The Monticellonian., 1915-06-17


 pean press" said the ambassador witi marked intonation. that Monaco i' the smallest state in Europe. It Ii nothing of the kind"
 We were driving in his Exeelleney's carriage in the Bois de Boulogne. and had just lifted our hats to the daughter in-law of the prince.
 'Indeed," l answered with some interest. Do you mean that San Marine is smaller? or perhaps Andor' ra?"
 '1 mean neither he returned vith complacency. The smallest state n Europe St present is the Vatican,
 The Vatican. But thal Is Aa Aeode -a buildins,"
 Precisely. And t ts fer tsas reason that it Is smaller tAAa Snx et those others you have named Ard the ambassador lSy hack 5a azs eo-1sT Of the carriage. e2seEs2s Esy &<sozzSa- msnt
 ~Yoa gre &z Ezkziss@2zs Ae 1s- sumed presently. and sSs-ete7s q course ignorant e Esxsts-s ge5e2 A-s o< vital zzssrsSe tN csS~S1z-ss os Eu-cpe. Nsxsz<ssEsSs yal IzSz sz-s- ly es &zx-s szaE sss Acly s2E5s<- under ssaa IzxA4z kaH cE raa2l g93r> antics. retains aHs razk 1S 1 seysrssx xa- and taz- tas iazseia szi1EE es shs Nzs1- can is expressly recognized No ezs- cizl q the Italian government can enter IFS aecrs for any conceivable purpose without the Peoe.s permission. It is not considered part Of the 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 is well known, are represented at the 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 I was most devout.
 Tt 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 a remarkable pope. Believe me, no one but very great man could have maintained the pres tige of the papacy unshaken as he did through the misfortunes which afflicted 5urino bis Iong reipn
 The only thing which embarrassed me in Rome was the necessity which I 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 tue 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 I formed the acquaintance in private of several persons who were in touch with the Quirinal. Among these was a certain Count Gulielmo Vescaro.
 Vescaro was a man who appeared to be of good family. and he was suffi- ciently polite and well-informed to be an agreeable companion. He was also moderately well off for an Italian, where the people are poorer than any where else in the world. except in Athens. In spite of these advantages. I perceived before very long that he was unpopular. but found no reason for dropping his acquaintance.
 One taste Vescaro and l 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 curiosities of this sort The heirs of 1000 years of civ ilization. they find the same fascina- tion in a rare medal or antique that our young men find in a new dancer at the theaters, or that you English do in bulldog or prize fight
 Tt was inevitable that l should take advantage of my mission to study the famous collections of the Vatican. There is no other museum in Europe 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. I spent many hours every week In exploring its recesses, and in con verslng with Monsignor Perratti a very learned Jesuit, who had the superintendency of the department of antiquities
 'On several occasions happened to meet my friend the count as was on my way to the museum, and pressed him to accompany me But he inyari- ably declined.
 T have reasons, which I do not care to speak about, for not wishing to be seen in the Vatican he said to me on enc of these occasions. when I had permitted myself to be rather i'm portunate. During the period before the holy father was deprived of the temporal power, l served in the papal troops, and his holiness has perhaps resented my subsequent adhesion to the house or Savoy At all events | am not willing to expose myself to the risk of being told that my presence in the Vatican is considered an in trusion'
 T could not but respect yescaro for his delicacy. though it seemed to me misplaced, as the museum of the Vatican was quite public place, to which the whole world was in the