Year: 1874

feel an instructive desire to 60 down on his
knees, and, of course, the very next min
ute down he goes. It is not necessary to
be Catholic; it is not necessary even to
feel a particular reverence for the pope,
as you would for any man the purity of
of whose life has never been attacked by
his enemies. It is the indescribable some
thing that possesses you the moment he
enters the room and holds you fascinated
so long as you are in his presence And
then it doesn't leave you at once; ycu re-
member him with sense of uncommon
pleasure. It is much like the spiritual
elevation, the delicious calm fellow feels
after he has made good confession, if you
know what that is, and probably most OF
you don't! The Holy Father was not
more than ten minutes in our room. for
there we're rooms full of other folks anx-
iously waiting his approach. To one his
benediction and passed on to another. a
general OF distinction, he spoke rapidly
and with great spirit, and yet he spoke to
this man Of war as il he was speaking to a
child, a son who had merited his fathers
love, and it was charming to witness the
intercourse. Some Of the gentlemen were
introduced by the proper officer, who
learned from their Official documents their
nationality and the few items relating to
them which might interest His Holiness.
Then came my turn. Before my presen-
tation l was Immediately recognized, and,
with a twinkle in his eye and gracious
familiarity, he leaned on my shoulder and
said to my companion, whom he greeted
cordially: ''Ah, this is an American :"
was never so fattered in all my life, for
of late have been taken for an English
man in England, Frenchman in France,
and even an Italian in Italy; but it was
wonderfully good to be classified at last.
But then you see the pope is infalible, and
that accounts for it.


We had some little co 1versation, as
much as man may recall easily; it was
all in French, but l should have enjoyed it
in any language under the sun. He was
glad to hear tnat came from California !;
spoke Of Bishop Alemany told me to be
good and shall enjoy trying, hereafter,
though it is a bore sometimes. Then he
passed his magnetic hand over my rosaries
and the little statuette of St. Peter, just like
the big one which we all kiss-and then
be left me for the next fellow, and the su-
preme moment was over. It took so few
seconds to do all this, and yet the bene-
diction was indelible. What a capital ar
rangement of Divine Providence! A score
Of cardinals and other dignitaries walked
with His Holiness, and was presented to
one cardinal who, upon learning that was
a'Californian, struck me playtully in the
stomach and said, in very geod English {:
"Then am delighted to see you" Cali
fornia sounds little like heaven away of
here. realize this more and more every
day. There was nothing after this but to
find my way out of the Vatican, which l
did ultimately, all aglow with delicious
enthusiasm. Thought how many millions
of good Catholics would give their all to
have been in my happy shoes, and wished
had been more worthy of representing
those in California for the few moments it
was my privilege and pride to do so. On
my way back to my room read on many
walls, on the doorposts, on the pavements,
and wherever there was an inviting space.
the significant legend, scrawled in chalk,
or paint, OF charcoal:


'v1vA P1o 1x!'


It argues something that these letters, like
the handwriting on the walls Of old, lash
in the face OF the new king, and that they
are echoed in the ends OF the earth. In
vain has the new government sought to
obliterate them. They flash in the face
of the sun every morning, and to each and
all Of these prophetic voices cry amen.


c. W. ST0DDARD.