Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-07-30
COST OF A CARDINALS HAT
Clothes and Fees and Tips Make the
DistinctIon Very Expensive.
From the Christian

From the Christian World London
Even in these days, when Vatican af-
fairs have been more or less reformed in
obedience TO public opinion, the creation
of cardinal is a matter Of enormous eX-
pense to the ecclesiastic desiring the rank
of prince OF the church. The neo-cardinal
must spend small fortune in fees and
tips. In the interval between the official
intimation of his approaching elevation
and the consistory at which he receives
his hat he is obliged to disburse a num-
ber OF fees. the amount of which is regu-
lated by law and tradition Several
Catholic States pay these fees for their
cardinals but for cardinals not so favor
ed the exactions are often ruinous and
are source of constant care. II is
fact that several of the II just created by
Plus X have had to resort to a loan in
order to defray this heavy expenditure
About $4,000 is the sum which has to be
disbursed legally in this interval. and in
addition are a number Of other items
which are not official, but which are none
the less binding on the new eminences
A good deal Of the expenditure Is on
clothes for the cardinal himself and his
new court" Some of IT goes to pre-
scribed furnishings IN his palace, rem
dered necessary by the altered ceremonial
there. The numerous and elaborate gar
ments which the new cardinal must wear
swallow nearly 5000.
The officials and others entitled to tips
are simply legion, and some of these Of
ficials are the holders Of posts with the
weirdest possible names. For example
there Is the toll received Of the angels
bridge" whatever he may Re, the Gus
todian Of the key OF tho Borro," the
servants of the cardinal-nephew Of his
holiness" The regulations provide that
where his holiness has no nephew. as
sometimes happens these fees and tips
are to be paid 70 the court servant OF
the secretary of state" Something like
$1,000 is paid to the Spiritual prvy cham
herlaln," $50 TO the councillors OF this
Official, SIS to the secretary Of the cere-
mon!al congregation. This official is one
of the most august prelates of the curia.
The trumpeter of the Noble Guard gets
10 shillings. and among a crowd OF
apostolic" messengers and runners"
the sum of 500 is distributed. Each of the
Pope's coachmen gets half a crown, and
the lackevs, mazzieri. Wallets, doorkeep-
ers, etc, in a dozen different departments
must all he remembered Cardinals who
receive the biretta from the hands OF
their own monarchs have TO pay incredi-
BILE sums to other officials ranging from
$500 to s2,H'. But as rule. these sums
are refunded to them by the State and
paid eventually by the taxpayer. Be
sides. in addition to these fees. more or
less fixed by law, custom and usage. the
new ca rdinal Is expected to show his
generosity In a variety Of other ways.
and 1t largely depends on the size of
these unofficial gifts whether or not his
path will he made straight in Vatican
circles. The Austrian cardinals have the
reputation OF being the most generous,
and there is always a lively competition
for the patronage of an Austrian emil
hence,
II may be interesting If I remind the
readers of this letter that from the death
of Cardinal Pole In lbs no British cardi-
nal was created until Wiseman's time In
1850