The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-29
AMERICAN WOMAN TELLS
Of HER AUDIENCE WITH
Plus THE WELL BELOVED
How Heloise, Comtesse D'Alem-
court, Was Received at the
Holy See.
POPE KIND TO VISITORS
Greeted the Journals Correspond
ent with Smile and Sent
Messages to Americans.
CONVEY MY BEST WISHES
To All Your People, Daughter"
He Said-Vatican Scenes
and Incidents.
POPE KIND TO VISITORS
CONVEY MY BEST WISHES
Special Correspondence OF the Journal.

Special Correspondence OF the Journal
PARIS, May 1S.-The ambassadoriai in
Productions I carried quickly opened the
gate to the inner apartments of the Vatican
Il had but to show the seal of the United
States to find a Papal Lansquenet in the
most becoming uniform of the world will
ing to conduct me TO Monsignore Bisleti.
chamberlain to his Holiness" Presently
1 found myself face TO face with a hand
some young priest under siege OF at least
twenty-five women of different nationali-
ties. who were talking to him or at him.
in one voice. it seemed, and in dozen
different tongues.
1t could not be his Excellency, he was
too young You say you must see the
Monsisnore in person." repeated the hand
some priest He win be glad to see you.
no doubt. but you must have the goodness
to wait your turn"
The waiting room was immense apart
ment. adorned by great paintings, the
finest and most interesting an excellent
likeness of the late Leo XIII. There. too,
l encountered a galaxy OF women Of all
ages and chimes, chattering. disputing look
ing askance at the newcomer They re-
garded me an interloper. as suspicious at
of letters more forceful than their own?
Twenty or thirty DANES had gathered at
the Arras door, leading to Monsignore Bis
leti's private office. where they formed two
lines. through which everybody calling to
see his Excellency had to pass. Was ever
man or woman more barefacedly scrutin-
lied? 1 think not. These ladies were all
ears, all eyes-nothing escaped them.
PRIESTS AND MONKS
For the rest the audience was largely
made UP of priests and monks. Here a
Jesuit with high forehead and fixed gaze,
evidently a man of affairs, near him a fat
German pastor stretching his ample limbs
over the silk carpet. Dominicans in white
with black mantel covering only the back
and shoulders; Carmalites with sandaled
feet and brown habit, Capuchins with long
boards, clean-shaven Benedctines Cister-
clans, Augustarans, ard who not? All
shades and shapes OF clerical dress. They
come and go without attracting the least
attention from the generality Of visitors.
They were here to secure audience with
the Holy Father; they had no interest for
anybody or anything else. Suddenly q stir
at the Arras door. The guard-ladies nudge
each other and whisper; twenty picture hats
and hundred and fifty plumes move up
ana down ana sideways. A French bishop
has emerged from the apartment and
sweeps out of the room, preceded by two
secretaries and followed by six funkies I'm
extravagant dress. A proud man. this
bishop, magnihcently gowned with big
gold chain and a bigger cross. blazing with
precious stones.
A little while later my name was called,
but the ladies who had most sweetly and
reverently bowed to the bishop could with
difhculty be persuaded 10 make room for
mel was only a woman, and the sex's
cruelty against the sex was eminently i'm
order.
The master of Camera is a small smart
looking diplomat polite but cold like all Of
sentative of the foremost Sunday papers
OF the United States WAS entitled to
applications handed i'm previous to my own
He examined his list. There is a little
corner under the baldachin. next TO the
throne and opposite the DOOR through which
the Holy Father will enter" he said. weigh
ing each word on his tongue.
FINE PLACE FOR CORRESPONDENT.
l was so bewidered by the good news
that L sat speechless for the moment II
hope II will please YOU" added his Excel
lency you shall receive the ticket in the
morning. at your hotel
1 need hardly say that | was up bright
and early TO intercept the mail. but alas.
there was none. neither before nor after
breakfast. nor hour two hours later.
Had the Master of Camera spoken with
the well-known reservation No. there was
a knock at the door and messenger. With
a silver star, proclaiming him an official
OF the "Anticamera Pontificial al Natica-
no., brought a big envelope. In the JOY OF
my heart l handed him ten franc piece.
He seemed beside himself with gratitude
At half-past sharp. in the afternoon. I
reported at the Cortile of Saint Damsco
and was conducted over the magnificent
Scala Mobile to Clementna Hall, where the
audience to take place by a footman
dressed in blue violet satin who handed
me the real permit. The paper / received
In h4rr
permit.
Your ladyship has read the first paper?'
inquired the lackey politely. pointing 10
the following notice: Please do not ask
the Holy Father for an autograph"
thought to myself. what Doors Pope is
liable to meet, TO be sure. After these
prelimnaries a gentleman in evening dress,
with geld chain, approached and begged
for the honor to show me TO my seat We
passed through three or four big rooms
filled with pilgrims and audience-Seekers
of lesser moment than myself-you per-
ceive. gentle reader. that the courtesies
showered upon me on your account are
going 10 my head-and had the satisfac-
ton of seeing among the ordinary folks
waiting there several OF the ladies who
looked down upon me in Monsignore Bis
leti's ante-room- At last we were IN the
Clementia, immense. stately apartment.
draped i'm red silk. AT the ceiling was the
crest CT Clemens VIII In gold. looked at
the clock on one OF the several mantels.
1t was 345 the hour set for audience I
the last visitor to enter the apart
ment.
ON THE STEPS OF THE THRONE.
Monsignor Bisleti kept his word. / found
a seat reserved for me on the steps
of the throne. opposite the door through
which the Holy Father was to enter. You
are well taken care Of" whispered the
man in the swallow tail. he withdrew
with "A low bow and looking up ] saw
hundred eyes leveled upon your correspond
ent. curious. envious. suspicious and even
angry eyes. very few kindly eyes. Per-
haps their owners imagined to be tho
friend of a cardinal-none. | am sure. sGs-
pected the newspaper woman.
There sufficient time for mental
registration of the audience about TO meet
Plus v.
Women were in the majority. women Of
all stations In life. IL seemed. from the
poor farmers wife in the Campagna 20 the
great aristocrat who would rather die than
ride behind less than eight horses. 10
Judge by features there were a good many
American and English girls. Monsig-
nor Bisleti's kindness had placed me
high that was out of reach OF them The
natives distinguished themselves by their
white wells, which etiquette demands OF
them. and likewise one could tell women
l.ss ts.4u -