New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-24
OPEN TO AMERICANS
They Can Now Join the Poue',
Noble Guard.

Copyright, 1913. by the Brentwood comn,,.,
Since Plus y has thrown open the ranh.
OF his Noble Guard to Americans OF ~.
Roman Catholic creed and Of unexc,.
tionablc record whose application 10 io,, =.
is indorsed by their diocesan, and who %,
willing to serve the Holy Father IN !.
military capacity without pay or allo,
ances, ii may be well 30 explain j,,.
what the Noble Guard really is.
Unlike the Swiss Guard and the Pail,
tine Guard of the Pontiff. II Is Of ro,
lively modern origin. II was instjtu,os
on May II. 1901, by Plus VII to take IN.
place OF the so-callod Cavallegicri wh,
we're abolished by the French Repubn.
when its armies seized Rome in l7ss
The Cavallesgieri had been in cxistenes
since the reign OF Leo y.
The Noble Guard Of the Pope was d..
signed al the time OF the creation Of m.
corps 10 serve as his principal bodygusd
and more especially to act as his MOUNTED
escort when he drove through the street.
Of Rome. Until the overthrow OF the tom.
poral sovereignty of the Papscy. in 1874
it was a mounted corps. But since tia,
time its horses have been done away with
and although its members still wear the
breeches. the big jackboots and the spurs
OF cavalryman there are many Of them
who have never ridden a horse in the,
life. Their duties nowadays are almost
exclusively ornamental. the actual guard.
ing being done by the Swiss Guard, which
dates back as far as the days Of Michael
Angelo, who designed its queer medieval
uniform. Still. the Noble Guard make,
a brave show on all state occasions. and
there are several always on duty in the
antechambers Of the Holy Father and IN
attendance upon him when ne appears al
any ceremony or when he takes his daily
airing in the grounds Of the Vatican.
In its inception It was decided 10 re-
strict the Noble Guard exclusively 10
scions of the patrician families Of Rome
that is TO say. Of families whose names
figure in the Golden Book Of Rome, CON-
piled some so years ago, and which IN
cluded only those who at that time could
show noble ancestry extending back two
or more centuries. But this was found
impracticable, and during the last two
decades men have been admitted to tho
Noble Guard whose nobility was Of very
recent origin.
Now even this standard has been found
difficult TO maintain largely owing to the
fact that military service in King Victor
Emmanuers army & obligatory upon
every Italian citizen and that II Is i'm
practicable 10 be a soldier or commits
stoned officer Of the Pope and the King
at one and the same time. That Is why
the Noble Guard Is now being thrown
open to foreigners. instead Of being re-
stricted N heretofore entirely 10 Romans
The rank end file have hitherto re-
ceived pay az the rate Of 10 francs day.
while the stipends OF the officers have
been correspondingly large. This remu-
neration will be continued to those who
are ALREADY enrolled. but those who join
from now on will be required 20 serve
without pay.
From the time OF the creation Of the
corps until seven years ago its commend
was vested in the hands Of one or another
OF the princes Of the historic House Of
Altieri. But since the death of Don Paoic
who left a son under age, 1t has been
commanded by Prince Camille ROsp'si-
osi. of the senior branch of that ancient
family. and whose mother was one of tie
best known figures OF Rome. whore zoe
virtually ruled society. her salons being
for nearly half century the most famous
in all Italy. one Of Don Cami'los sons
is married 70 Miss Ethel Bronson. Of
New York. Another son. Prince Ludoyico.
is also married 20 an American woman,
formerly Miss Mildred lIazetine while
Don Csmilo's eldest brother, Prince
Giuseppe. who is also Duke Of Iaearolo.
is the prince whose marriage TO Miss
Mary Reid. OF New orleans, formerly Mrs.
Parkhurst. has given rise 10 so many
ecclesiastical lawsuits AT the Vatican.
Il may be added that the uniform Of the
Noble GuarG--at any rate. the one In
which they are usually seen-consists OF
black tunic. with gold epaulettes, dark
blue trousers. gold braided and steel nsl'
NETS. with d gold crest.