The Virginia enterprise., 1908-06-05

John Chrysosom, should naturally have been
the occasion of splendid ceremonies in St. Peters, but
that largest Christian church earth easily holds
some coo people at once, and crowd of that size
would be practically uncomfortable in of sud
den act of violence the services not held there at
all but inside the Vatican palace where attendance was
necessarily limited, that cards of admission could
be given with much strict knowledge to who
would use them.
needess but events reported within that week seemed
to show that they merely prudent. The annver
of the execution of Gorando Bruno Che put to
death in Rome in l6oo Tor teaching unorthodox Ve"s
made the occasion of impassioned speeches by
cias and revolutionary orators in the where the
execution took place. 1t is a mile or so from the
Vatican, but Italians know Italians pretty we'll, the
took chances of letting excited throns
moTc towards the papal palace; troops sta.
toned at various points head off any attempt in.
cendiary demonstrations in that ne and at the Vatican
itself extra guards We're detailed for duty
The Vatican itself, the greatest palace in the world,
has in times past its share of exciting experiences,
but it is actually likely that it will any of
tho same tragic sort American tourists in Rome have
had pointed out to them certain long covered passage
way, sort Of walled bridge leading crookedly down
from the rapa palace to the ancient fortress by the
Ti5er known the Castle of St. Angelo In the middle
ages, when the popes took hand in European politics.
more than Of St. Peters Wears found long pro-
tected passageway useful path the safe shelter the
citadel But to-day all is different Nobody ouside half.
civilized Russia) dreams of killing off hcretics And,
on the other hand the longer controls European
politics. 1t would be only stupid piece of brutality
any fanatic to attempt personal violence against the
present head of the Catholic church.
All the same. since good way to avoid trouble
Is to be prepared for trouble, the papa in
the Vatican is admirably organized for the security Of
the great palace and its and its occupants
And, at least in ten of all the people of the
United States sends money every to the Vatican
(not directly but through church oferings), is of
interest to know something about the maintenance
vast establishment out there the western limits of
the historic city of Rome.
AS people know the palace is actually not one
building but huge rambling group of buildings. The
adjoining park is surrounded by high wall which
upon time formed part of system of Notifications,
but which at present merely looks imposing. 1t could in
fact be demolished without the slightest difficulty if
body Of men wanted to make trouble
Outside the main entrance to the palace St. Peters
square few Italian policemen Ordinarily
great display of protection, but just enough remind
The passerby that the spot has special Importance
curo,ly enough, those Roman policemen practically
frontier guards for the Vatican itself and its grounds
not Of the kingdom of Italy at all, bat under
the separate sovereignty of the Inside the Vatican
doorway the king Of Italy has technically
thority than Kaiser Wilhelm the president of the
United States authority at ALL On the threshold
and in spacious corridor beyond are always stationed
certain defenders of the palace household the famous
Swiss guards. They gayly cladindeed their appear
ance suggests pageant rather than battlefield but it
would not safe infer that they stage
supernumeraries They traditions of heroism
just such oggery held their ground for six