The Springdale news., 1915-06-18

pean press,p said the ambassador with
 marked intonation. that Monaco IS
 the smallest state in Europe It Is nothing of the kind. The smallest state in Europe at present is the Vatican ;
 "The Vatican! But that is an abode "a building!"
 ''You are an Englishman, and Of course ignorant of matters which are of vital interest to two-thirds Of Europe. Nevertheless you must sure ly be aware that the holy father, under the Italian law of papal guar antics, retains his rank as sovereign, and that the inviolability of the Vatl- can is expressly recognized. No offi- ciaI of tlre Italian government can enter it's doors for any conceivable purpose without the Pope's permission. It is not considered part of tho Italian territory; in other words it is an in- dependent state within whose limits Plus X is as absolute as the czar of Russia
 The Catholic powers of Europe, it Ii. papal court by ambassadors, who are entirely distinct from those accredited to the Quirinal France, although gov erned by freethinkers, has continued to observe this custom, which is due to her position as protector of the Latin Christians in the east; and l assure you that during my mission to the Vatican l was most devout.
 "It was my good fortune to be hon. ored with the particular confidence of Pic Mono, for it is by that name that Plus X was universally known in his lifetime. He was remarkable pope. Believe me, no one but a very great man could have maintained the pres tige of the papaey unshaken as he did through the misfortunes which afflicted it during his long reign.
 The only thing which embarrassed me in Rome was the necessity which l was under, in my character of ambas- sador to the Holy See, of strictly avoiding all intercourse with the court of King Victor Emmanuel. The severe arrangement which prevailed be- tween the papacy and the kingdom of Italy was later illustrated by the ad venture of the poor King of Portugal, who found himself obliged to quit Rome without visiting either the pope or the king, as he could not show re- spect to one without giving umbrage to the other
 Tn spite of these restraints 1 formed the acquaintance in private of several persons who were ill touch with the Quirinal Among these was certain Count Gulielmo Vescaro.
 "Vescaro was a man who appeared to be of good family. and he was suffi- ciently polite and wellinformed to be an agreeable companion. He was also moderately we'll of for an Italian, where the people are poorer than any where else in the world, except in Athens In spite of these advantages, l perceived before very long that he was unpopular. but I found no reason for dropping his acquaintance.
 One taste Vescaro and I possessed in common, this was a passion for gems of all kinds, but especially cam eos and intaglios. The members of the Italian nobility are distinguished for their interest in euriosities of this sort. The heirs of 1000 years of civ ilization, they find the same fascina- tion in a rare medal or antique that GpI in Ion at the theaters, or that you English 1 do in bulldog or prize fight.
 Tt was inevitable that should take l advantage of my mission to study | the famous collections of the Vatican. | There is no other museum in Europe 1 to be compared with this of the popes, | In which they have been accommodating | treasures for centuries, and which is | continually being added to at the pres ent day. spent many hours every week In exploring its recesses, and in con versing with Monsignor Perratti, very learned Jesuit, who had the superintendency of the department | of antiquities.
 On several occasions 1 happened to meet my friend the count as I was on my way to the museum, and pressed him to accompany me. But he invari- ably declined.
 "1 have reasons, which 1 do not care to speak about, for not wishing to be seen in the Vatican he said to me on one of these occasions. when l had permitted myself to be rather i'm portunate. During the period before the holy father was deprived of the temporal power. I served in the papal troops. and his holiness has perhaps resented my subsequent adhesion to the house or Savoy At all events l am not willing to expose myself to the risk of being told that my presence h the Vatican is considered an in- trusion.'
 T could not but respect vescaro Tor his delicacy, though it seemed 10 me misplaced, as the museum of the Vatican was quite a public place, to which the whole world was in the 1 Q nF Vo I