The Irish standard., 1911-09-02
PEN PICTURE OF THE
SOVEREIGN P0NT|FF
How Visit to Pope Plus X I'M
pressed an American Editor
and His Friend.
No Likeness Has Yet Given Full Elk.
preston to That Wonderful
Face. Says Writer.
Plain. Unpretending and Kind. He
is the Most Democratic, Most
Simple of Men.

one OF the most beautiful pen pic
lures OF the Pope that has ever ap-
peared in an American paper was re-
Editor Charles h. McGlatchey, we'll
known Western newspaper man. who
has been touring Europe.
Mr.. McGlatchey writes as follows
from the eternal city:
The same sun that gilds ST. Peters
dome shines upon the Quirinal, the
ace for Kings. In the one resides the
democratic sovereign Of nearly $780,
100000; in the other, the aristocratic
ruler of about 35.0OO,O0O.
1t is with the former this letter will
deal. not with the latter.
For-throwing aside entirely all
question of religion or creed, and
viewing the two men as men, alike
under the rule OF might and accord
ing to the scale of merit-there is alb
solutcly no comparison betweete them.
The King Of Italy is-well, he's the
King Of Italy--let it rest al that. lie
is In possession Of a temporary toy,
which may be taken from him at any
moment. And. judging from the un-
dercurrent, it will not be many Years
| before Victor Emanuel IL will be flee
ing to find q home in England, that
/ haven of the dcposed and sanctuary
for Kings that have been.
Let US. therefore, wander to st.
ing. And let us there look at the Man
rather than at the Pope.
Primarily. 1t may be stated that the
first view Of st. Peters is dsap-
pontment. It's height does not ap-
peal, because of its immensity. But
when you get inside, then all is
chhnged; you know the half has not
been told. And when you return to
that worlds marvel again and again,
then the exterior looms greater and
! greater in Your eyes because of your
knowledge of its interior.
There is no need to say aught more
in this letter about the greatest reli-
sious cdiiice the world has ever seen
probably ever will see. Nor would
it be advisable to descant upon the
Vatican-gloomy in its exterior, an
Alndin's palace Of surprises within.
Any public library will furnish any
reader with far more information upon
, these subjects than could convey.
So to Pope Plus X.
No picture has yet given full ex-
preston to that wonderful face-.-thav
embodiment of humor and care--that
mingling of delicious fun and brood
ing sorroW-thosc appealing, pathetic
windows of the soul through which
comedy peeps now and then behind a
veil whose droop is pathos itself.
AS Plus X comes into the audience
room, he comes bowed, feeble, worm
out man. His eyes are pathetic beyond
expression. They have in them Il look
Of eodlike pity, of all embracing love.
of infinite patience. From behind their
curtains darts u glance at once all.
embracing. all penetrating, all scrut-
inizing-the glance of an eagle from
the eye Of a dove.
For that searching look carries with
it an expression so full Of pity Of
love, Of charity to all, that I almost
thought | was talking to myself as I
caught the whisper of a Jealous Pro-
testant friend next to me to his wife:
''There surely is a Christly man if
ever there was one."
Pope Plus X is the most democratic,
the most simple of men. He has to
very striking extent abolished cere-
mony, ostentation and courtly effects.
Some little remains in the shape of
handful of picturesque Swiss guards
and brightly dressed attendants; but
the brilliant pomp which accompanied
the receptions Of Leo XIII has been
brushed aside.
In series of magnificent rooms in
side the meerschaum- -colored Vatican
in fact, the exteriors of many of the
greatest edifices in Rome, st. Peters
included, are the tint of well-smoked