The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-11-30


torial desk in Paris and plan an inter-
view with the Pope. But l had not
been a week in Rome before began to
understand the seeming hopelessness Of
carrying profane American journalism
into the presence of the White Vicar
Of Christ, sitting ut the heart of the
mysterious vatican, says james Creel-
man in his new book entitled "On the
Great Highway" which contains inter-
views with famous men Of the day.
There was an enchanting sense Of ad-
venture in the thing. Yet thousand
years Of unbrollen tradition stood be-
tween me and the august head of the
Christian world, whose predecessors had
turned sceptres to dust and blotted out
kingdoms.
The pavements and walls Of the ven.
cradle city seemed to mock me. The
stately cardinals listened and shook
their heads. There was no precedent
The base thought Of newspaper cor
respondent interviewing the Pope vic.
lated every sentiment of Papal history
from st. Peter to Leo XIII. The ApOs-
tolc secretary Of state, Cardinal RAM
polla, advised me to abandon the idea.
The vicar general of Rome, Cardinal
Parocchi, smiled Mt my enthusiasm and
urged me not to waste any time on an
impossible mission. Still went from
one prince of the church to another,
from palace to palace, from cathedral
to cathedral. The persistent spirit de-
veloped in an American newspaper Of
flee is not easily daunted. AS the diff
culties gathered, my ambition to inter-
view the Pope grew more intense. 1t
became an absorbing passion. 1t was
with me when wandered in the
crumbling palaces Of the Caesars or
walked among the ruins Of the Roman
Forum. 1t haunted me among the
tombs of the popes in st. Peters.
dreamed of it at night.
And when every cardinal and bishop
in Rome seemed to stand in the way, l
went to Turin and entreated Cardinal
Allimonde, King Humbcrts friend, to
help me. Alas! no; the cardinal as
sured me that my quest was bound to
end in failure. There were some things
that American journalism could not ac-
complish. Then 1 went to see Cardinal
San Felice, the venerable "Saint Of Ma.
pies" The gentle old man listened to
the story Of my efforts to see the Pope
and shook his snowy head discourag-
ingly.
II cannot help you, my son." he said.
81 am too old to go to Rome to assist
you, and letter would accomplish lit
tie. The throne Of st. Peter is guarded
in thousand ways against the shock
of change, and what you propose would
upset the traditions of ages. Still, Leo
XIII. is broad-mlnded, far-seeing
statesman, and if he thought, that n
newspaper interview would serve the
cause Of Christianity, he would not hes
itate to make new precedent"
| At this time kind fortune brought in
to my anxious life in Rome the friend
slip Of an American sculptor, Chevalier
| Esckal, who lived and worked in n
studio in the vinegrown ruins of tho
Baths Of Diocletan. To this friend
confided the tale Of my attempts to
! penetrate the innermost door of the
vatican. AS he sat there in his sculp-
tors white blouse and slanting velvet
cap beside a marble figure of the dead
Christ, his face suddenly became ra-
diant.
81 have It," he said, throwing his cap
on the table. Cardinal Hohenlohe will
help you."
So straight to the Basilica of Santa
Maria Maggiore we went, and found
the cardinal in his palace, stout, rosy
witty German prince, one Of the bosom
friends of Plus TX. Within an hour
the cardinal promised to lay the matter
before the Pope. Three days later he
sent for me AMI announced that His
Holiness had consented to be inter
viewed.