Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 July 1896 — FUNERAL OF PIUS IX. [ARTICLE]

FUNERAL OF PIUS IX.

The Body Lay in State Four Days in the Chapel of the Sacrament. It was-In the Chapel of the Sacrament that the body of the good Pope Pius IX. was laid in state for several days. That was a strange and solemn sight, too. The gates of the church were all shut but one, and that was only a little opened, so that the people passed In one at a time from the great, wedgeshaped crowd outside—a crowd that began at the foot of the broad steps in the Piazza, and struggled upward all the afternoon, closer and closer toward the single entrance. For in the morning only the Roman nobles and the prelates and high ceclesiastlcs were admitted, by another way. Within the church the thin stream of men and women passed quickly between a double file of Italian soldiers. That was the first and last time since JS7O that Italian troops were under arms within the consecrated precincts. It was still winter, and t,he afternoon light was dim, and It seemed a long way to the chapel. . The good man lay low, with his slippered feet between the bars of the closed gate. The people paused as they passed the embroidered cross and looked at the still features before they went on. It was dim, but the six tall waxen torches threw a warm light on the quiet face, and the white robes reflected It around. There were three torches on each side, and onjeach side, too, there were three Noble Guards In full dress, motionless, with drawn swords, as though on parade. Bjut no one looked at them. Oniy the marble face, with Its kind, far-away smile, fixed itself !n each inch’s eyes, and its memory remained with each when he had gone away. It was very solemn- and simple, ami there were no other lights in the church save the little lamps about the Confession and before the altars. The long, thin stream o( people Went on swiftly, and out by the sacristy, all the short afternoon, till It was night, and the rest of the unsatisfied crowd was left outside as the single gate was closed.—Century. Some people are never contented unlece J# coatrovensy. L'ke the stormy petrel, they are ever flying In search of a tempest.