Washington sentinel., 1900-11-17
TIE MIa SENTINEL
Rome In Holy Year.
.SNNiaV SkraAf.

mend itself In the afternoon the
Fancy Fair is continued at Monte
Pincio, and a great gatherlnP OF
pilgrims takes place at st. Peters
at FIVE o'clock; Immediately after,
Vespers, the procession OF the
three Marys. In the evening the
theatres are all we'll patronized.
Easter Monday is a general hol-
iday in Rome, the great event OF
the day being the National Steeple-
chase, held az the Capannelle. 1t
is very much like our Derby day.
Every form Of equipage is pressed
into service, from the tour-in- hand
and barouche Of the nobility and
aristocracy to the humble pedlar's
cart. Everybody who does not 60
to the races turns out to watch the
carriages come home, and the
streets through which the ma ority
ofthem pass are all but impossible.
The police are in their best clothes,
for that body in Italy are verv
much plumed and laced on Sun
days and holidays. Some sort OF
an attempt to regulate the traffic
is made, but it does not amount to
much, and all drivers beneath the
dignity OF oiiamilY coachmen scream
and swear heartily at one another.
During the week the pilgrims
make the round of the sights,
The principal churches are taken,
tour ofthem being selected for COM
pulsory visitation. AT each OF
these the parts which can usually
only be visited by payment are
thrown open, and all the sacred
relics freely exhibited. Very tired
these same pilgrims must get, con-
tinually tramping about from place
to place. Here and there one
comes across bodies Of them, rest
ing on the steps Of the churches or
around the great fountains. 1t is
only by dint OF great seli-denial
that they can afford this journey to
Rome, and they have very little
money to spend when there; but,
having come, they must see all
that is to be seen. The foot
steps OF St. Paul must be followed
on the Appian Way, the Manner
tine Prison, where St. Peter and
St. Paul were confined, must be
visited, as must the Castle OF St.
Angelo, the Trajan Forum, and
the Roman Forum, with its collec-
ton of ancient ruins. The turbu-
lent waters Of the old Tiber must
be watched, and every pilgrim
must repair to the Scala Santa, or
Scala Pilati. This, as its name in
dicates, was the staircase Of Pilates
house; it is composed OF twenty
eight marble steps, and this it was
that our Saviour assembled and de.
scended Just before His cru cidxion.
The steps were brought from Jeru-
salem by the mother OF Constan-
tine, and placed here by Sixtus Y.
Needless to say, they are held in
the very greatest veneration, and
the pilgrims ascend them on their
knees recitIng a Pater and Ave at
every step.
Thursday is the RoVal Derby,
and again Rome repairs to the
Capannelle. l Watched his Majesty
the King himself proceeding
thither, driving fine pair OF bays.
By the side OF him sat one OF the
Princes OF the Royal house, two
gentlemen of the Court being
seated in the rear. King Umberto
was driving along at very COM
Portable pace, but had quite
enough to do in the continual dof-
ing Of his hat with one hand and
handling the reins with the other.
No escort attended him. Queen
Margherita came a few min utes
atterward in full state, the Tetainers
all being in royal scarlet, the open
carriage being horsed by four
splendid bays. Her Majesty, who
was richly attired in a crimson
plush mantle and large picture hat,
was bowing and smiling on every
hand. in response to the sunny
looking faces and hearty greetings
Of the populace.
On Friday there is a very grand
ceremony at st. Peter 's-that OF
benediction to the pilgrims. I'D
mission to this is by ticket only,
but an immense concourse is as
sembled nearly three hours before
the appointed time. l was fortun-
ate enough to have a position in
the Tribune, where everything
could be seen, Unlike any other
day, a clear space is kept right up
the centre Of the cathedral, for
strong barriers are erected and the
Swiss Guard is posted. The first
event is the procession OF deputa-
tions OF the pilgrims, one OF the
prettiest siphts have ever wit
messed. Each deputation carries
aloft its own cross in a circle-this
being the pilgrims symbol-and a
rich silk banner. But what makes
the procession so extremely pic
turesque is that the pilgrims, who
represent all the European coun-
tries, are in original native dress.
had an early view Of Leo XIII.
as he emerges from the private
way Of the Vatican into one Of the
side chapels Of the great basilica.
He is carried on the gestatorial
chair by the liveried men Of his
household; cardinals, bishops,
priests, chamberlains, and other
dIgnitaries Of the Vatican house
hold walking in the slowly moving
procession. AS the Pope energies
from the chapel into the cathedral
the outburst is almost deafening;
handkerchieis, sticks, and even