Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-06-29
POPE AND THE PHoNoeRAPH.
How an Enterprising Expert Got 4
Record Of the Pope's Voice.

Letter from Rome in the Pittsburg
Post-They say that when James
Gordon Bennett got up one fine day
with the firm determination to know
In what corner Of darkest Africa DR..
Livingstone Wa lost, he simply wired
to Mr.. Stanley. and when that cele-
bratei reporter ran to his appeal he
very calmly asked him, do you know,
Mr.. Stanley, where on earth DR.. Liv-
ingstOne may be?" NO. sir" an
.swered Mr.. Stanley. "All right" re-
joined the proprietor of the New York
Herald. Then go and find him.
Mr.. Bennett took up again his bust
ness for the day, and Mr.. Stanley
went out of the room and found DR..
Livingstone.
A similar scene must have been
enacted some time ago in the
managers Office of one of those firms
which deal in cinematographs, phono-
craps and such like Commodities. The
mission on which the young clerk was
called into the "sanctum" of the
manager could not in the least be
compared to the celebrated voyage OF
the American reporter; but to have a
Photographic machine pointed out to
you with the brief order to take il
and persuade the pope of Rome to
speak into IL, would rather stagger
many a hopeful youth who has chosen
as his path in life the bothering of
people with interviews and private
conversations intended for publica-
ton: but IL seems that the young
man we are speaking about had b en-
picked upon among many as offering
the best chances for success, and, in
deed, he quickly took up his phono-
graphic machine and turned his steps
toward Rome; and, as "all roads," ac-
cording to popular belief, lead to that
city. he soon found himself inside the
walls of the old city.
The young man and his photograph
were absolutely unknown in Rome,
and though from the central station
10 the Vatican is only the matter of
half an hours ride in n tram-car. IL
would have been quite useless for him
to hurry too much toward the
apostolic palace. as his trip would
have been surely stopped at the
bronze gate by the Swiss sentry. a
worthy son of Helvetia. not at all
familiar with monographs and re-
porters. AMI so he took the only
road open TO him. that is. the shorter
one TO a hotel where he could think of
the best means to reach his end. He
had plenty of what is commonly
called the nerve of war. Ten thous-
and dollars represent a golden KEY
which generally fits to any key-hole.
The social ladder is exactly like anv
other ladder. IL has high AMI low
rounds. and our young reporter was
too clever 10 attempt a gymnastic
feat which would land him at a lump
on the highest step. running the risk
Of a fall. He put his foot warily on
the lower round and he was happy
enough to secure at the beginning a
solid grip.
Il is a fact that in Rome. as else
where. high personages like, for in
stance. parents OF the pope and
princes, cannot limit their friendships
and acquaintance exclusively among
persons OF their exalted rank: their
social circle would be in that case so
narrow as 10 afford them very little
pleasure in life. For company's sake
they are obliged TO bestow their
benevolent attention on persons born
IN humber station. who naturally are
quite well satisfied to be admitted into
the intimacy of those an aristocratic
prejudice calls their betters. On their
parts. those persons kindly parronize
number friends. who, let us assume
Tor the sake Of our tale. belong to the
same station in life as photograph
drummers.
Having accepted the job Of persuad-
ing pope 20 speak into phonograph.
II is easy 10 understand that he was
not very much embarrassed in find
ing the first round Of the ladder: that
Is. the first man to whom to open his
heart about his delicate mission. The
golden key fitted 10 perfection. and
early opened the way TO a stem
Z further: that is. 10 the acquiring of
the good Offices Of a third party be-
longing TO that useful class of men,
about-town, who, thanks TO the
elasticity Of their backbone. find their
way into the highest society resorts.
Once gained to the cause of that
precious recruit, things went on
smoothly. The negotiations, which
till that moment had gone on i'm
/ cOnee-houses and restaurants. were
continued in one Of the first clubs of
cur city. Prince Grin let himself be
/ persuaded 10 listen to the tale of his
/ friend. the hanger-on. and after having
poniered a little he went TO one of his
. friends. one Of equals now. Count
Pee. TO devise the ways and means
to persuade his holiness to the some
what unusual ceremony. Count Pee
has by birthright his right OF entrance
4 into the most secluded rooms of the
Vatican: and he employed his
( elOquence so cleverly that Leo XIII