The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-04-19

>>o--S' " 'i~S hoppS SSooo'S W \'oht-
munion these We're when they could
discuss family matters and be as nat
ural as they pleased.
Several months ago Signorina Rosa
was stricken with paralysis and carly
in February she died. The Pope's
grief at the fact that he might not at
tend her funeral was intense, and his
sorrow over her loss has been regard
cd 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
Pope in religious and political mat
| terS, no one can do otherwise than re-
spect his attitude with regard to SIM
plicity and his sincere and devoted at
fection for his family. His humanity
attracts one and ones heart goes out
to him when it is known that he still
possesses the return ticket to Venice
| he bought when he went to Rome to
take part I'M the Papal election that
resulted in his choice, and often looks
at it with sadness as he realizes that
he will never he able to use it,
! A lucky visitor may occasionally see
the sisters going to or from the VAT
/. Jean if his eyes are keen enough to
detect the resemblance to their pic
I; lures which are on sale in all the
/ shops. They and the Swiss Guards
seem to be more human and cvery
day sort of people than any one else
about the Vatican. These chosen Swiss
are always ready to answer Il ques-
ton or point the way in which the
visitor should travel They are very
proud of their medieval costume,
which was that of the Swiss peasant
, at the time Sixtus " chose a resi-
ment of loyal Hclvctians to be his
body guard and which Michael An
/ gelo adapted AMI made the permanent
uniform OF the guards.
+ Pope Plus X is born economist.
/ In spite Of the fact that the number
/ Of people employed at the Papal Pal
ace-mas Very, much reduced giu 1870,
Plus X has found the army of at
tendants quite too large to suit his
idea. He objects to pomp and ccre-
monN and has deliberately cut down
all expenses.
! The most costly wardrobe i'm the
world belongs to the Pope. Etiquette
co"pels MIN to wear different gar
| mcnts each day Of the year. and as
! nearly all of them are ornamentcd
with gems they are more or less tum-
bersome as we'll as expensive. Imag-
ine What a trial it must be to have to
put on and off ceremonial garments
in this fashion, and it must be cspe-
cl1lly a trial to the present Pope, who
was born Il peasant and has lived
simply the greater part of his life.
j The Pope's little skull CAPS are
made of the finest silk. while his en-
broidcrcd slippers of velvet are mar
vcls Of fine work and gorgeous to look
| upon. Still more costly are his gloves,
made of white WOOL embroidered with
pearls in the shape Of a cross. \ spe-
cia herd of fifty sheep is kept, from
which all the papal wooden garments
! are manufactured.
The rings, too, which tho Pope must
wear upon occasion are priceless. con-
! tanning as tllcy do many stones OF
matchless quality. The episcopal ring
! is large round hoop of diamonds
/ with very large pigeon blood ruby
in the center
] The Fisherman's ring is used to keep
in memory the poor fisherman OF CAL
/ lice. In the thirteenth century the
Roman pontiffs adopted the custom of
scaling their private letters with a
signct ring which bore the device of
| st. Peter seated in boat, engaged in
! drawing a net from the waters. When
first used it was only for private let
ters. Now it is the custom for the
! documents.
When a Pope dies his rings and
other seals We're formerly broken: but
now only the name is cancelled or the
| ring is melted and recarveL for the
new Pope.
The long stairway to the right of
the entrance leads to the Popes priv
ate apartments and the semi private
rooms where audiences and other
functions are held. The walls and
ceilings arc covered with frcscoes OF
wondrous beauty.
| When we reached the anteroom the
chamberlain told us to remove our
gloves after which he conducted lis
through suite OF six or eight rooms
SO rapidly that only confused men,
ory Of pictures. mirrors, tapestry COW
cred with Biblical scenes and GRIM