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

ana TO CONFORM to heraldry, 10 an altered
expression Of the original arms of ven-
Ice, which are blazoned as follows:
Azure. winged lion PEASANT gardant
with glory or: in his forepaws an open
book. thereon Pax tibi. Marco. Evan
gelista Meus,' over the dexter page a
sword erect. all proper"
To return to our audience, the visitors
were nearly all women. there being very
few men. All the women were in black
except three or four brides, who had
been allowed to wear their wedding
dresses. Nearly every woman had from
ones to. dozen rosaries. photographs.
scapulars. &C.. which were to be blessed.
While we were waiting for the Pope
to come in ] had an amusing converse
ton with woman, who sat at my side.
Without preamble or in any way pre-
pairing me for her onslaught. she said
abruptly:
Are you a Romanist?"
mo. madam" managed to stapmer.
Are You going to kneel when the Pope
comes IMP"
Certainly, madam, if everybody else
does" I said with more courage.
well, am not going to kneel to NOR
tai man.
"why did you come here II you were
determined not 70 kneel? It will make a
scene If you do not and that would be
disgraceful. Upon occasions like this
one must follow the accepted rule; you
should have remained at home II you
were not prepared to conform to the
usages of the Vatican"
''Oh, dear" she-said. 81 thought you
were an American, and that you would
feel as I do about it,
IT am an American. but don't feel
as you do, and don't want q scene, 50
you must kneel,'' and later when the
Pope came to us I quietly pulled her arm
until she assumed a lower position. at
least, so that she was not noticeable.
! suppose she had heard the many
stories afloat in Rome about Americans
who will go to see the Pope. but will
neither, kneel nor kiss his hand, thus
showing their ignorance of the world and
their ill-breeding. To invite themselves
into another's house and then refuse to
conform to the social usages thereof, Is
the height of ill-manners and absolutely
inexcusable.
The stories one hears in Rome about
the rudeness of certain Americans. who
seemed to think that they were showing
of character by refusing to
kneel in the presence of the Pope, after
they had asked permission to visit him.
make the worldly wise blush with shame.
Rudeness Not Noticed.
Neither the rope nor any OF MS at
appear to notice the rudeness
Of such visitors. but the culprits them
selves delight to tell the story. little
dreaming that they are covering them
selves with a double crown of shame
by so doing. r.
At last the door through which we
had seen the favored few pass opened.
The master of ceremonies. in evening
dress, with his breast covered with med
ais and orders entered step or two in
advance of the Pope, and Immediately
fell upon one knee.
AS the Pope stepped forward every
one knelt and a solemn hush fell upon
us. His Holiness then moved to the
person nearest the door and held out a
soft, white hand, with the ring on his
third finger. for her to kiss. Then he
made a tour Of the room. offering his
hand in turn to each person. Having
completed the round no stepped to a
vacant space between the doors and. \
lifting his hands, bestowed upon US all
the apostolic blessing.
The Pope wore a long. full robe of
heavy white cloth. with shoulder cape
and broad belt, an exquisite pearl ro-
sary and a white skull cap and red
shoes.
The blessing ended, he passed on to
the next room and the next one and
he next one, and repeated the ceremony,
all of us following in his wake like
flock of sheep. ut an orderly crowd,
,f the Pope.
One lady. not quite understanding that !
We were to be blessed in bulk, as 1T
we're feared that she was going to lose
,omething and said to the Pope as she
Kissed his hand, Your blessing, Father"
YES, my child" he answered quietly |
n English as he passed on.
Is Very Accessible.
When he had completed the round Of
he rooms one of his personal attendants
anne and put upon his head a scarlet |
,ap and laid over his shoulders a long
,loak of the same color, which added |
to the picturesqueness Of his |
appearance
The history OF the Vatican and ct. |
Peters appeals to one as no other does |
)ne forgets the wars. the intrigues and |
he schisms that threatened to disrupt !
he church. and only remembers the |
,eauty, the sacredness and the i'm |
,ressiveness of it all.
Although the face of Plus X lacks the |
features of his predecessor, |
me feels at once the power OF. the
trongly sympathetic countenance of the
,easant of Venice. He is of the people
md appeals to the people. although he
las just estimate and appreciation OF
he position he occupies His face is be-
ign and his expression shows a calm
Tess and poise that IAN only be gained
~ long self-discipline.
The fact that he is more accessible
o visitors and pilgrims than the ma
ority of Popes has been shown that he
a bit modern in his ideas.
One wishes that he might avail him
elf of the right which he has to re-
air to his country residence NCastle
;anolfo. only a few miles distant from
,ome among the hills, but, like his
PREDECESSOR he has not broken the self
imposed rule, never to quit the Vatican.