The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-07-14
SENSATION
WAS CAUSED
By Ecclesiastical Circles in
Rome To-day
BY BOOK ON POPE Plus x
The Work Is Said to Be Free from Bias
and Prejudice But Gives a Very
Close and Graphic Picture Of
Inner Life Of Vatican.
BY BOOK ON POPE Plus x


yesterday by the appearance of the
first edition of a work pist published
in Milan entitled Pope Piux Y and His
Court" While free from bias or preiu.
dice either for or against the present
pontiii, the work gives an extraordinary
close account and graphic picture OF the
inner life of the pope. The writer con.
ceals his name, but there is no doubt
that that he is person either on the
atican staff or close to his holiness.
Commenting ON the surprising sim.
plicity and democratic spirit OF Pope
Plus, the writer says:
Traditions and preccdcnts mean moth.
ing to his holiness. For instance, one OF
the oldest customs prevailing at the
Vatican, ono dating back to the time of
Urban NTll, compelled the pope to have
all his meals alone. Leo MI was a
strict follower Of this tradition. Plus
y early in his reign decided he would
like to have Monsignor Bressans' com.
pany at dinner. The whole Vatican
was shocked. 1t was pointed out that
he was violating a tradition dating back
several generations Ills reply was that
~ that WAS the case it was time to
establish new tradition"
The writer's close touch with the
pope's personal habits is shown by his
account of the daily program OF has holi.
ness, which reads thus:
His holiness sleeps very little and
never more than four hours eonsecu.
lively. At five in the morning he is
up and ready to receive his private sec.
rotary, Monsignor Bressan. Mass is cell
ebrated few moments later and after
light breakfast the pope goes for
stroll in the great Vatican garden. The
next thing is to dispose Of the days
correspondence Then comes meeting of
cardinals and the trial Of the pope's lite
his private audiences
Notwithstanding the fact that his
holiness has established world wide
reputation for kindness, gentility and
afability, these audiences are very try
ing to him and tax his nerves to the
limit Perhaps one after another repre-
sentative OF dozen noble Roman fami-
lies will call to pay their respects, and
the pope will show an interest in each
person present and his or her family
and private affairs Then probably will
come a few French ladies who would
very much like to express personally to
the pope their indignation at the work
of the French Free Mason and the abom-
Unable CIemenceau-'Ce Diable Nomi par
L'Enfer' THAT devil thrown out of He'll.
After having delivered themselves of
these amiable sentiments the ladies then
profit by the occasion to solicit the
pope's blessings on themselves, their
families and their friends, known or
unknown. Then he must also bless the
hundreds OF medals, beads and images
which they produce out Of all sorts Of
pockets.
Then, perhaps, will follow in close
succession a group of American ladies,
high officials OF the secretary OF states
office, prelates Of different countries and
even Jews and nfidels.
No previous pope has shown the
same consideration for Jews as the pope. !
When bishop Of Mantua he was once
questioned by Pope Leo XIII as to the
moral condition of his diocese and his
reply was: The only Christians in |
Mantua are the Jews
The pope's taste in the direction of |
food is just as simple as ever. His fav-
orite dishes are macaroni and beans,
boiled meat and soup. Unfortunately, |
his holiness has contracted habit of
eating very rapidly, and so in order to |
check this tendency he often invites
guests, the most frequent OF whom are
his sisters.
One morning the pope woke up feel
ing not very we'll and he was recon-.
mended to try bottle of Tokay which |
the emperor of Austria had presented |
to his predecessor 100 years ago. The /
pope took glassfuI and felt better and |
the servant removed the bottle. At |
lunch, however, the pope asked that the
bottle be brought back. The servant |
hesitated and stammered and then told |
the pope that it was not the custom in
the Vatican to serve anything that the
pope had already tasted. His holiness
insisted on having the bottle back and
at last the servant was compelled to
confess that it had been quickly emp
tied in the servants hall. Since then
Plus X invariably takes away with Tim
after any meal any unfinished bottle of
good wine. He locks it in the sideboard
in his room and finishes it when he
feels inclined.
After lunch his holiness smokes a
cigarette and goes to bed for a short
nap.
when he was archbishop of Venice,
the pope was in the habit of playing
game of cards every evening with his
and the project and chief Of
police. II is not certain whether Plus
Y still follows this innocent custom of
the patriarch of Venice, but many peo-
pie say that he does.
Vatican conditions do not permit of