The Irish standard., 1909-01-16

, ity being men. No one speaks. An
other five minutes and the attendant
Visitor No. has found in the room
to pass through door leading to an
ether apartment. No. 3 shifts to the
| first vacant chair, and his example is
followed by the others.
Then No. is directed to the aljoin-
ing apartment, where, to his surprise,
he finds not only the two women who
had preceded him, but several men.
Every few minutes the number Of &C.
cupants of room No. is increased by
the admission Of two or three from
room No. 1, while an equal number
are sent from room No. 2 to third
apartment, which is reached by mount
| ing a short stairway. This room is
fitted up in the style of an Office. with
several busy secretaries at fiat top
desks working over account books
ana sorting letters.
| Al last the visitp Is cond ueted 10
the major dono. WHOM he Ands in a
stately richly furnished room COM
nunicating with the office. The walls
are hung with figured red silk, while
gilt-framed chairs and sofas, uphols-
tered in the same material, are taste
fully disposed about the chamber. Be-
| you'd this room is still another, with
similar appointments, which appears
to be Monsignor Bisletis private
Office.
the ecclesiastic whose work it is to
supervise the innumerable details of
the management of the Pope's great
household, with it's army Of attend
ants and servants and its priceless
| treasures of art. He wears a priests
| black cassoek of fine soft material,
gathered at the waist with red sash.
He is /, small man, less than five feet
six in height, with clear cut features
and scintillating black eyes, His
dark hair is closely cut.
A quick glance at the visitor and
his hand is extended for the letter If
application. He recognizes the name
of the visitors sponsor, a former
member Of the faculty Of the Ameri-
can college. He speaks English fair
ly we'll.
"Ah, Father Murphy! OF Philadel-
phia?''
mo, Monsignor-New York.
"Ah yes! How is he? Very good.
When you leave Rome? Next Tues
day? Wait minute
He goes to his desk in the inner
room, hastily signs blank form
and gives it to the visitor.
| Here, give to the man in the next
room. Tell him Monday. half-past
eleven. Good evening"
In like manner are the others dis
posed of, and soon the chief secre-
tary, who, like all his assistants, is
robed in priestly garb; is actively at
work filling in the blanks. He speaks
Italian, French, German, English. al
with equal fiuency. A moment more
| and the visitor is ushered out Of the
door and down the short stairway.
where he meets again the young man
in evening dress who first greeted
him, is led into the room he first en-
tered, receives his hat and overcoat.
land, before he has recovered from his
bewilderment, finds himself descend
ling the same broad and long stair
way which leads from the entrance.
The "permessi' (permission) which
has been obtained after 80 much eff
fort is in italian, partly printed, part
lily written. It states that His Holt
ress will be pleased to receive in aud
fence at such and such q day and hour
Esisnor Blanc and four others. At tn.
bottom Of the page are Instructions az
to the dress to. be worn. Gentlemen
are to appear In black clothing, with