Evening journal., 1903-08-06
AMERICANS FIRST
TO SEE THE POPE
lconlInued from EIrst Pagel

Cardinal Gibbons. giving, however, the
impression Of being a much larger
man, as he is inclined to stoutness.
He has abundant gray hair. with no
sign OF badness. dark, clear eyes,
handsome features and a magnificent
voice, low in tone, to which is added
a peculiar grace. due to his musical
Venetian accent His whole person
emanated great benignity and cordi-
ality.
He walked slowly but with the firm
ness Of quite q young man down the
long lneeling line, accompanied by
Cardinal Gibbons and Mgr. Kennedy
and gave to such of the pilgrims as he
passed his hand to be kisstd. He smoke
a few words to almost every one Plus
X. was arrayed completely in white.
without a CLEAN Of color except that
which sparlsled from the huge emerald
on his finger. Cardinal Gibbons was
on his right in red robes. and Mgr.
Kennedy on his left in purple. They
were preceded by the Swiss guards
with halberds and followed by members
by members of the noble guard. The
moving group was set off by the kneel-
ing women. who were all in black. their
womanliness made more womanly by
the black lace wells which hung from
their hair. The zen wore dress suits
and the priests black gowns. Pope Plus
X. appeared to be ecry much interested
when Father Lynch presented to him
q box containing a white zucchetto,
saying:
I'VE would be extremely gratihed il
your holiness won.c accept this gift
in exchange for the one you wear"
II will eheerfully do so" the pope re-
piled.
Thereupon Mgr. Bisleti lifted the
zucchetto which the pope wore from his
head and replaced it with the one which
had been presented by Father Lynch.
Mr. McGrane handed to Plus the offer
ings which the pilgrims had hastily
put together. The pope spoke espe-
cially to the members of the Lante
family, of Philadelphia; Rev John Il.
Burke, pastor Of the church Of st. Ben
edict the Moor. of New York, and
Father Wall. who expressly represented
Archbishop Farley, and to Rev James
Roger Matthews. of Washington To
Father Burke he gave a special bene-
diction for the colored people Occa-
sionally, as the pope passed along, he
laid his hand upon the head of one of
the pilgrims. He spoke to Eugene
Kelly, Of New York; Father McKenna.
Rs New York. the brother of Mgr. Ken
nedy Rev. James y. Cleary, of Read
Ing. Pa. and TO Mr.. White, OF Louis
vile. Ky. The latter was SO touched
inat he could not restrain his emotion
When Plus reached the persons who
waved the two American flags at st
Peters and who were again carrying
them. he exclaimed
Z Cara. cara. America dear America
! --forty-four stars. eh?"
When he reached the last person il
the line he turned and. while all The
pilgrims knelt. he gave the apostolic
blessing, ending with the words: %
recommend myself to your pious pray
ers."
It was a moment Of most intense
emotion and scarcely an eye was dry.
The Associated Press representative
: was also received IN audience by Pop'
Plus X. being the first journalist o
any nationality to have this honor
The pontiff graciously granted thu
prayer of the correspondent TO SEM
a message TO the American people
saying. word for word
b ''I love the Americans. who are tn
blooming youth OF Catholicism. Con
vey to all of them how gladly I i'm
part my apostolic blessing to the Who'll
| conntYv"