The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-29


were evidently In an expectant and preoc-
cupied mood, the signoras and signorinas
were chattering away merrily and even
went SO far as TO cOquet with the palace
guards IN gold laced uniform. standing at
the doors.
A Knock outside. the great bronze portals
swung open and the Pope entered, attended
By a few gentlemen and servants He wore
the well-known white robe, resembling a
Domincan's habit, only that ii Is of the
finest cloth imaginable. On his breast, /
fastened to gold CHAIN of beautiful work
manship. was broad cross, set with
variety of stones, turquois, emeralds, dia-
Russian, boasts of rarer jewels. The Pope
wore red velvet slippers, that on the right
foot being embroidered with gold cross,
which Catholics. visiting the Holy Father.
sometimes kiss.
INDULGE IN NO FOoT-KISSING.
But on this occasion 1 saw no foot-kiss-
ing. Plus. I am told. is opposed TO that
ceremony. on which his predecessor in
sisted. / remember that Lenbach, the great
portrait painter. just dead, complained Bit
terly to me that he had TO kiss Pope Leos
toe at the beginning and at the conclusion
of every sitting.
Five years ago 1 saw the present Pope
as Patriarch of Venice, full-cheeked,
merry prelate, the picture or health and
good nature. How he used to joke with
the gondoliers the grand canal-it seems
TO me still hear his jolly laughter. his
broad dialect.
The Pope himself said three months ago.
I'm letter to his brother that he felt well
and happy 1t would be presumptious TO
assume. then. that his health was failing.
Nevertheless he has lost flesh in the face.
has lost his good color. His eyes look tired;
they no longer twinkle merrily- 1t is easy
Office, and feels ii deeply. Yet he is too
polite a man to show a somber face to his
admirers. AS he proceeded towards his
visitors he smiled again and again, but 1T
was not the happy-go-lucky smile of
Venice, j am bound to say.
Earlier in the day i had examined a
host of Pius's photographs. All those made
I'm Rome exhibited several large warts. 1
scrutinized the face OF the Pontin They
We're there. but not OF the size indicated.
The Romans think warts presage good luck
and are inclined to magnify them in favored
persons If the King had wart on his
nose, royalist photographers would make
q mountain out of Ii.
Other photographs pictured the jolly
preIate of old. still others a face wrapt in
thought or illuminated by a diplomatic
smile. but / have yet to see the pictorial
representation of Plus that shows him as
he Is. At the same time L would not UNI
dertake to give a word picture of him after
seeing the Holy Father once. on an occa-
sion like this. 1t is whispered in Rome
that Plus feels unhappy in his exalted sta
ton, that its responsibilities are a source
OF oppression to him: can only say that
Pfus's broad forehead indicative of thought
and statecraft, i'll harmonizes with the soft
outlines OF his mouth. These features seem
more emphasized by Piuss eyes, the glance
OF which changes quickly from good nature
TO diplomacy and severity even.
POPE'S KINDNESS TO VISITORS.
The Chamberlain walking ahead of the
Pope asked the name OF each visitor. to
repeat TO his Holiness. The Pope acknowl-
edged the introduction by nod and with
a willing smile listened to the word the
visitors might venture TO address to him.
To ask questions of the Kaiser is lese
majesty most horrible. and a visitor in
Berlin venturing far. is never again
permitted TO gaze upon William. This
monarch. whose subjects number thou
sands of Millions encourages questions. and
listens most kindly to what his friends
may have TO say.
When the Chamberlain mentioned my
name. he added OF his own accord. United
States OF America
"Are YOU one of the good Catholics of that
Ing a step nearer.
81 am not" Holy Father" replied. ''but
love and venerate you just the same
"A broad smile overspread the PontiH $
kindly countenance: You Americans are
tolerant he said, convey my best
wishes 10 all your people. daughter" and
he passed on, after holding out the fisher
ring TO Oe kissed.
l have seen so many descriptions of the
fisher ring that. after holding IL in my
hand. so 70 speak. feel 1t incumbent upon
myself to add another. correct one.
In the first place. it's real Designation Is
Ring OF the Fisherman, and IL is made of
gold. not OF base metal, as asserted. on
the curved part 1 noticed some engraving
doubtlessly the Pontiff's name. The stone
IS very large. resembling crystal. On it
two men in "A boat are engraved. One stands
erect, being IN the act OF throwing out a
net This figure represents ST Peter. The
Pope seals all his letters with this ring,
holding the foremost place among his Of
fetal Jewels.
Pius's voice is agreeable and melodious.
One readily perceives that ne Is a fine
musician who used 10 sing we'll with a soft,
light baritone He spoke Italian TO every
body, and answered in that tongue, notwith-
standing that many visitors addressed him
IN French or English. which languages he
understands thoroughly. His Italian re-
sounds with the Venice dialect Plus evil
IDENTIFY does not strive after the classic
elegance OF expression affected by Leo XIII.
KINDNESS TO VENICE GIRLS.
Some ten PAGES from me stood two young
ladies from Venice pretty innocent-looking
girls. / heard them say: ''Holy Father.
bring good wishes and Fluctuations from
-" mentioning several names The Pope
beamed all over his face and inquired
minutely after the persons named He re-
manned some five or six minutes in ami
mated conversation with the girls and be-
fore turning away shook each by the hand
telling her TO call on his sisters. where they
would md a souvenir
Next he approached a bashful young
priest holding a document In his hand.
Thy autograph, l suppose" said Plus
'-and thou wouidst have ours In exchange
eh?''
the priest Redeemed to the roots OF his