The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-04
A Scene in ST. PETERS
THE POPE's RECENT APPEARANCE
ESPECIALLY IMPRESSIVE.
A Feeling Prevailed that 1t Might Be
the Last Time-Regarded with
Great Affection.

ROME, April 2.-"An Rome" is painfully
convinced that Sundays was the venerable
Leo's last public appearance, for official
denials do not count much when a man is
in his ninety-third year, of which eighty,
at least, were spent in ardent. exhausting
work. No doubt before long the red cal
dachins will be raised in the Sixtine Chapel,
where the conclave meets TO decide upon
a new Pope and a fshering with a differ
ent design armorial.
The hearty admiration 1 cherish for the
supreme Pontif secured me a card of ad-
mittance to ST. Peters by Cardinal Ram
pollo's kindness. even though 1 am of the
Lutheran faith, and 1 started out early
not to miss any of the sights.
TIL nearer l drew to St. Peters the
greater the crowd of carriages. the denser
the mob going in the same direction. Those
narrow old streets of the Borgo quarters.
with their thousands of small and smallest
stores, dealing in rosaries, souvenirs. papal
portraits and saints pictures, were almost
impossible, people from the suburbs and
outlying districts filing the roadway and
every nook and corner. but st. Peters
square was still empty. though 10000 had
b-eleaguered the steps of the great cathedral
SlAiOC llAullSHl. As Il matter OF IaCt. nOtn-
ing short of a giant army can make this
place look anything but deserted. and yes
terday Italian soldiers in parade uniform
guarded its various approaches TO keep a
space clear for kings and princes. ambas-
sadors, cardinals. bishops and other dis
tinguished persons.
On presenting my card l was readily adj
mitted, but had to use my elbows freely
10 work my way to the portals designated
on the permit. This particular entrance door
was controlled by half "A dozen papal car
bineers in white buckskin breeches. riding
boots and bearskins. looking very formid-
able and picturesque. There was also a
Vatican usher in evening dress and a big
gold chain, who took my ticket and deftly
tore 1t in half. At his side lay already a
big heap Of these Cancelled cards, indicating
that / was none too early. The usher per-
formed his duties with a fint-hearted look
in his eye-I saw a little seminarist beg for
admittance on his Bonded knee. big tears
rolling down his cheeks, but the guardian
Of the door only smiled. You will have
plenty of time to see the Pope; you are
still young. my boy"
Then there was a commOtion. 4 tall. thin.
AVDNAAA6 I-iA64lSlilildH a.. WITH a
lady upon his arm, had walked past the
soldiers as if they were air. clutching his
cards of admission. The usher tackled
Mr.. John Bull and tried to persuade him
to give up the pasteboa rds. but the Eng
lishman merely shook his head and con-
tinued on his way. Then one of the gen.
darmes caught him by the sleeve. Mr..
Albion shook him off like a fly and walked
on. l bet he will use those cards again.
INSIDE ST. PETERS.
The great cathedral was already filled
with people. There remained much er,ptv
space. though-space that offered no chance
for seeing anything. Everybody was try
ing to obtain a view of the central aisle.
part of which was fenced off by ropes of
purple silk with golden tassels.
Thousands of small boys stood and hung
in the inches of the tall pillars. How tbev
kept from failing and breaking their necks
l couldn't make out, but to Judge bv their
smiling faces they seemed TO have no fear.
That, on this occasion. St. Peters was
oVerrun by mere curiosity seekers. the ma
Jority non-Catholics. was easy to see. for
many IN the crowd acted as If they thought
the cathedral a place of public rendezvous.
They talked, laughed and g%esticulated. I
was rather pleased when a venerable priest
sitting near me rebuked these welI-dressed
loafers in unmistakable language.
Suddenly the whispered words. THE
Pope The Pope" went from mouth to
mouth. AT the furthest end of the great
edlnce' silver halberds with fine Damas-
cened steel blades loomed UP. but the
bearers couldn't belong to the Pope's avant
guard-they marched too quickly. Another
ten minutes of waiting; at last shouts and
clapping of hands indicated that the nrocee-
sion was near. The applause grew. hats
were tossed in the air, handkerchiefs
waved.
Now a detachment of the famous Swiss.
the troopers TO whom the Holy Fathers
person mas been entrusted ever since the
Gays or Sixtus Q476) Fine specimens of
MANHOOD they are. Their dress, designed
py Michael Angelo, is the most picturesque
uniform in the world. 1t consists of full
oreeches to the knee of alternate wide
stripes of yellow and black. They wear
low-buckled shoes and yellow and black
stockings. Their d~Oublet, padded at the
shoulder and belted, has smaller stripes Of
the three colors; their black helmets are
adorned with white horse-hair plumes. The
officers appeared TO me especially gorgeous
In their silk breeches of striped red and
crimson, black doublets with silver bands.
red silk stockings and shoes with large
r~osettes.
The troops marched so slowly that I
could make the observations here set down
with all leisure. I never saw a finer body
of men, 1 think.
After the Swiss came the Guardia Mobile.
In silver helmets, scarlet coats braided
with gold, white breeches and riding boots,
across the breast a gold band with the
letters G.. n. p, PapaI Noble Guard. As
everybody knows, these gentlemen belong
to the noblest family in Italy, and the
handsomest. one might add.
CARDINALS AND PRELATEs
Then a cloud Of white, purple and red
gowns. jeweled miters and croziers blazing
with ruoies' diamonds, emeralds, gold and
silver, follow the body Swiss" armed with
enormous two-handed swords, light of
them. They represent the Catholic Can
tons. and represent them well. Their
swords are copies Of that worn by Francis
l when taken prisoner some 400 or 500 years
ago More red berettas. purple gowns, err
mine collars and trains OF blue fox. Now.
nigh above the moving sea of heads. the
"sedia sestatoria," or portable throne,
resting on the shoulders of twelve stalwart
men.