Evening star., 1937-05-30
BY ALFRED E. SMITH.
BY Radio to the Star.

b1 ALI NED T.. SN1llh.
By Radio to the Star.
ROME, May 29-At last I find
myself in the city made eternal be-
cause a Galilean fisherman came
to die here The very first thing I
did on arriving was to 60 Immediately
to the tomb of that fisherman, St.
Peter, the first vicar OF Christ, whose
successor, Plus XII, I made this jour-
ney to see. Our party, following a
Catholic custom. knelt before the
tomb and recited the creed, and then
arising, the first sight to greet my
eyes was the golden inscription on the
dome, bearing the words Of the Savior
to Peter, over 1900 years ago: Thou
art Peter, and upon this rock I will
build My church"
shall venture no description OF st.
Peters, for my style of writing is
quite unequal to that task. 1t is
something you must see TO appreciate.
Within 18 hours after my arrival in
Rome it was my happy privilege to be
received in private audience with the
Holy Father I have never before been
at loss for anything to say during my
long public life. I have been inter-
viewed and have given interviews to
the great and near great. but today
was the first time was ever speech
less in the presence of any one. was
particularly at a loss in view Of the
fact that the sole and only reason for
my trip to Europe was to receive the
blessing Of the Holy Father. Since I
had no other purpose, it was only
natural for the Holy Father to do
most of the talking. 1t pleased me
greatly to hear him speak so we'll and
so affectionately Of America, and I
was indeed embarrassed by the tribute
he paid me as "a loyal son Of the
church" He then extended to Mrs.
Smith and me and our children and
grandchildren his blessing as though
each were present in person. I pre-
sented him with gold replica OF the
Empire State Building, which drew
from him the comment that he had
never been in any structure higher
than the Eiffel Tower. Naturally, I
had to give him all the dimensions Of
the Empire State, in which he was
really deeply interested.
Vigorous for Age.
From press reports I have been
reading I was led to believe that the
holy father was in such poor physical
condition. that he carried on his duties
with the greatest of difficulties. AS a
matter of fact. in my experience I
have met few men of his age who were
as vigorous as he, and have met
many much younger that were neither
physically nor mentally as alert.
During the visit he spoke with vigor
and when the occasion demanded It,
after inspecting the replica I gave
him, he arose from his chair at his
desk and walked the full length Of
large room to take from table the
presents he had set aside for Mrs.
Smith and myself. Among these gifts
we're a Good Shepherd medal for both
of us, a pearl rosary and a relic Of
the little flower for Mrs Smith and
a beautiful pastel of himself in silver
frame, inscribed toto corde bene-
deems (blessing with my whole
hearO.
After this private audience I at
tended the public reception at which
there were over 200 young married
couples, a few distinguished families
from India, some Germans and French
and Irish and many other nationali-
ties. The holy father spoke to them
in three languages, German, French
and Italian.
Once again during the audience he
referred to me as representative Of
the American people, who were so
very dear to his heart. What struck
me particularly was the keenness Of
his mind. Some one in the audience
at one point exclaimed, - word to
Spaniard!"
Quick as a flash the holy father
answered: There is no one Spaniard
nor group of Spaniards. There is only
Spain, and love Spain with all my
heart and pray that all who dwell
there may have the peace which only
our Lord can bring"
Many Nationalities.
AS he spoke I glanced about the
room at the dozen or more national-
ties represented. This thought came
to me. On the outside nation was
divided against nation and people
against people, whereas here before
this great man in white they all were
one in mind and in heart. Certainly,
If the nations Of the world are ever
to be drawn together in peace and
concord, it must be by and through
some one who Is outsid- the nations
themselves, just as man who packs
a bag must be outside Of the bag.
To me there was no escaping the
fact that If civilization is to have one
spokesman who will talk for the
peace Of the world and for the good
of all, 1t must be the man who in
this very audience drew together the
only real League OF Nations that can
be made to work. In order to escape
the heat Of Rome the holy father
has left the Vatican for the Sum-
ssaAp and L. NAM aha,,k saA1A~ ~,sk