The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-16
HOLY GRAIL CONE.
The Sacred Relic Has Been
Damaged Beyond Repair.
It Was Broken Once Before, but
Later Repaired.

Rome, May 16.-Both religious
devotees and art lovers have learned
with regret that the recent reports
Of the breaking Of the Holy Grail
beyond repair at the Cathedral OF
Genoa are true, although satisfactory
explanations of the accident are still
lacking One expert who ascribed
the breaking of the ancient basin to
dampness in the cathedral is popu-
larly suspected of shielding some one
who accidentally broke the vessel.
While it is doubtful that this basin
Is really the sacred cup around which
10 much legendary romances OF
knighthood days was woven. it has
been accepted as such by a large
number of Catholics.
The vessel was brought to Genoa
in 1101 by Guglielmo Embrace,
Caesarea- Tradition then said. and
has since been followed. that in this
0ctagOnal cup, cut from what APP
peared to be flaWless emerald,
Christ drank at the Last Supper. and
later in it Joseph of Arimathea pre-
served the blood from Christ's
wounds at the crucifixion.
Napoleon Bonaparte, the great
thief" as they call him here. carried
1t of to Paris in 1907, and it was
then tested and found to be of glass.
1t had slight OrnamentatiOn and ap-
peared to be finished with the tool as
in gem engraving, while the color
and transparency were perfect. When
reclaimed by Italy it was so badly
packed that it was broken in the re-
turn and mended with gold filigree.
Once before it left the cathedral, in
1919, when it was given as security
by the town of Genoa for money
needed for military defense. Eight
years passed before it was returned.
The elder Of the pope's sisters, who
Is ailing, is to try the air of Castel
gandolfo, where the pontiff has sum-
mer villa. which he has never seen.
When Plus X. made this disposition
for his sister he remarked, Il wish l
could come too" which, however, Is not
to be taken too literally, as he has be-
come so fond of the Vatican that he
probably would not leave it if he could.
The papal villa at Castelgandolfo was
for years the favorite summer residence
of numerous pontiffs, but has not been
visited by a pope since 1869 when Plus
TX. went there. There is nothing mag
nificent about it. with the exception of
the view, but the garden is beautiful
and the air is salubrious. The most i'm
portant room in the house is the bed
room of Plus TX, which is preserved
just as it was when he was last there.
From the balconies of the villa the
pOpeS sister Will look down on the
beautiful Lake of AlLano, perched
above which is the monastery built by
the last of the Stuarts, or, in the other
direction, the cupola of St. Peters
across the plain browning the Eternal
City.
1t has been decided that the monu-
ment to Adelaide Ristori. Italy's great
est actress, the funds for which were
raised by international subscriptions,
shall be unveiled at Cividale del Friuli
either on August 80 or September 6.
Adelaide Ristori's name may be re-
membered in the United States, where
she appeared with Booth during the
season of 1SS4-S5. Her last real appear
ance on the stage in New York was in
marie Stuart played at the Bowery
theater with a German company.
She was called the most beautiful
Italian woman of her time.