THE POPE'S DAILY LIFE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1148, 29 November 1873, Page 5

THE POPE'S DAILY LIFE.

The Rome correspondent of the Philadelphia Bulletin writes :—: —

A friend of mine, a noble guardsman in service at the Vatican, has given me an account of the Pope's daily life. It may be interesting to your readers. His Holiness arises at half -past 5 o'clock; makes his toilet, into which enters a great deal of shampooing. Then follows mass, after which a simple collation of coffee with four crestini, or bits of roasted bread. After this he holds an ordinary audience. During the morning he hands to Mgr. Ceani, the Prelate who has charge of the meal, a sagyio della vivande, or bill of fare for the day. Then he is carried into the garden. A new walk has been arranged lately for the Pope's daily promenade. It is an avenue which is covered with an awning ; the ground has been graveled and sanded with great care ; benches and seats have been placed its' full length. Before his illness the Pope used to walk as far as the Fontana della Pulcella, the one which is shaded by the great willow. Now he only walks the half-way to the shaded avenue. There has been placed in the Vatican gardens the statue of St. Peter, the bronze one that was destined to surmount the Council Column on the summit of Mt. Janiculum, in commemoration of the first Vatican (Ecumenical Council of 1869. At mid-day His Holiness holds an extraordinary audience. At 1. 30 o'clock comes the dinner. This meal is as plainly served as its dishes are plain ; a meat soup of rice and herbs, a bit of Usso— that is

the beef or chicken of which the soup ifl made — the Italians are very fond of it. Then follows a small dish of fritto oar~ rasta — fry or roast. The fritto is another favourite Italian dish; no JELoman dinner is complete without it ; it is made of brains, bits of bread, and young cucumbers and carrots sliced into thin strips, all fried crisply, with a rich amber colour, in lard. It is not bad after you get used to it. But I think one must live in South Italy four or five years, and be well shaken up with fever and ague before the taste for national dishes, such as fritto and Roman macaroni develops ; it has only come to me this spring. During all this modest dinner the Pope takes only half a glass of wine, and this is strictly for his stomach's sake, according to Bible rule ; for Pius IX. never was a wine-drinker in his young days, and now eschews all nicety about his wine. Some years ago, when he first began to drink wine at dinner, according to medical orders, he observed that every day a fresh bottle was opened for his use. Then he ordered the wine of the country to be served to him, as it could be brought on draught. Tre, Cannelle was elected, and as he cannot drink a whole mezzo foglietto (a goblet full), the smallest quantity sold, he has this divided into flasks, a few drops of olive oil poured on the wine, a wad of cotton for cork ; then it is fresh for a day or two. After dinner His Holiness reposes for three-quarters of an hour in a poltrone or arm-chair. Then he holds another ordinary audience, after which he walks in the garden, in the gallery, or holds private conversations in the Bibliotheca. Aye Maria and prayers are followed by private audiences, at which affairs of the greatest moment are discussed. At half past 10 o'clock he takes soup. This is another excellent Italian custom. A little before midnight His Holiness goes to sleep.