The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-27
Day N lEUS LIE
One of the Mysteries of the
Vatican Penetrated.
HOW HE RECEIVES VISITORS
Description Of His Holiness
Personal Appearance.

wear ago few persons have been able to
see him in his daily life But Julian de
Marion. the eminent French writer, has
penetrated the mysteries Of the Vatican
palace. He tells now the supreme Pom
tiff, in his nintieth year. oversees ana d.
church. The pen picture OF day In the
pope's life which is here given, Is pho
tographic In its distinctness and remark
able for its interesting detail.
At o'clock: Leo XIII. rises at o'clock,
or rather his faithful valet, Cavaliere Pho
| Centra, enters his room evenly morning
to wake him Of by chance the pope should
be asleep. and help him 30 dress. Usual
~ Pho Contra finds his master risen, or
else the wonderful old man is still at the
| desk where he seated himself the night
before, to put the last touch to some en-
/ cyclical, or to look over his favorite poets,
Dante and Virgil. The pope's bed is ex-
tremsly simple. It is very narrow, and
Is raised a step above the marble floor,
which Is covered by a thick carpet. In
the half light of the alcove, feskoonet
by heavy curtains, Is an immage OF tae
Madonna sal acre bambino, holding the
infant Jesus in her arms. At the foot OF
the bed, beneath a handsome crucihx, is
a prize Dieu, with the pope's book of Hours
resting on a red cushion. The Papal es-
cutcheon Is carved upon this prize Dieu.
On It the pope offers mis- first daily pray
er, after having devoted a few moments
to a hasty toilet. This toilet, for which
dlie holy father uses eau de Cologne, is
completed later by Pho Contra, who
brushes the Porstiff's hair and shaves him.
Apropos Of this, I am assured that the
vaIet-de-chambers Of Plus TX. used to
distribute the Ponttfical br1stles among
his friends. That Pho Contra can be per-
suaded to follow this example Is not so
certain, for although Romish fstichism
was not buried, ! believe. with Plus TX,
It has at least diminished considerably
since the accession Of Leo Kill Besides,
the present pope's valet who b a son OF
a former valet of Cardinal Pecci, would
not be easily currupted. Some years ago
ne ownedt a matters establishment
Rome, which he gladly handed over to
his brother in order to enter the Pope's
service when the post of atutante di ca
mera becafe vacant. He has ennobled his
humble duties by the devotion with which
they have been fulfilled. and the pope
has shown his appreciation Of this de-
votion by making him q chevalier Of the
order of Saint Gregory. ~-s, .
The pope generally celebrates mass in a
small apartment adjoining his bedroom.
and Pho Contra acts as his acolyte. The
alter Is raised only one step. On either
side Of the tabernacle, or case In which
the pyx Is kept, are some marvelously
artistic candelatra and tow status of
saints. On Sundays and fete days, when
he Is well enough, Leo XIII. celebrates
the Holy Sacrament in the chapel leading
into the throne room. This chapel Is en-
tirely AIled by magnificent alter. Those
who have obtained the much-desired pri-
vilege Of attending the celebration re-
main in the adjoining room, the door Of
which Is. kept open. and are afterwards
presented to the holy father, who gives
them his blessing with a few kind words
Leo XIII. says mass very slowly, with
deep reverence and a full consciousness
of the grandeur OF the service.
At s o'clock: After having celebrated
the holy sacrifice, the pope attends an
other mass, said by the chaplain on duty
This is his thanksgiving. He then break
fasts on little chocolate or cafe au lsit
Since 1883, the sacerdotal jubilee of Leo
Kill, the milk has been supplied by goats
penned within the myrtle hedges of the
Vatican gardens, near the Zftella foun-
tain, Rustic and simple as In the days
of his youth, the Carpinetans, who wish
ed present him with jubilee offering,
sent their campatriot flock Of goats,
H.. Is @t
ciott. The pope often visits this flock,
oaresses the gentle animals, and converses
with the shepherd from his native place
Cardinal Rampolia arrives about
o'clock. and Is immediately conducted in
to the presence OF the Holy Father. After
this daily interview granted to the emin-
ent secretary of state. the pope, II the
weather be fine, takes a short walk In
the Vatican gardens. He does not dis
dain to occasionally chat. with the gar
dener, and even give him good advice,
for the pope is by no means ignorant of
horticulture, and is keenly interested In
agriculture. as Don Cesaro the gardener,
learned one day to his cost. On that oc-
casion the pope summoned Don Cecaro
and complainde about ivy which appeared
''why are you letting this plant der
the pope asked.
Holy father, the soil is so bad"
You don't know what you are talking
about, or else you think we believe every
thing you may please to tell u.s."
Then followed a regular lecture which
made the mortified DAn Cesaro exclaim,
when the pope had disappeared: He can
teach everyone, from the cardinals to his
gardener. You can't get over him.
After his walk come the receptions. One
by one he receives those dignitaries who
have regular stated audiences several
times a week with his holiness to dis
pose OF current business, either connect
ed with the internal administration Of the
Vatican. or the general government OF
the church These audiences include the
perfect OF che apostolic palaces, the ma
jOr-demo. the projects Of the various con-
gregations. etc, and visitors who have
been granted a private audience For
these audiences there Il special cere-
monial: first: the threefold salutation, one
az the entrance door, a second IN the CEN
ire Of the apartment the third when kiss
ing the pope's slipper. The pope does not
throughout the audience. II rests with the
holy father to say when H shall be finish
ed The visitor must step backward when
retiring. so as to avoid turning his back
on the head OF the church. This ceremor-
tai applies TO Roman Catholics only.
Il is = curious fact that the Papal mas
tiers OF ceremonies have never drawn up
any code OF etiQuette applying TO receS-