River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-06-04

-fsshEGa the fifteenth hundredth anniversary Of St
- John Chrysostom should naturally have been
the occasion splendid ceremonies in st. Peters, but
as that largest Christian church earth easily holds
some 10000 people at once, and crowd of that size
would practically uncomfortable in case OF any sud
violence the services not held there at
ALL inside the Vatican palace where attendance was
necessarily limited, so that cards Of admission could
given with much more strict knowledge as to who
would them.
The precautions seemed optimistic people quite
needless but events reported within that week seemed
to show that they merely prudent The anniver-
Of the execution OF Gorando Bruno the was put TO
death in 1900 teaching unorthodox views)
was made the occasion of impassoned speeches by so
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 hrong
towards the papal palace; troops were sta
toned at various points to head OIL any attempt at IN
cendary in that line and at the Vatican
itself extra guards detailed for duty.
Vatican ITSELF the greatest palace in the world
has seem in times past it's share of exciting experiences
but it is not actually likely that it will more of
the tragic sort American tourists in Rome have
had pointed them certain long, covered passage
way a of walled bridge leading crookedly down
from the papal palace to the ancient fortress by the
Tfber known the Castle of St Angelo In the middle
when the popes took hand in European politics.
than of St Peters Wears found that long pro
teced pasagway useful path to the safe shelter of the
citadel But to-day all is different Nobody outside half
civilized RUSSIA dreams of killing off heretics And,
the other hand the pope longer controls European
politics. It would be only stupid piece of brutality for
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 papal household in
the Vatican is admirably organized the security of
the great palace and its treasures and it's occupants
And, in all the people of the
United States sends money every year to the Vatican
mot directly but through church offerings) it of
interest to know something about the maintenance of the
vast establishment there the western limits
the historic city of Rome
AS most people know the palace is actually not
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 to the palace ST. Peters
square sees few Italian policemen ordinarily
great display of protection but just enough to remind
passerby the spot has special Importance And
curiousy enough those Roman policemen practically
frontier guards for the Vatican itself and it's grounds
part of the kingdom of Italy at ALL but under
the separate sovereignty of the Inside the Vatican
doorway the king Italy has technically
United States e. authority all On the threshold
certain defenders of the palace household the famous
guards They gayly clad-indeed their
ance suggests pageant rather than battlefield, but it
would not be safe infer that they mere stage
They have traditions of heroSm
1927 band of just such guards wearing
gorgeous toggery held their ground for six