The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-18


ccllor OF tho Exchoquor Is anathema.
All spcculations as to the possibility
of the nomination OF Cardinal o Con-
nell. Archbishop of Boston, to tho Of
ice OF arch priest OF ST. Peters. at
Rome. have been set at rcst Ivy tho
appointment Of the Cardinal Secretary
of State. Cardinal Merry del Val. to
this important and highly lucrative
post, In succession to tho late Cardinal
Rampolla.
The tito OF arch priest is synony-
nous with that OF dean OF II cathedral
chapter. and. since tho official title
Of tho Pope 10 Bishop of Rome, and st.
Peters Is his cathedral church--tho
cathedral church Of all Roman Cath
Ollie OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Merry del
Val becomes, as dean of the chapter,
his second In command In ecclesiasti
cal matters, as he is already In politi-
cal questions.
The Popcs. rs Il rule, mako n point
OF selecting those cardinals for the
post of arch priest of St. Peters who
havo tho finest and most majestio
presence. Cardinal Rampolla was n
very tall and imposing looking man.
who on ceremonial occasions In ST.
Peters seemed. by reason OF his lefty
stature ami of the majesty OF his car
riagc and manner, to DO thoroughly
in keeping with the glorious traditions
and Impressive proportions of the an
cient fame. One of his Immediate pro-
decessors was Cardinal Howard, an
uncle of tho present Duke OF Norfolk,
and until lie lost his reason and had
to be placed under restraint In, Eng
land. both Plus ". and Leo XIII. were
wont to claim that he. moro than any
n M .a. of tlkx -
reason of his gigantic stature and re-
markable comelincss, was thoroughly
In Keeping with the grandeur of the
grandest sacred cditce in Christendom
As arch priest, 1t will be tho duty of
Cardinal Merry del Val, who has so
strong strain of Irish blood in his
veins. and who Is so we'll known In
the United States and Canada, through
MS frequent visits and prolonged stays
on this side of the Atlantic to preside
at all the great ceremonies and eccles-
iastical functions that take place in
tho Basilica. While not quite SO tall
as Cardinals Rampolla and Howard. yet
he Is very handsome man, Of stately
presence and we'll qualified, both In
appearance and manner. for the office
His appointment Will give satisfac-
ton ut tho court of Madrid, not only
because he is a Spanerd, son OF
former Spanish Ambassador to the
Holy Seat. and brother OF the present
Spanish bassador to tho court OF
81. James. but also because OF his
former Intimate personal relations
with King Alfonso and tho Queen Re-
gent Christina
When Alfonso was a small boy, and
in his most impressonable age. Card
inal Merry del Val was his religious
instructor and his tutor. Realizing
that tho royal lad was FORGETTING his
nv oil
public either in the company OF
ecclesiastics or Of women. he not only
insisted that in the public appearances
OF the young King, at any rate. he
ana other ccclesiastics should remain
out OF sight and give way to officers
or the army and navy, but he under
took the extremely delicate task of
suggesting to Christina that. instead
OF having Don Alfonso drive out every
day with herself. her daughters. and
her ladies in waiting. the boy should
be seen by his people on these occa-
sions with purely masculine entour-
age.
1t was great sacrifice for Queen
Christina to make, hut she appreciated
It's Importance and also the courage of
Mgr. Merry del Val in making it. The
result was that within year tho
young kins had established a hold
upon the affections of his subjects. and
mad won their sympathetic interest TO
an extent until then unknown. and
which has gone on Increasing ever,
since 1t is that personal popularity
OF the King whiet1-Is to-day the prin-
cipal prop and strength Of the span.
ish throne. and IL is prop for tho
existence of which Cardinal Merry del
Val is largely responsible.
Talking OF cardinals, few people
seem 10 he aware OF the origin OF the
rci hue OF the hats of the members of
the sacred College. Their {. lor Is duo
TO woman, and it dates from tho
reign of Innocent w, VINO reirned
from l2tS to 1919. He had occasion
D ieprove the Countess OF Flanders
lol heglecting to salute cardinal
"hereupon she protested that she had
no means Of distinguishing a cnrlinal
from any other ecclesiastical C:pnitv
or minor rank. TO whom no such
oheisancc "n her part WAS REQUIRED.
ana she insisted that the princes of
the "huicf should show some indica
tioh OF their lofty Office in their at
TIRE. innocent " saw tile justice OF
thiS argument, and decreed that from
thenccforth cardinals alone among
a loo