The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-21
From casselrs Saturday Journal.

hN1E sun has not yet peeped over the
 tops of the Alban hills when the
 \ white old man is already up. In the piazza below the fountains are sob ping in the glow of the not yet extin- guished lamps. The electric lights still shine in the pontifcal halls where the armed guards are on watch they arc put out one by one like little falling stars.
 A bugle sounds the reveille of the Swiss guards, the bronze gates swing ajar; the first tramcars go changing through the Via di Porta Angelica. Rome shakes off it's sleep; the hustle of city life begins, the sun splashes it's rosy rays upon the window panes of the Loggie and over all the pile of Michelangelo, as if to salute the rival splendour of those. masterpieces of art
 Plus X is praying.
 During his illness of last year, by the advice of his doctors, a spacious apart was fitted up as a bedroom for him, it be- ing evident that the room on the third floor, which he had been occupying, was too close during the summer. He needed to breathe more freely; his cure was, perhaps, due to the change. But as soon as he was well Plus x, who does not ike very large rooms, had his old apartments on the third floor remodelled. The bed room, which had really been too narrow, was made little wider, and he returned there very gladly as soon as possible. Up there on his ordinary cot, beside which stands little table with few ob- SIo
 Plus KS bedroom adds La Tribuna, the famous Roman magazine, is that which has the last window to the right on the third floor; it has also. two windows on the southeast side of the palace
 In an adjacent room, communicating with the Pope's by a door that is left open at night, sleeps one of the private chaplains.
 On the southeast side another room near the bed chamber is fitted up as place of study and prayer.
 As soon as he has risen the Pope per forms the duty that is most characteris. tic of the priest that which as pastor and as bishop was for so many years lis dearest custom; he goes to celebrate masa in a little private chapel adjoining tine champlain's room. His mass said, te then repairs to the din,ng room Che fourth window on the third floor, count ing from the right and takes a cup of coffee
 At seven precisely he descends in the elevator to the second floor where he amuses himself in the spacious well lighted study with its three windows fac ing the piazza ohe fifth, sixth and sev- enth. still counting from the right. In winter, the morning descent of the Pope from the third to the second floor Is an- nounced to the prelates in the Vatican automatically and infallibly. They have noticed that when the Pope's elevator starts the electric lights in the other apartments and dimmed for an instant.
 The secretary of state, Cardinal Merry del Val, is received at for the transac- ton of the business that pertains to his high office. This call, naturally, has no fixed limits. At ordinary times, when there are no great problems to be solved, tho Pope can, by 10 or 10:3O at the latest, receive the other cardinals, who tsaze precedence over lesser personages in visits and audiences
 Unless the Pope Is indisposed, every morning after the cardinals the bishops are received; then begin the audiences asked by laymen. Last of all are held the so-called general audiences, which take place either in the same pontifical apartment or in the rooms adjoining the Pope's study. At these visitors flock to receive the papal benediction.
 The receptions and audiences over, the Pope. preceded by two noble guards and followed by two Chamberlains of the Cape and swTd, generally returns to his study for a brief rest; then he asceads in the elevator to his favorite apartment on the third floor. and about 1 o'clock he lunches frugally.
 The burden of etiquette laid aside, Plus x becomes Bepi again in an atmosphere of peace and calm. There his spirits re- vive, the weight of his IT years becomes less heavy, and the pain of the disease