The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1918-01-31

udlhcu luIOudtiol, tldI moHdSo 40
the smallest state in Europe. 1t is
nothing of the kind The smallest state
in Europe at present is the Vatican"
1.-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 Vati
can is expressly recognized. No Off
cial of the Italian government can
enter it's doors for any conceivable
1t 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 car of
Russia.
"The Catholic powers of Europe, it
is we'll 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 /
assure you that during my mission
to the Vatican l was most devout.
at was my good fortune to be hon.
ored with the particular confidence of
Pho Mono for 1t 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 pre-
tige of the papacy mistaken 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
-eeia1ing all intercourse with the court
of Kjug Victor Emmanuel. The severe
estrangement which prevailed be-
tween the papacy and the kingdom Of
Italy was later illustrated by the /
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.
I'm spite of these restraints
he inf jy, fNriuafn nf
several persons who we're in touch
with the Quirinal Among these was
a certain Count Gulielmo Vescaro.
"Vescaro was man who appeared
to be of good family, and he was suffi-
GENTLY polite and well-informed to be
an agreeable companion. He was also
moderately we'll off 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.
Zone taste Vescaro and l possessed
in common, this was passion for
RSIllS VI Gil hlhboB bNI SSpSSAoA'J N'iN
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-
ton in rare medal or antique that
our young men find in a new dancer
at the theaters, or that you EngliFh
do In bulldog or prize fight.
1T was inevitable that 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. | spent many hours every week
In exploring it's recesses, and in con
versing with Monsignor Perratti, a
very learned Jesuit, who had the
superintendency of the department
of antiquities.
ION several occasions I happened to
meet my friend the count as l was on
my way to the museum, and pressed
him to accompany me. But he invari-
ably declined.
"I have reasons, which | 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
Fortunate. 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 OF 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.'
Il could not but respect Vescaro
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
habit of coming. In my next CONVEX.
sation with Monsignor Perratti l re-
ferred to the subject.
"AhH He gave perceptible
start, and regarded me curiously for
q moment Do you know anything