of onlookers, who took off their hats as we
passed, until we reached the great marble steps which lead up to the
gilded statue of the late King. Here there was a magnificent display
of flowers made up in all sorts of designs. The crowd gave away before
us, and one of the officials, who had been directed by the Italian
major, took the wreath from us and gave it a place of honour in front
of the statue. We stood in a long line on the marble steps and saluted
and then turned and left. The people clapped their hands and shouted,
"Viva l'Inghilterra!" We were pleased at the impression the simple act
of courtesy made, and felt that it was helping on the cause of the
Allies.

Our men were always very much amused by the moving picture shows, (p. 222)
the characters of these entertainments being so different from that of
similar exhibitions at the front. They were so tragic and so sentimental
that they did not appeal strongly to the wholesome minds of Canadian
soldiers. It was always very interesting to hear their criticisms of
the customs and outlook of the people with whom we were sojourning.
There is no doubt that the army mind is the sanest and most wholesome
in the whole community. It may not express itself in the most artistic
terms or the most religious language, but its judgments are absolutely
sound and worthy of the most careful consideration. I am sure that
Canadian political life, unless other influences nullify it, will be
immeasurably bettered by the soldiers' vote.

I had the great privilege of a visit to Cardinal Gasquet in the home
of the Dominicans not far from St. Peter's. The interview had been
arranged for me by an English priest whom I met at the hospital of the
Blue Nuns, where I had taken two of our men who were ill with
pneumonia. The Cardinal is engaged in the stupendous task of revising
the text of the Latin Vulgate. He showed me photographs of the ancient
manuscripts with the various readings noted. It will be years before
the great task is completed, but when it is, it will remain untouched
for centuries to come. He told me that news had just been received of
the consecration of the first Roman Catholic Bishop in Russia. This
had been made possible by the overthrow of the reigning dynasty. He
was most kind, and told me many interesting things about life in Rome
during the war, and before I left asked me to write my name in his
visitor's book, pointing out to me on the upper part of the page the
r