New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-02
LAY OFFICIALS OF THE VATICAN
DIGNIT4RIES OF THE PONTTFICAL COURT-SOuE
OF THEN OF AMERICAN NATIONALITY.

a net. carefully concealed from view. beneath
the surface Of the water, so that after the de-
parture OF the Holy Father from the palace he
experienced no difficulty whatsoever in recover
ing possession of his gold plate on the death
OF the present Marshal Of the Conclave and of
the Holy Seat, the office will pass to his son,
Don Ludovico. sometimes known as Prince Of
Farnese. who has served in the Italian Army
and some distinction by his ganantry in
the wars with Abyssinia.
The Postmaster GeneraIshIp Of the Holy Seat
is held by the head Of the House OF Massmo,
which claims to be the most ancient family of
the Roman patriciate. and is allied by marriage
with a number of the reigning dynasties Of
Europe. Thus the mother of the present Post
master General of the Papacy was princess of
the sovereign House of Savoy. The princes
wife is a daughter of the French Royal Duchess
of Berry, and half sister of that prince known
as the Count de Chambord, who the abdica
ton of his grandfather, King Charles X, at the
time of the Paris revolution of 1880, reigned for
a few hours as King Henry V of France The
Postmaster Generals younger son is married to
the Spanish Infanta Beatrix of Bourbon, daugh-
ter of Don Carlos, while the elder son, Don
Francesca MassimO, Prince of Arsoli who will
on his fathers demise become Postmaster Gen
eraI. is married TO daughter of that Princess
Brancaccio whose mother Miss Elizabeth
Field of New-York.
Prince Camille Rospigliosi, who is lieutenant
general in command of the Noble Guard of the
Papacy, has an American sister-in-law in the
wife of his elder brother, Don Giuseppe. She
was Miss Marie Reid. of New-Orleans. Baron
Myer Won Schaunsee, head of an ancient
patrician Swiss family and commander OF the
Swiss Guard will be succeeded in that dignity
by his son, married to American wife. Prince
RuspoIi holds the title Of Grand Master Of the
St Hospice of the Apostolic Palace and is ike.
wise principal. Chamberlain of the Cape and OF
the Sword to the Pontif Several members Of
this family, which traces back its descent in an
uni broken line for seven hundred years have
married Americans, among them having peeh
the late Don Emmanuel RuspoH, Mayor Of
Rome whose widow was Miss Josephine GURUS
Of New-York, while her stepson, Don Mario
Ruspon. attached for time to the Italian EN-
bassv at washington, married Palma de Talley-
nd-Perigord, whose mother, the Marquise de
Talleyrand-Perigord, so well known in New
York society, was formerly Miss Bessie Curtis.
Of New York.
The Marquis Sacchetti who is Grand Marshal
OF the Court Of the Vatican, is a nobleman OF
FIorentine origin. who may be said to owe his
/ fortune to the fact that while an officer Of the
Noble Guard Of the Pope he managed to secure
/ both the heart and the hand Of Donna Maria
Barberini the only daughter and heiress Of the
! last of the Barberini princes. Donna Maria,
! who is a beautiful woman, brought to her hus-
hand not only an enormous fortune but like
wise the famous Barberini Palace, the picture
gallery and library of which are both Of world
! wide fame the former containing the celebrated
/ portrait of Beatrice Cenci while the library
: comprises no less than 1900 MSS. Of extraordi-
nary value Leo XIII with whom the young
officer was a particular favorite, not only au-
thorized him to assume his wfe's name OF Bar
berini but likewise her fathers title OF Prince
Palestrina. The Barberini Palace, 1t may be
added Is constructed in great part with stones
taken from the Coliseum which led TO the old
| Roman saying that what the barbarians had
spared the Barberinis had spoiled"
Among the chamberlains Of the Cape and
Sword who strictly speaking, should now lose
their commissions as such through the death Of
Leo XIII, but who. in accordance with prece-
dent are likely to be continued in Office by his
successor, there are quite a large number Of
Americans, New-YOrk being represented by
Charles Astor Bristed Eugene Kelly and Others
The Office IS Of an honorary character-that is
| to say It carries with il no pay-and whereas
those chanberlains who are resident in Rome
take it in turns to DO duty at the Vatican, for
ejrners invested with the dignity, after having
On their arrival in Rome notified Prince Ruspoli
the principal chamberlain, of their presence in
the Eternal City and of the length Of their stay
there are usually invited by him TO take part
/
In that case they don the picturesque costume
of their office, which was designed by Michael
Angelo and which has never undergone any
modification to this day. It is all black, com
posed of a tunic which descends almost 10 the
knee and which is trimmed in front and Dor
dered throughout with black velvet The sleeves
are Of the medieval leg of mutton shape. ter
ninating in lace cuffs. The black knee breeches
are fastened at the knee by black velvet garters
with ieweIIed buckles. The stockings are Of
black silk Around the throat are white ruff
and a threefold chain with medallion bearing
the Papal arms. Attached TO the shoulders is a
black velvet coat OF the King Henry II shape
while a velvet toque with a long black ostrich
| plume and a steel hted sword complete the
dress For minor occasions the chamberlains
/ have now a species of diplomatic uniform gold
embroidered. with cooked hat and sword the
/ cloth being blue or red according to whether
they are actually in waiting or supernumerary
In their full dress they present very pictu-
rescue appearance, thoroughly in keeping with
! their environment at the Vatican and in the
/ I7i,io. oe Ct Peer EX-ATTACHE.