The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-09

called its cultivator Such, with a super
vision Of the direction, in every respect,
are his diversions in the gardens, where
there are many things of beauty, though
II Is not gay and pTim," after the fash
ION OF English gardens. but Astounding IN
the wild naturalness of a half rustic park,
and not a garden, but 1t has large tracts
laid out with care, for the continuance
of which the Pope is largely responsible,
the care of the gardens forming his chief
diversion. rs ii true" | have asked a
prelate of his suite, that he tends the
vines which he has planted?" Yes. al
most true; he does everything else, If not
the material cultivation" His care for
the gardens is assuredly, then, the most
complete relaxation which he allows HIM
self, not less than the most marked yaria-
ton Of work which he could discover.
THE POPE's GARDENS.
In every respect. the gardens are his pre-
dilection. Around the Borgia Tower. a forth
fcation reared by Pope Alexander VI. he
has erected casino, that of Pope Plus ~
being too low-lying and having become I'M
healthy since the completion of the dome of
st. Peters and of the library wing of the
Vatican. He abandoned this casino of the
Medici Pope very reluctantly, even when he
had learned that it must be malarious.
Nothing could be stranger than the con-
trasts in his own casino, which must be
known in the future as that of Leo XIII.
Its center the tower, is the coolest and the
No Summerhouse in the world can be IKE
that of the Pope, which STANDS on an emf
nence exposed to the hercest rays OF the
sun, but the center OF Wn1ch mas WalS 50
thick that it's atmosphere is like that OF
the Blue Grotto. The rooms OF the new
apartments clustering around It are Iur
nished with the most modern furniture,
while the first floor of the tower itself Is d
magnificent circular saloon. During the
months of summer heat his Holiness ire
quentiy repairs thither for the greater part
Of the day. The change OF place makes 1T
tie if any change in the severity OF ms
life. In the first years after its erection J., ne
gust, besides spending the day hours there
at other times. Now he makes ms VIlIegld-
tura' in the autumn, which Is the ROMAN
season for ecclesiastical vacations. He has
only returned thence in the third week Oh
November last. 1880,
there or whether he takes a 'villegiatura
he scarcely makes an interruption IN ms
audience-giving. The Bishop or Shrews-
bury who was in rome during November
had his audience in the casino, where the
Pope receives ambassadors, cardlnais
bishops and officials with all the formallty
of the Aldobrandini Palace in the Vatican
This is the reason, together win the eVeis
present necessities Of work, why ne makes
no substantial difference in his horarlum
whether he is taking d vacation or not The
change is almost all one Of site ana sur
roundings, and in this change he puts the
value of his ''villegiatura"
Occasionally he holds informal recep-
ton in the gardens. 1t may. be the men
who tend his vines VINO nave the plSdSdl .
of a visit bringing blessings and gifts. In
the early summer for two years at least
he has entertained the nuns and children
of some favored converts. There is reel
tation by the pupils, especially the younger
ones and then there is the reward in a
reception and the long delight of an audi
ence When the Pope leaves the children
are entertained in the casino of Pope Plus
". The only other variation in MS IRE
comes in the form of the public services
which he continually performs; the PERIOD
ical or irregular functions in the palace
or in the Vatican Basil1ca; and IN q rare
academia musical and literary
Before dusk the Pope is again at work.
AS in the dependent offices, such as the
secretariate of state, his work at evening
the labor of the following day. But it is
long. and it leaves no occasion for rest, save
when the hour for his very slight evening
meal has arrived. This over, he again re-
sumes his work, which he continues until
he has recited evening prayers with ms
pontifcal family. Nor does the night bring
him rest He may be sleepless, and then ne
does not hesitate to work. at least by thlnk-
ing. Many of his inspirations in poetry, IN
politics, and in ecclesiastical government
are due to the untiring activity of his nina,
to which the night, in any case, brings but
a modicum of sleep. But this sleep Is sum-
cient. and is again an evidence of the per-
lection of health, Joined to the perfection
oA 'delicacy, which has made his frail body
the efficient servant of his strenuous ana
strengthfUl spirit