The Irish standard., 1909-01-16

white cravats. Ladies are to wear
black, with black wells. Monsignor an
priests are required to wear the garb
usual to their ecclesiastical rank.
Significant is the warning that under
no circumstances will visitors be al
lowed to present photographs to His
Holiness for signature. Inquiry brings
the information that the ladies are t.
arrange the wells as a headdress, ana
| not to cover the face, and that they
are to appear gloveless. Souvenir
] shops in the vicinity Of the Vatican
display signs announcing that appro-
| pirate wells may be purchased or
hired.
The time for the audience having
arrived, visitors who come to the Vati-
can on foot must again pass the bar
rier of the Swiss Guards and once
more ascend the long stairway. This
time, though, they are directed to
cross an immense paved court, in
which are many carriages that have
entered the grounds through gaze
at an elevation somewhere in the rear.
Across the court and up another mag
nifcent flight of marble steps is the
audience chamber, to which scores
are now vending their way. In the
ante-room are several footmen, splend-
idly liveried in red, who take up the
remove hats and wraps, which are
placed haphazard on chairs and tables.
Every one seems to have followed
closely the directions as to apparel.
The men, without exception are in
{. evening dress (although it is near
midday, with black waistcoats and
of their sex, the women are busy ar
ranging their wells in order that they
shall appear to the best advantag
when they enter the audience chamber.
AS little time remains the footmen
here and there urge the dilatory ones
to hurry.
The chamber itself is Of generous
proportions and is decorated, in a man
ner BETTING the use to which2sit IS
devoted. 1t is hung in the sane fig.
ured red silk tas was noticed ins Mon:
signor Bisletrs apartments, and rich
paintings are on the walls. At the
end of the room nearest the en-
trance, is the Papal throne, set on q
low platform. but the Pope only oc-
cupies it at private audiences.
Quickly the seats around the sides
are filled, and late corners manage t.
squeeze into corners. Perhaps one
hundred and fifty persons are in the
room, when group Of nuns appears
and they find places in the space be-
tween the throne and the doorway.
Every now and again the eye falls
on woman who has around her neck
or hanging from her arms dozens OF
strings of prayer beads, for the truly
devout hold that when the Holy Father
gives his blessing it affects not only
the one upon whom it is bestowed. but
everything Of a religious character
that may be worn at the time. So
these good women are probably fol-
lowing the injunctions, Of friends at
home, Ito bring back something that
has been blessed by the Pope"
By the time the seats are filled there
are some furtive whisperings, which
cease abruptly when the footmen ap-
pear at the entrance. One of them
raises his hand and every one rises.
Then enter three Cardinals in their
scarlet robes and after them comes
the Holy Father. He wears white
cassock with silken girdle, and on
his head is a skull cap Of the same
material as the cassock Beneath
the cap is a fringe of silvery hair.
Plus x. carries himself with a dig
nifty that is worthy Of his high office
His face, full and strong, wears an
! expression Of benignity that rivcts the
gaze Of the beholder. Unlike his VEN
rated predecessor, Leo Kill, he is Of
full habit Of body, and he appears to
be in excellent health.
i Accompanying the Pontiff and the
Cardinals are several officers Of the
Papal Guards, in military uniforms OF
dark blue. Remarkably handsome
men they are.
| First to receive the Holy Fathers
1 greeting are the nuns, who have come
to present a memorial or petition
They kneel. and the Pope offers tc
each his hand, on the third finger Of
which is the ring Of st. Peter-a huge
square emerald, surrounded by dia-
monds. After all the nuns have kissed
the ring, they rise. and for several
4 minutes the spokeswon,an and ths
Holy Father carry on a conversation
i The memorial ia recoiuod ond Oi,,ou