The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-18
Boy Visits in City Of
the Caesars.
Bernard Crosby Writes Inter-
estingly Of Trip Abroad.
STOPS AT GIBRALTAR.
Climbed to Top of Famous Rock
and Saw Africa.
Took Three Hours to Eat Gap
tain's Dinner on Steamship.

Bernard Crosby, the son of e. II.
Crosby, a well known merchant of
this city. who left the first of last
month for summer trip abroad, has
written his home folks a brief diary
of his trip across the Atlantic and also
an account OF his stop at Gibraltar on
his way to Italy.
Bernard hao a delightful trip across
the Atlantic abboard the palatial
steamship the Koenig Albert and did
not suffer at all from seasickness
There were many nice people aboard
and the music by night on the upper
deck was feature of the voyage. The
dinners were very elaborate. being in
six to nine courses, and the Topeka
boy writes Of Captains Dinner" that
required three hours to consume.
Then the diners had to walk the deck
for couple of hours in the interest
Of good digestion.
The steamer stopped at the famous
port OF Gibraltar for three hours and
the voyagers took advantage of every
minute of shore leave. They climbed
to the top of the big rock, and though
barred from an inspection of the Eng
lish Notifications. had a very pleas
ant time and saw many very interest
ing things and bought lots of trinkets
aud curios. Small fruits of all kinds
grow in abundance at this point and
sell for a trif1ing sum. A fine view OF
Spain and Africa can be had from the
top of the rock
From Gibraltar Mr.. Crosby went to
Naples for a brief visit and thence to
Rome, former mistress of the nations.
From the city of the Caesars the
young man wrote the following in
teresting letter of his reception by his
holiness. Pope Plus x:
Rome, July 2. 1908.
Dear Home Follxs:-My last letter 1
think was up to the second. and on
that morning I was excited for was
to have an audience with the pope,
Plus the Tenth. Several days ago 1
saw Bishop Kennedy of the American
college, and through him was granted
an audience. Dress clothes, evening.
and all black or white for ladies was
one of the requirements. l rented a
dress suit for the occasion that mt like
q sack and started out with straw hat.
1 was ushered up about four flights OF
stairs through an open court, up few
more flights into a room that looked
something like a throne room in pal
ace, having a beautiful marble floor
and plastered ceiling and walls, and
chairs all around the room. 1 waited
there for perhaps two hours, then with
quite q few others was taken to another
room, most gorgeous tapestries and
furnishings, attendants wearing red
stockings, knee trousers and large
coats. man in evening dress also
assisted. We were placed in this room
along three sides facing the center and
standing. Uniformed soldiers. looking
like our commission officers. walked
back and forth through the halls. Then
came perhaps five or six cardinals
dressed in purple robes and passed
through, having just had an audience
Then came a fellow in a heavily tin
selled dress with long robe. After
long wait the pope came In dressed
wholly in white and attended by SOL
diers. He is a man Of 70. having
fine face and rather erect carriage. His
dress and the whole air around him
was of a simplicity that was in great
contrast with the former proceedings.
He first walked around the room with
outheld hand to each person and at his
approach we all knelt and kissed his
ring in reverence to him, then standing
to one side, he gave a pontific blessing
in italian, blessing the things We had
with us, customary to take rosaries,
crosses, etc.), friends, those who love
us and those we love. then walked
through into another room to see a lot
of visiting clergy. The ring he wore
was a large green stone set with pearls.
The whole thing was very impressive
and I was certainly glad to have had
the opportunity to be present at the
reception.