. Afterward the old people
are entertained at a banquet, at which
they are waited upon by the sovereign and
by the princes and princesses present, and
at its close the guests are sent to their
homes in court carriages, each bearing a
handsome present in money.
The pope, while washing the feet of IL
poor old men-which, by the bye, he does
in a very conscientious and proper manner
wear awhite linen apron over his white
cassock. This apron is sent every year to
the general of the Benedictine order, who
causes it to be cut up and to be used in
one of the churches of the order for cover
ing the chalice. His holiness insists on
himself serving the IL aged paupers at the
banquet which follows the ceremony, and
each one of them finds under his plate a
hundred franc bank note.
But the most solemn feature of the OBJ
servation of Eastertide at the Vatican-in
my opinion, at any rate-is when on the
following night punctually at 12 a car
dinal arrayed in his scarlet robes presents
himself and strikes ~ blows on the door
Of the private chapel of the pontiff. The
latter thereupon arises from his knees be-
fore the altar, and, taking therefrom a
c,o1Ion art1ciRy onnrnonhps tho yvfnlDyu
which is thrown open by the cardinal, and
makes with a sweeping and majestic ges-
ture the sign of the cross over the slumber.
ing city at his feet, cxclaiming SET red
didit Spiritum."
This Thursday before Easter is likewise
the day on which Emperor William, with
his nearest and dearest relatives, but with
no attendants of any kind whatsoever, re
ceives the sacrament in the little chape,
which has been established in the bedroom
of old Emperor william. 1t is very plainly
furnished and lig. g. by a small silver oil
lamp, and after the imperial chaplain has
administered the holy bread and wine the
tllusgrious communicates spend half an
hour in solemn meditation before return
ing to their apartments.
On Good Friday a remarkable and uniuuC
ceremony takes place in the royal chapel
at Madrid. During the course of divine
service, just at the moment for the adora
ton of the cross, the chaplain approache,
the kneeliug sovereign with a gold salver
on which are full and free pardons fol
three prisoners lying unde the sentence Of
death, and pronounces these words: MAD
am, does your majesty grant her pardon
, to these criminals lying under sentence Of
deathp''
The queen thereupon touches the papers
lightly with her hand and repeats the ira
ditional words, "Yo os perdone, yasi Dio,
me ~perdone' MAY God pardon me, as
pardon them). EX~-DIPLoMATIsT.