The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-09

CpicPe' complain Inat Incy SulleI uc
through the fault of America.
Another victim of this situation is
Monsignor Falconio, apostolic delegate
to Washington, WHO has now been near.
ly nine years there and is therefore
more entitled to his reward, consider
ing that SIX years is generally the fixed
period, after which tho red hat is given
to the papal representative in America.
The pope takes great interest in
the approaching visit of Colonel Roose.
welt to Rome, and the audience he Will
grant him. He some time ago ordered
a collection to be made of all the ar
ticlcs concerning the ex-presidcnt that
have found their way to the vatican,
including photograph Of Colonel
tograph dedication to Plus ", and
gift which he sent to Leo KILL,
through Mr.. Taft, when the latter was
governor of the Philippines and came
to Rome, in 1902, to settle the Catholic
question in that archipelago. Cover
nor Taft was then charged by Mr..
Roosevelt to convey the congratulations
of the American government to his hoh-
ness, who was celebrating his episco-
pal jubilee, and at the same time to
present the pontiff with q set of all
tho president literary works, most
elaboratcly bound in red Russia leath-
or, profusely decorated with gold, a
worthy example of the book kbinder IS art
in the United States. They are en-
closed in case of the finest white
Morocco, with pcncilings, also in gold,
and the papal arms in the center, with
the dedication.
The Italians make great deal of
New Years day, but at the vatican
individually there is very little going
on. Indeed, the pontiff Snatches this
day from his multitudinous duties TO
spend quietly sin famiglia,' as he
SAYS; In other words with his devoted
sisters. who really see very little of
him, considering their nearncss of resi-.
dence. He says mass in the morning
before small number of people, and
then does as he likes all day, lunch
ing and dining with a very few chosen
guests, and relaxing the strain OF the
past year.
The Eternal City, following the tra-
ditions of papal rule, makes merry
from Christmas to the Epiphany, the
night of the last day of the year being
the apex. Feasts, good wishes, and
gifts are exchanged prodigally, and
Joy reigns supreme, to eliminate at the
Epiphany, when the children have their
fete. The origin Of exchanging gifts
on New Year s day is traced as far
back as the Sabines, before the foun
dation of Rome. The Romans. how
ed in Rome itself. as the first celebra
tions in honor of the New Year were
instituted by Janus, who came from
Thessaly and settled at the foot of the
hill TO which he gave his namc-the
Janiculum, The ancients represented
Janus with two faces. one symbolical
of the dark and unknown period of the
world history, the other symbollcal of
hope IN bright future.
After his death he was raised to he
god and had temples dedicated TO
him. These temples had four sides,
with a door and three windows on each
side, the four doors representing the
four seasons, and the three windows
on each side the three months of each
season. His temples had also the pc
culiarity of being open In times Of war
they were only closed three times in
700 years, the period between the foun-
dation of Rome and the reign of the
Emperor Augustus.
The gifts exchanged so freely at
New Years are called "Strenne. a
word derived from the goddess Strenna
the protcctress OF youth, health and
strength, whose mower was Ine VERDE
ma In the beginning her priests used
to distribute the verbena to the pco-
pie; gradually fruits, cakes and richer
gifts were given, mostly by client TO
patron, and were imposed like taxes,
until modest families were often ruined.
Even Augustus, one Of the best of the
cmperors, not only took presents from
his poor subjects, but actually used TO
go about the streets begging for
+" Strcnna" ON New Years day. Tibe-
RUS finally abolished the abuse. II is
now a pretty custom between friends
and relations.