Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-14
POPE'S SMALL Army
MURMURS VERY LOUDLY
PALATINE GUARDS OBJECT TO
SEVERITY OF GENERAL
home Is Much Amused-vatican's
aoo Men Give as Much Trouble
as the Entire Army of
Italy
Special Cable to The Herald.

Special Cable to The Herald.
HOME' July lat would not be an
| eXasgeratlon to say that the MONTH";
caI army OIL somewhat less than 300
men gives the Vatican as much
troupie as the whole Italian army does
the government, for this Rome Of
piquant contrasts contains NOT onlv
Two courts, but two armies at dappers
drawn--in theory.
The Qontifical army, aIthoueh On
few, has the most gorgeous uniforms
in Europe-even those of the renublic
OF san Mar1no do not surpass them
but men cannot live on the satisfac-
ton brought by a becoming uniform
so every now and then their discontent
at small pay and few perquisites takes
an active form and the world is in
formed that there will be great
changes in the army of the pope" 1t
cannot be said that other armies are
much startled, and it serves as a.
safety valve for the. men. 1t amuses
Rome, too.
1t Was a Joke
Not many years ago Rome one day
was set upside down by an enormous
headline in one of the leading papers
and the shrill calls of the newsboys.
Mobilization of the army" rang from
one end of the city to the other, caus-
ing officers and citizens feverishly to
upon them, whereupon the words "of
the pope" were revealed in small type,
and men breathed again, even forglv-
ing the joke played upon them.
These 300 men are divided into five
corps, the Noble guard, the Swiss
guard, the Palatine guard, the gen.
darmes and the firemen.
1t is now the turn of the Palatines
to murmer. Their general is Count
Camille Pecci, the genial and faWrite
nephew of Leo XIII. In private he is
one of those men known as 1.-The best
fellow IN the world" but as a military
commander he is somewhat severe,
and his men would prefer to have him
take his duties less seriously, hence
the trouble.
Count Pecci is a typical figure of
Roman society. Good looking, rather
short in stature, gay, witty, not blessed
with superabundance of this worlds
goods, he wendS his way through life,
making people happier for the mere
sight of him.. He is married to a Gu
ban from Havana, and owns consid-
cradle property there.
Dislike Pecci
He tells with gusto of the time when
he went to Havana. Leo XIII was
then alive, and he was everywhere
much feted, as he modestly says, be
cause 1 was the nephew of my uncle"
Addresses were sent to him by the
score, one of which was submitted to
his approval, and began thus: ITO
Lieut.. Mai. Pecci, title won on the
field of battle
But he cried, what are you say
ingi I never heard cannon boom or
shot fired in my life!"
"Well,'' was the answer, 1--WE will
say won on the field of honor"
Worse and worse" he shouted, 81
shall be the laughing stock of Rome!'
and, of course, he had his own way.
Which little story goes to prove that
his military honors sit lightly upon
him, even If he does enforce an iron
discipline among his men.
One wonders how much military
spirit there is among the men, and also
why they are there at all, as the pay
is small.
1t is said that the late scommandant
of this corps, Gen. Costarosa, on one
very solemn occasion ordered review,
in all the gorgeousness of full uni
form, on what proved to be boiling
summer day. The men and OFFICERS
gathered, but no general arrived Al
last after an hours waiting unaple
to endure the fatigue any longer,
messenger was sent to learn the cause
of his non-appearance, and found MIN
TRANQUILITY at home smoking, he nav
ing entirely forgotten his own orders.
He at once hurried into his uniform
and passed the men, furious with
waiting and the heat, in review, ana
COMMUNICATED them, adding insult" TO
injury, so that all could hear:
bravo, bravo, they seem like real
It is reported that Pecci wishes to
keep them "like real soldiers"
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