Evening star., 1925-11-01

blessing ana a COnmenloTdtloH Hlehdl
from his own hands know how he
lives how he spends those busy
DAYS. which begin at 6 in the morn
ing and do not end until after mid
night They see him dressed in his
long white robes, surrounded by
members of the papal court, cardinals
in scarlet and rare lace; chamber
lains Of cape and sword, dressed in
the high stiff ruffs and knee
breeches, relics of bygone centuries:
and by prelates in somber black
They note the enormous rooms. nails
in the sense OF medieval grandeau,
painted by the artistic giants of the
renaissance-rooms large enough In
themselves to make more than one
New York fiat. They admire his holi-
ness Swiss guards. in their ancient
uniforms of red and yellow, with
their halberds and helmets. or the
noble guards. In shining cuirass and
scarlet. And they think of the
Pontiff as ever surrounded by these
ouwtard forms of state.
But when Pope Plus NJ retires 10
his private apartments. high up in
that same palace of the Vatican. he
becomes a recluse. though very
hard worked reCluse, indeed.
True. the palace covers about Il
acres. and has over a thousand halls,
salons, chapels and private apart
ments, so vast in size that no mod
ern architect would he able to adapt
them to the disposition of single
family. But of these his holiness
occupies only a private library,
waiting room, a chapel and bedroom,
a dining room and a small kitchen,
besides room for his personal Serv-
ants. The greater part of his palace
is occupied by state apartments
where pilgrims, distinguished visi-
tors ca ardinals and ambassadors are
received, and by the priceless collec-
tions of statuary. pictures and count
less other works of art. together with
treasures of antiquity which, but for
the popes, would have been de-
stroyed, mutilated or dispersed by
vandals of all nationalities during the
long centuries of Rome's history
since the beginning of the papacy.
When the Pope leaves these state
departments where he has received
pilgrims, he takes his private lift and
goes up to his private apartment.
H ere very few men. except his papal
secretary of state. Cardinal Gasparri,
and other prelates Immediately sur
rounding his person, are admitted.
The rooms, though vast, are most
simply furnished. The Pontiff's per-
sonal library, which Is quite distinct
from the Vatican library-the latter
is between the Belvedere Court and
the Little Garden Of the Pine-is
where his holiness sits when he Is
not engaged in state business or in
audiences. 1t Is lined with his own
books from floor to ceiling and con-
tains, besides works on theology and
! devotion, a large collection of his
tories. For history is the branch of
learning to which the Pope is. most
attached.
The dining room is even simpler:
the bedroom austere. His holiness
has none Of the LUXURY by which
many think the Popes are surrounded.
The art collections which fill the vast
palace are open to the public as in any
other museum. The Pope this year
only recreation ground, for the mis-
sionary exhibition, which will also re,
main open next year.
x&
LIE rises at in the morning, but his
l. first mass of the day he says in
the chapel of his private apartment
after midnight. All the same, His
holiness says mass there again on ris.
ing. Prelates of his household, and
some privileged persons, especially in
vited, attend the mass. After mass
he passes into the dining room and
partakes of a simple breakfast, con-
sisting of a small cup Of coffee with a
dry biscuit which he dips into the
coffee. The work Of the day then be.
gins. And his day is regulated with
clockwork precision.
He goes to his private library-not
the smaller one in his private apart
ment, but one on the lower floor-and
looks over his mail. At 9 o'clock he
receives Cardinal Secretary Of State
Gasparri, or, in case of the latter g
absence, Mgrs. PiZZardo and Borgon-
cini Duca. The important matters
connected with the diplomatic and po-
litical activities Of the holy see are
gone into.
The Pope puts questions to the car
dinal secretary of state about the
business in hand. His holiness makes
his questions brief and to the point
and expects answers to be likewise
Very rarely does he ask the "prece-
dents" of a question; for he has an
excellent memory. When a very i'm.
portant question has to be considered
he takes notes with his own hand and
reserves his decision. Fog Plus n
takes his own time to think over