The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31
THE WEEK IN SOCETY-REUNION APPOINTMENTS AND
 PLANS OF DRAWING ROOM AND CLUBLAND
BY ANNIE KENoRIcK WALKER.
;.


One of the most entertaining descrip- tions of an audience with the Pope has been received by 3 Birmingham friend from Miss Martha Ueoney of this city the young daughte. - flr and Mrs. J. D. Dabney, who Is at..tng tour of the world with her aunt. Mrs. Ware, and one or two others.
 Some extracts from letters received from Rome are as follows;
 May g.
 We went to mass at St. Peters yester- day. Cardinal Rampolli conducted serv- ices It is said that he was so disap- pointed at not being made Pope that it has wrecked his health. Afterwards E. presented letter which she had to Count Moroni in the Vatican He is something very important to the Pope and when he received us he wore a gorgeous uniform, with sealsldn helmet, and his breast was covered with medals. As he came along to meet Us, all the officials saluted him and even a cardinal standing near. took off his hat. We wait ed in the room where the Pope creates the cardinals: well, the best of all is, that he will give us letters aud we are going to have an audience with the Pope. l know of no one in the world that I had rather meet, not even a crowned head. The holy father means so much to so many people.
 May H.
 We have seen the Popel
 will give detailed account of it. It is long story and may bore you. We knew that Count Moroni was going to get us an audience, but did not know when You can imagine our surprise last night when he called, and told Us that it would take place this morning at F o'clock He left a letter of admission for us to present at the door, for with out this, it is impossible to get into that part of the Vatican.
 The papal guards are everywhere and they look like picture men or SOL diers in d comic opera. They wear in- describable costumes-all 1 know is that they wear brass helmets the trousers are knee length and baggy. The whole outfit is made of perpendicular stripes of red, yellow and black cloth.
 We were agitated to say the least of
 
 dress for ladies when visiting the Holy Father, is black with lace mantilla over the head There were no mantilas in our baggage and Mrs. P. and Aunt M. were the only ones owning black clothes so Aunt NJ. sallies forth early and rented five nice looking black veils, and from their wardrobes we girls managed to make up our black costumes With tremb ling fingers. we put the finishing touches Ia 1ate nd ri fo ba Vatican
 At 11:9O o'clock we entered the palace and were shown up numberless flights of marble steps. At every landing was stationed a "paper-doll' guard in the usual gaudy regalia and in addition to this, carrying a tall brass-headed spear. Michael Angelo designed this costume, but I feel sure that he was intoxicated at the time. When we finally reached the last floor. we were received by an i'm posing official dressed in wine-colored cut velvet knee brooches and stockings all matching black shoes with red bows. He conducted us 10 another apartment where our letter of admission was read. and we were turned over to an official in simple evening dress. All these rooms We went through were richly furnished and the walls were covered with fine paint ings and tapestries. This last attendant conducted us to the throne room where we were to have our audience. Here an officer told Us in French to remove our gloves, and we found that he was an Irishman. It was such a relief to meet tome one to whom we could talk in our native tongue.
 All this time our count had not ap- peared, and we were as nervous as June brides. but at last he came in all the glory of his full-dress uniform, sword and sealskin helmet included. He car ried long black staff of polished wood, with black tassels, evidently his insignia of office He was very cordial and soon put us at ease, but his duties calling him away, we were left with the jovial little Irishman. three officials and a high church dignitary, resplendant in purple silk robes. We waited in silence for a quarter of an hour, so had ample oppor- tunity to examine the spacious throne room, the walls of which were hung m dark red. with tapestry frieze. At one end was a large red and gold chair on dais under a canopy of red, with gilt fringe, and our number seats were ranged around the wall. We expected to re in the room with many other persons and were surprised that they did not come. Finally an officer told us to come forward and kneel in line As Els was the only name on the card or letter, she was nearest the door by which the su- preme pontiff entered 1 came next, and