The Irish standard., 1907-01-05

emperors and princes. When only
% he was a member Of the Papal
embassy to Queen Victoria's jubilee
In 1887, and a few months later he
attended the funeral Of tho Emperor
William I. in a similar capacity. In
the following year he was himself
the representative of the Holy See
at the jubilee of the Emperor Fran
els Joseph, a post which he likewise
filled at the coronation of Edward
VII. He has long been a close friend
and trusted advisor Of King ALFONSO.
whom he prepared for his confirma-
tion, and ON three occasions he was
appointed by the queen-regent of
Spain as religious instructor for her
daughters.
Merry del Walls chief early success,
doubtless, was won in the Manitoba
school controversy. which required the
most delicate handling. Sent by the
Pope to study the question on the
spot, his visit was noteworthy sue
cess and marked the epoch in the re-
ligious history of the Dominion To
the Englisl1-speaking population lie
appeared the cultured Englishman;
the French found that he spoke their
language quite as perfectly as them
selves, and he astonished his audi
ence at Laval university by replying
to a long Latin address in the same
tongue.
AS the highest official of the Pom
tifical court, Merry del Val MAIN
tains q state in keeping with his
rank. When lie accepts an invita-
ton to a. private residence or to a
foreign embassy, lie is received at
the foot of the stairs, according to
the old Roman fashion, by two SER
wants with lighted torches, who es-
cort him to the reception rooms and
await his departure in the corridors
He is accompanied wherever he goes
by Il gentleman-in- waiting, his gen.
tiluomo-a gorgeous figure in knee
breeches, cooked hat, and sword
who sits in his carriage, stands near
him at church functions, and walks
with him. He drives in vehicle,
somber and heavy drawn by two
black stations with flowing lnanes
He is the first Cardinal to indulge i'll
golf. game which he plays twice
weekly over a private course. in the
grounds of the Villa Doria- -Pamphili.
His villegiatura is spent at the Papal
summer palace at Castel Gandolfo,
which the Italian government has
connected with. the Vatican by tele-
phone for the greater convenience of
the Cardinal. While he is in resi-
dence a guard of Italian soldiery is
stationed there for the protection Of
his person. He is an advocate of all
modern labor saving Improvements.
and has introduced telephones. eleva-
tors. electric lights and typewriters
into the Vatican. Such, i'll brief, is
the Papal Secretary Of State as the
world knows him.
The real Merry del Val is quite
another person. 1t has frequently
been stated that the Cardinal stands
for all that is modern and progress
sive in the Vatican. If progress is
represented by typewriters and golf,
this estimate is doubtless correct;
but those who know most Of his. per-
sonal tastes and ideas do not class
him with the liberal school,.
Merry del Val will go down in his
tory as the Secretary of State in
whose term of Office the rupture with
France took place; but that the Car
dinal was in any way responsible
for this rupture has been proved a
fiction by the very course of events.
IL the signs of the times point right,
Rafael Merry del Val is destined 4foI
a great future. He is only just cnter-
inc his nrin1a