Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-03
Varied Costumes Worn.


\ few people are already waiting in
the antechamber, the men in e-enins
dress. or such variations of it as their
fancy suggests tthere is n burly Italian
of the prosperous butcher tyne in a
froCk coat with white tieJ, the women
in black with manti!las over their
heads. | have had to wear evening
clothes in the daytime on different oc-
casions in various countries, but L
never felt less i'll at ease in the cir
cumstances than at the Vatican. SO
overwhelmingly impressive is the pre-
vailinG atmosphere.
The windows of the antecha mber
hung with a kind of white gauze cur
tains which bring out the colors of the
room extremely we'll command won
derful view OF Rome living in the bril-
liant sunlight far beneath. The further
door OF the apartment reveals a long
vista OF rooms opening one out of the
other to the antechamber immediately
abutting on the Pope's apartment
where brilliantly clad group of PEI
sons is in constant movement There
are the two members Of the Guard OF
Mobiles on duty-tali. splendid looking
men in blue uniforms with very long.
swords and helmets with lofty crests:
couple of Drelates in violet cassoc>s,
a private chamberlain in gold-brai6ed
under his arm
Presently there is a stir. An usher
walking backward appears and 4
carglnal. his scarlet train rustlinr
stihy pehlnd him. giidcs through the
rooms As he passes out into the Glenn
entlne Hall there is distan. rattle as
the swiss Guard lines up at the salute
ne beiis of Rome were sounding tho
Ahgeius when we We're summoned TO
the audience of the Pope. In the ante
chamber where the noble guards and
chamoerlains We're standing. the suite OF
rooms turns Off at risht angles to the
right. There IS n small! throneroom. a
couple OF salons hung in red. where |
noticed particularly some very beautiful
old clocks. and then I found myself in a
small apartment opening on to q lon.
marble gallery ornamented by busts 81
the PopeS. which is, | believe the Pope's
private library.
Audience With Pope.
Suddenly Plus Y appeared in the door
way. clad all in white in a cassock of
white serge, with a short cape broad
cuffs Of white water-siik and a little
white skull cap. Round his neck was a
gold chain supporting the pectoral cross.
and on his right hand was large and
antique ring. 1t was apparition OF
white. The PopeS face and hands are
pale. wftn the dead-wiite paleness of
PAGER. and the hair protrudins from he
meath his small white cap is white
ashes. not silvery. He walks very slowly
with little steps, and his gait is the gait
OF a little child. But his manner is not
the manner of an old man. 1t IS the
manner OF one in frail health When lie
pronounced the papal benediction and
afterWard made little speech of encoul-
agemept to couple of woman teachers
in charge of some orphans his voice.
though low. was firm and resonant.
AS he turned to give the blessing The
sunshine pouring in through the high
window threw his face in shadow so
to hide from ne Tho color Of his eyes,
but not the expression of great gentle
ness. which res;s or his pale. frail face
like moonlight tn" mountains. Tie
bcnedicton spoken. the teachers sent into
the seventh heaven OF religious fervor
by the gracious words he mad found for
them and their work. Plus turned once
more and with his gentle =ait very slowly
disappeared down the adjacent gallery. Il
fraiI White figure in = framework of pur-
pie and scarlet and gold.