Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1922-05-12
of grey and brown done by Carrari.
Enters ROYAL Portals

OF grey and brown done by Carrari.
Enters Royal Portals
There were several massive black
walnut tables arranged in carefully
selected positions for what purpose it
it hard to tell. Along the walls were
walnut benches and chairs fashioned
more for beauty than for comfort
Here [ was expected to resign myself
to a long and cheerful period of wait
ing, for. be it known, a special audi
ence at the Vatican seldom follows
closely upon the hour appointed. I re-
tired to corner near a renaissance
window and studied an hour or more
the designs on its heavy sick drapery
There were seemingly dozens Of ush-
erS bustling to and fro conducting one
person to the thrOne-roOm or detain-
ing another on account of Incomplete
credentials imperfect dress or some
general unftness. These officials were
liveried in cardinal red satin consist
ing Of tailored coat, knickerbockers
tied with red ribbons, FED silk stock
ings and black slippers of the fifteenth
century.
At last there was a movement of
several of these ushers in my direction
and / was escorted into the audience
hall or throne-rOOm First I was APP
palled by the immensely of the place.
My next impression was of dazzling
red, acres of bright cardinal, on floor,
! on ceiling and draperies. Even the
chairs were done in rich red. / found
a place in one of the large Renaissance
windows that looked over the Piazza eli
San Pietro On the opposite wall,
among the damask draperies, were
| hung a number of huge portraits, in
oil, of departed popes framed in gold.
had just become interested in the Leo
X by Rafael, and had exchanged some
remarks with the gentleman next to
me who happened to be an English &C
quaintance of mine, the duke of Nor
folk, when trumpet resounded from
the depth of the hall opposite the
throne. The heavy curtains parted
and a herald, an odd little chap all ia
white satin with ruff1ed cuffs of dainty
blue, and white flowing hair came for
ward with quick step. Everyone
arose automatically, for the appearance
of the herald was sufficient notice.
without any announcement, that the
! pope was about to enter.
This was not to be a formal audi
ence. There was no grand ceremonial,
no legates or ambassadors to receive,
the throne was not to be occupied. The
event was officially classified as an in
formal reception of several distin-
guished visitors, but it is difficult for
inheritors of the Roman tradition to,
avoid the dramatic in any quasi-public
function, especially one involving the
head of the church.
A Golden Crucifix
Following the herald came the papal
secretary in a beautiful robe of royal
color; next came one of the prominent
dukes of Rome arrayed in a address
military uniform. In fact, many of the
great Roman houses appeared to be
represented in this gathering. Two
personal body guards and the papal
physician, distinguished looking per-
sonage of many medals, entered with
the pope, who walked very slowly as
if measuring each step.
Benedict XIV was rather an under
sized man, fact that was not gen.
orally apparent for, whether from pres
| tige or from his high patrician bearing
he was easily the dominant figure in
his multi-colored encourage. / watched
him carefully as he approached me-
The long white soutane of the finest
silk broadcloth was trimmed here and
there with a dainty golden embroidery.
A chain hung around his neck, at the
end of which was a gold crucifix stud
ded with a beautiful emerald. That
and the fisherman's ring were his only
ornaments, if one might call these in
sigma ornaments.
There were rumors about Rome of
! the pope's failing health and 1 OBJ
served closely for any signs of grave
illness. He was strikingly pallid and
there were dark circles and long lines
under the eyes, He seemed a tired,
exhausted man, and when he reached
out his hand to me | observed the dis
tinct blue lines. it's extreme thinness.
and l saw there was a certain tremb-
] ling He spoke few words in kind
ly, fatherly tone, expressing the pleas
ure he always felt at meeting an
American and especially citizen rep
resenting at once the northwest and
the growing Southland. noticed he