The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-03
A PRESENTATION
AT THE VATICAN

John Kendrick Bangs in Harper's
Weekly.
A slight gesture from the master of GER
emonies babe us all kneel, and the long
awaited figure entered-a sad faced man
arrayed In simple white robe, express
ionless of feature, but giving a striking
impression of sweetness and intense
WEAKNESS combined. He walked slowly
along the line, holding out to each pill
grim as he passed a listless hand. on
the fourth finger of which was the
ring Of st. Peter. At first glance he
appeared the embodiment of age and of
physical weakness, and 1t must be con-
fessed that the impression was disap-
pointing: but as he came nearer. and one
was able to look more closely into his
| saddened eyes, one discerned in them not
SD much of weakness as of loneliness OF
character strength OF soul, touched by
a strange pathos that brought with 1t
the conviction that the people of his
beloved city of Venice. among whom as
Giuseppe Sarto he had once dwelt, had
loved him for reasons that were good.
One longed to be able to rise up and give
him a more affectionate and no less
reverential salute that the cold. formal
greeting to the golden signet prescribed
by the etiquette of the ceremony /
pressed his hand with a sincere and ear
nest feeling of reverence for his office
and of respect for the man, and was
| surprised to find, as a little lump mani
tested ITSELF in my throat and a suspicious
moisture dimmed my eyes for the mo-
nnent. that / had awakened rather into
an Intensity of sympathy for the prison
or of the Vatican than Of awed reverence
for the successor of the Apostle. There
was, indeed, no lack of the latter quality,
but the former was from the heart, and
| Am glad to feel that that is truly the
American of it. In spite of the splendor
OF his surroundings and the loftiness of
his station. one could not escape the
conviction that theoffice carries with 1t
not only responsibilities which are oner-
GUS and exacting. but involves as well
such sacrifices Of life and liberty as
would stagger most men, even those
vigorously trained for life of sacrifice
as the church trains its priests. I have
sometimes thought it would be pleasant
to be the King OF England or the EN-
peror Of Germany or the President of
the United States, but I looked upon
Plus x with no feeling of envy in my
heart.
After his holiness had passed US by
we were hidden to rise and follow in his
train. which we did; directly in his train,
in fact. for upon the return to the Sala
DELI Concistoro 1t so happened that our.
position in the line gave us the position
of honor In remarka bly, short time
he had passed before the whole group
of visitors Many of these. as have al
ready intimated, had come merely to
crafty their curiosity to see the head Of
the Catholic church, but others were
there for purposes affecting the repose
OF their own souls. for more than one
man and one woman, with faces stream
ing with tears and an anguish of mind
iii concealed, implored indulgence, for
what I know not, as his holiness passed
along; and In every case with kindly
gesture, and a glance full of noble be-
nightly at least, solace was granted. 1t
was altogether most affecting, and when,
at the close of the greetings, the holy
father raised his hand to bless all pre-
sent. according to their need and inten-
tion,' / went down on my knees not be-
cause the etiquette of the hour required
It, but because I wanted to; and when
rose up and went silently back to the
noisy city felt that the blessing asked
had been received, for was happy and
the world seemed sweeter and the
brighter for the existence of such a
man as Plus x.