The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-07-16
BY ENRICO TEDEsCHI.
Staff Correspondents United Press As
Sociafioue

Stan Correspondents United Press As
sociatsons.
Rome, July 15.-Quite a sensation
was created in ecclesiastic circles here
to-day by the appearance of the first
edition of work just published In
Milan, entitled Pope Plus Xth and
His Court" While free from bias OF
lprejudice either for or against the
present pontiff. the work gives an ex-
ltraordinary close account and graphic
picture OF the inner life of the pope.
The writer conceals his name. but
there is no doubt that he is a person
either on the vatican stan or very
close to his holiness.
Commenting on the surprising sim
plicity and democratic spirit Of Pope
Plus the writer s2ss:
Traditions AID gradients mean
nothing to his holiness. For instance.
one OF the Oldest customs prevailing
at the vatican, one dating back to the
time of Urban VIII. compelled the
pope to have all his meals alone.
Leo XIII was a strict follower of this
tradition. Plus X, early in his reign,
decided he would like to have Mon
|signor Bressan's company at dinner.
The whole vatican suite we're shocked
II was pointed out to his holiness
that he was violating a tradition dat
ing back several generations. His
reply was that II that was the case Il
was time they established a new ira
dition." irsIIs
The writer's close touch with the
pope's personal habits is shown by his
account of the daily program of his
holiness. which reads thus:
His holiness sleeps very little and
never more than four hours consecu-
lively. At FIVE in the morning he is
up and ready TO receive his private
secretary, Monsignor Bressan. Mass
is celebrated a few moments later
and after a light breakfast the pope
goes for a stroll in the great vatican
gardens. The next thing Is TO dispose
of the days correspondence. then
comes the meeting OF cardinals and
the trial of the pope's life-his pri-
waite audiences.
Notwithstanding the fact that his
holiness has established a world
wide reputation for kindness, gen.
Itility and affability, these audiences
are very trying on him and tax his
NERVES to the limit Perhaps one
after another representatives of a
dozen noble Roman families will call
to pay their respects and the pops
must 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
IN the pope their indignation at the
work of the French Free Mason and
the abominable Clemenceau - 'Ce
Diable voirl Par L'Enfer' (that devil
thrown out of held.
After having delivered themselves
of these amiable sentiments. the
ladies then profit by the occasion to
solicit the pope's blessings on them
selves. 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 infdels.
mo 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 tastes in the direction
of food are just as simple as ever
they were. His favorite dishes are
macaroni with beans. boiled meat and
soup. Unfortunately his holiness has
contracted the habit OF eating very
rapidly and so in order to check this
tendency he often invites guests, the
most frequent of whom are his sis
tiers.
zone morning the pope woke up
feeling not very well and he was
recommended to try bottle Of Tokay
which the emperor OF Austria had
presented to his predecessor a hun