y, until it pleases God to shed more light on
my soul, and to impart more strength to my body, and make clear my
path."

Here are his impressions of Rome after its occupation by the
Italians, together with an account of an audience with the Holy
Father:

"Rome is indeed changed, not so much outwardly, materially, as in
spiritual atmosphere. It has lost its Christian exorcism and returned
to its former pagan condition. The modern spirit, too, has entered it
with activity in the material order. The old order, I fear, is never
to return; that is to say, as it was; if it returns at all it will be
on another basis. The last citadel has given way to the invasion of
modern activity and push. Who would have dreamed of this twenty years
ago? The charm of Rome is gone, even to non-Catholics, for they felt
raised above themselves into a more congenial and spiritual
atmosphere while here, and their souls enjoyed it, though their
intellectual prejudices were opposed to the principles. The charm
they were conscious of forced them back again to Rome in spite of
themselves. But that charm has in a great measure gone.

"The other evening I had a very pleasant private audience with the
Holy Father. Among other matters I showed him _The Young Catholic_
which pleased him very much. He was struck with the size of the
jackass in the picture of Ober-Ammergau, and asked if they grew so
large in that country. I replied: 'Holy Father, asses nowadays grow
large everywhere.' He laughed heartily and said, _'Bene trovato.'"_

Father Hecker was in Rome when, in March, 1875, his old friend and
patron and first spiritual adviser, Archbishop McCloskey, was made
Cardinal. He was much rejoiced, and sent the Cardinal a rich silk
cassock, and gave a public banquet to Monsignor Roncetti and Doctor
Ubaldi, who were to carry the insignia of the cardinalate to New
York. We are indebted to the kindness of Archbishop Corrigan for a
copy of Father Hecker's letter of congratulation, the principal parts
of which we subjoin. The view of public policy concerning the College
of Cardinals expressed in this letter was developed at length in an
article published by Father Hecker in _The Catholic World,_ when
Cardinal Gibbons was appointed; it will also be found in his latest
volume, _The Church and the Age:_

"The choice of the Supreme Pontiff in making you the first Cardinal
of the hierarchy of the United States gives great satisfaction here
to all your friends. F