THE POPE'S JUBILEE GIFTS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2534, 6 October 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE POPE'S JUBILEE GIFTS.

A lady correspondent iu Rome sends tho following amusing account of the Popo s j jubilee presents, now on view at tho Vatican. So numerous was the collection that it was more like the Manchester Exhibition, or some huge co-operative store, than anything else, and it was impossible to see the sculpture or paintings ou the walls, so hidden wero they by tho piled-tip bales and paekiug eases. Iu oue heap we counted no less than one hundred cushions (including every horrible variety of worsted and crewl work.) There were literally thousands of slippers, and 200.000 stoles; and though tho number of " vestments to match " did not quite attain to this gigantic figure, they were yet sufficiently numerous to keep most of the churches iu Italy supplied for many a long year to come. Oue largo room was full of eases of champagne, piled upon one another with suoh a reckless sense of ownfusion that, in some instances (to the great indignation of connoisseurs), the bottles had been placed upside down, or wero standing in an upright position ; corks were consequently Hying fast, and unieti of tho valuable contents had already been spilt upon the floor. Gaskets, vases, rosaries, pieces of plate, were there innumerable—every sort of curiosity from every part of the world. Among other odd things that might bo noticed wee hundreds of sets of baby clothes—about the last sort of gift one might have expected to meet with under the circumstances. These were given, however, by the Pope's own express desire. 110 particularly asked for baby clothes, in order that he might hand them ou to the foundling hospitals and other kindred institutions, in which he has always taken a benevolent and fatherly interest.