The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-20
By LAURA ID. STARR.

With the necessary ticket of invitation
to paw my respects to Pope Plus X came
the advice to wear black dress and 8
black veil to cover my hair.
These matters arranged, we were soon
driving along the yellow T1oer, swollen
by recent rain. 1t was memorable drive.
The beautiful Italian sky, the soft air.
the crowds of quantity dressed people In
the squares, and the occasion all stamped
themselves indelibly upon my memory.
At Last the carriage drew up at the
proper entrance of the Vatican, which,
although it is the Pope's residence. pos
sesses a semi-public atmosphere. A large
portion is open 10 the public on certain
days of the week. To the Roman Cath
Ole, even though he lives in the farther
most corner of the earth. the Vatican is
held as a sacred place, not simply be-
cause the Pope has shut himself within
its Enclosure since Victor Emmanuel pro-
claimed a united Italy, but also for vari-
Gus historical reasons, the principal one
being that its site was the scene of the
martyrdom of hundreds of Christians by
Nero's orders.
It is difficult 20 realize that the grounds
contain over 1900 acres and that the build
ing, or rather buildings, for there are two
groups with narrow gallery or corridor
running between, contain LOO rooms.
Rather a large establishment for one hu-
man being, but he need never be lonely.
for besides being the papal residence, the
Vatican is the home of several cardinals,
and there are 200 people employed about
the historic place. So spotless Is the
whole interior that il seems as if many
of them must be welding brooms all the
time, though one never sees any sweeping
or busting going on.
The tourist may easily lose himself in
the immense building if he goes by HIM
self, as many visitors DO, to visit the
Sistine Chapel the Pauline Chapel, the
Borgia Tower, where Alexander VI died
of poison intended for another, and other
places open to the public.
Lives simply and AustereIy.
The Pope himself, with all the splendor
and magnifcence of the world at his
command, has lived austerely and SIM
ply as in the days when he was peasant
boy in the country near Venice. His Sis
tiers, whom he commanded to make their
home within sight of the Vatican, COM
mend themselves to one and all by their
lack of pretence and affectation. They
are three peasant women who could never
be made to look like anything else, and
who seem to have no desire to appear like
anything else.
When first they arrived in Rome they
wore their peasant dress with the black
lace wells of their class. One of those
in authority suggested that black lace
wells were hardly the proper headgear
for women Of their position.
They objected to any change and ap-
pealed to their brother, the Pope, who
they very well knew would support them
He told them that they were peasants
and need not pretend to be anything else;
they might wear their wells and no one
should say them nay. The sisters showed
their possession.of very human attributes
by wearing the wells until they wearied
of the attention they attracted and then
they took to hats, having learned enough
of the world to understand that when in
Rome il is wise TO do as the Romans do.
- The Popes sturdy independence made 1t
possible for him to have his bowl of
broth and other foods supervised by
his sister, Signorina Rosa, the eldest.
The Papal rule which has been OBJ
served since the time of Urban XIII.
that the Pope should dine alone was
quickly broken by Plus X, who declared
that the rule was old enough to break
II became his custom to have his sisters
dine with him frequently, and one can
readily understand what happy seasons
of communion these were when they
could discuss family matters and be as
natural as they pleased.
Several months ago SIgnorina Rosa
was stricken with paralysis and early
in February she died. The Popes grief
at the fact that he might not attend
her funeral was intense, and his sorrow
over her loss has been regarded as one
of the causes of his illness. 1t is said
he felt that he would soon follow her.
However one may disagree with the