The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-02
POPE Plus LOVES
THE SIMPLE LIFE
Hates Forn1a1itics and Etiquette,
and is Democratic III
Style.
ARE ABOLISHED
Likes Simplest Cooking, Abllors
Show, and Is Regular in His
Habits.

No more ardent lover OF the simple
l:fe exists than Pope Plus X, about
whom book has Just been published,
1t is generally known that Pope Plus
disregards all formallties that are not
absolutely necessary to his position;
but the anonymous writer of this book
who seems to he particularly we'll in
formed as to the habits and mode OF
NE OF the Pope. adds some interesting
Information. He tells us that at about
. o'clock In the morning the Popc's
bedroom attendant. Sill. enters his
room, but. unless His Holiness Is III,
he finds him already up and reading
lis brcviary as was his custom
through his long parochial life. StAt
o'clock Plus y. says mass in simple
little oratory. served by two Monsig-
nori. After having played for while
in the little chapel the Pope has his
carly breakfast which consists of cup
Of coffee and rolls and butter. and d.
rcctly afterwards. If the weather Is
fine. he walks in the great gardens of
the Vatican for an hour or so.
Least Possible Etiquette.
At Q o'clock the Pope is in his
study. where he receives his Secretary
of State. Cardinal Merry del Val, then
the heads of the gieat congregations
through which the church is ruled, and
then other visitors. The audiences OF
Plus X. are of the simplest character
and surrounded with the least possible
etiquette. In old days the splendid re-
ception rooms were fun of chamber
lains, guards, and attendants, but now
only a few servants and Monsignore
or two are to be seen. The present
Pope receives people OF every class,
even the most humble, and sometimes
poor peasants from his native village
OF Riese are to DO seen there, in gar
ments anything but suited to court
ceremony.
Principally at 1 o'clock Plus X. dimes.
Since the seventeenth century 1t has
been the rule for the Pontiff to eat
alone, but Plus X. sometimes invites
his private secretary or other mem
bcrs of his household to join him. and
on being respectfully demonstrated
with for this breach OF etiquette cheer
fully replied that as Urban VIII. had
the right to make this rule. he PIus
NJ had an equal right to abolish 1t.
Plus " eats most simply and frugally,
and the Pontiff's meals differ little
from those that were served to the
parish priest of Salzano. When Plus
Y was first elected he was astounded
at the number of servants in the Papal
kitchen. and exclaimed, Surely it is
not necessary to have seven cooks in
order to make me little soup?"
Sinecurcs Abolished.
The Pope likes the simplest Italian
cookery. and his menu usually consists
of soup or macaroni plate of meat,
cheese and fruit. and on Fridays the
Pope often eats a dish Of haricot beans
or "polenta," the maize -four which is
the staple of life to many Italian peas
ants. After supper the Pope soon ire
tires, and Is generally in bed by half
past 10. In all the arrangements of his
life Plus X. uses the same humble sim
plicity. The author says that under
his predecessors there were Monsig-
nori, who were paid SO much month
and had rooms in the Vatican, whose
sole duty was to hold the Pope's hat
when he went out In the Vatican gar
dcns, or who carried the stick or UNI
| brella of the Pontiff, and there were
others whose functions were hardly
more important. All these snccures
| have been inexorably abolished by Plus
X. Notwithstanding the lamentations
and protests which his action caused.